“Mmm, five more minutes.”
“No, you’ve had more than enough. I need you to sneak me out of here.”
He whips his head up at that as a line forms between his brows.
“Now why would I do that?”
“Erm, because you live with my brother, who also happens to be your best friend?”
“And?”
“And…” I huff. “I don’t want to ruin your friendship over one night.”
Roman scoffs but gets up. He’s completely naked except for his boxers and I lick my lips as I take in his physique. He’s so talland muscular that it’s borderline unfair people like him exist. Counting quickly, I clock the eight pack, but it’s his back and his hands that do something to me. His skull tattoo flexes as he pulls on a pair of grey tracksuit bottoms.
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I jump off his bed and stretch, taking in his room. Every single item has its place, like each part of it has been deliberately thought through. Looking down at my body, I realise he dressed me in an old, faded Marvin Gaye T-shirt. Huh. I would not have put Marvin Gaye and Roman together at all. I guess it just proves I don’t know him beyond the version he shows everyone else.
His thick arms come around my waist before I can react and suddenly I’m thrown over his bare shoulder. I squeal, smacking his arse as I try to wiggle free, but his grip only tightens. Roman barely reacts as he carries me to the door and pulls it open.
“Roman,” I hiss quietly. “Put me down.”
“No,” he grunts again. If I didn’t know he could say other words, I’d be convinced no was the only one he knew.
He makes his way down the hallway he shares with the other boys, taking each step carefully so he doesn’t jostle me too much. As we round the corner towards the kitchen, I start to hear voices. When he finally sets me down, I steady myself on my feet as he turns me and guides me inside with a hand on my lower back.
Even though I’ve stood in this kitchen more times than I can count, it feels different today, almost unfamiliar. It hits me that it’s not just Felix’s home. It’s Roman’s too.
A mug sits abandoned by the sink, a knife slightly out of place, small signs of lives overlapping. Light spills across the pale wood floors and stretches over the long island with its large white sink. Brass details cut through the space, the curved tap, the handles, the extractor, subtle reminders that this isvery much their space, even against the softness of the white cabinetry.
Exposed beams run overhead, rough and unapologetic, holding everything together in a way that feels both controlled and chaotic. The globe lights cast a calm that doesn’t quite match the energy I know this room can hold. The black-framed windows still draw my eye as the greenery presses in from outside, offering a kind of peace.
The room goes silent, as one by one Felix, Atlas, Riggs, and Victor notice me.
“Fae?” Felix questions, looking me up and down.
I curse myself for not asking for some trousers from Roman when I had the chance.
“Fairrry!” Riggs cheers, rounding the central island and scooping me off my feet. I chuckle and squeeze him back. I must have been cuddling him for all of two seconds before another set of hands comes under my armpits and I’m dragged back into the solid form of Roman. If he could breathe fire, I’m sure Riggs would be ash right now.
“No touching.” Roman barks, pointing to Riggs like he’s a dog. I round on him and push him off me.
“Fuck off, Roman.” I snap, walking back over to Riggs and giving him a gentle squeeze.
I can’t ignore the tension in the room and I watch with sick satisfaction as Roman grapples with the fact I’m touching someone else. His hands flex into fists at his side like he’s trying his best not to reach for me again.
Letting go of Riggs, I walk back up to Roman, pat his chest as he leans down, and I whisper in his ear, “Good boy, learn to share.”
His growl is audible and I bite back a laugh. Annoying Roman is easy, but his reactions are still always hilarious to me. Turning, I realise everyone is watching our interaction and itfeels awkward and weird. I walk up to Atlas and he embraces me, giving me a peck on the cheek.
“Are you okay?” He bites his bottom lip so much that I’m worried it will start to bleed.
“I’m okay.” I smile, patting his face and using my thumb to pull his lip from his teeth. “Chill, okay?” I ruffle his red hair and his light blue eyes sparkle with mischief at the act.
Atlas nods as Victor puts his cup of coffee down by the sink and rounds on me. Picking me up, he deposits me on the cool stone countertop and lifts my chin with his finger, giving me a once over. Whatever he sees, he is obviously happy with, as he nods before giving me a peck on the cheek.
“I have a lead; I thought I should let you know,” he says as pimples crawl up my skin. “Willow told me that she saw Robyn getting into an argument with an unknown man in Colchester near the leisure centre, so I’m off to get that checked out today.”
I nod numbly, trying to figure out when and why Robyn would be at the leisure centre in the first place. I shiver, maybe Roman is right, maybe she did run from us. But why? And why not just tell me she was leaving? Would she really leave all the things she loved behind? And I’m not just talking about the people. When Robyn arrived, she had one small duffle bag full of clothes. Over the last three years, she was finally able to stock up and get things that she wanted and needed. I just can’t see her running away and starting again from scratch.