Page 87 of Sugar & Ink
“Say okay like you don’t believe me.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I don’t know what to believe tonight.” That was the honest truth.
His expression softened, but the anger didn’t leave. It just got quieter. More controlled. “Brandi is in the past.”
I looked at him. “Was she?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
He didn’t flinch. “Yeah.”
The answer hurt even though I already knew it.
I looked away.
Rome came around the counter and I stepped back.
He stopped immediately. That almost hurt worse. Because he noticed. Because he cared enough to stop.
“Before you,” he said.
I laughed weakly. “We’ve known each other five minutes in the grand scheme of things.”
“Long enough for me.”
“Rome.”
“Long enough,” he repeated. His voice dropped. “I don’t give a fuck what Brandi thinks. I don’t care what she wants. I don’t care what she says. She isn’t you.”
My eyes burned. I hated this. Hated that Brandi had gotten exactly what she wanted. She’d crawled into my head and made herself comfortable. “I know I shouldn’t care.”
“You’re allowed to care.”
“I hate that I do.”
“I hate that she hurt you.”
That shut me up.
Rome stepped closer. This time I didn’t move away. His hand settled at my waist.
Warm.
Steady.
“Look at me.”
I did.
“I want you.”
My breath caught.
“You, Josie. Not her. Not anyone else.”
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to.
