Page 14 of Teaching Roman

Crap. Digging through Cassie’s wallet turned up a few pesos, a condom, and some business cards. Of course, that’s all she would be carrying on her right now.

I offered the man the pesos, and he laughed.

“Mil pesos,” he said. “One thousand.”

I shook my head that I didn’t have it and he produced a cell phone. “Policía.”

“No! No! No! Un…minute,” I said, resolving on the spot to buy Spanish language software as soon as I got back to Olympic Falls. If I ever managed to get back there. I couldn’t help but think I might wind up wasting away here. Scrambling into my own bag, I searched until I found Roman’s business card and dialed his number before I could think better of it. He was the only person I knew here besides the concierge, and he seemed more likely to help us out.

It rang twice before he picked up. “Hello?”

“Oh thank god,” I said.

“Jess?” He sounded confused, like he’d been in the middle of something. Maybe he’d been on a date or out with friends.

I reminded myself that I didn’t have any other options and launched into my problem. “I’m so sorry to call you like this, but I don’t know what else to do and Cassie’s going to wind up in Mexican prison and possibly me too—”

“Slow down,” Roman said. “Where are you?”

I looked up and repeated the cross streets to him as best as I could read them.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he promised.

“Roman,” I said before he could hang up, “can you bring a thousand pesos?”

Roman arrivedin a pair of white linen pants and a gray T-shirt, confirming my fear that I’d interrupted his evening. He’d clearly been relaxing, and now he had to deal with two former students. But his casual attire coupled with his perfect body made him look more like a movie star than anyone had a right to, especially a teacher. There was a confidence to his walk, and he flashed me a quick smile as he began speaking in swift Spanish to the shop owner.

“He says he’s going to call the police if the damaged magazines aren’t paid for,” Roman explained.

“I understand that much,” I said. “But he won’t take a credit card and we don’t have enough cash. I considered running for it, but she is a tad sauced.”

Roman’s eyes darted to Cassie who was draped across me for support. “So I see.”

He turned and spoke for another few minutes with the shop owner before he pulled a few bills from his pocket and handed them over.

“It’s dealt with,” he said, returning his attention to me.

“Thank you.” I exhaled in relief. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. She's suffering from temporary, post-break-up insanity.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I couldn’t let you wind up in Mexican jail.”

“Fuck jail,” Cassie slurred. She tried to take a step forward on her own, but she misjudged her ability to walk, catching her foot on the pavement and crashing toward the cement. Roman caught her around the waist.

“Where to?” he asked me as he shifted her into his strong arms.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said. “I can get her back.”

“I won’t sleep tonight if I’m worried about you,” he said. His voice was soft and deep, leaving me dizzy. Suddenly, I felt as though I was drunk, too. Part of me wished I was so that I would be the one in his arms.

“We’re not far.” I hesitated, biting my thumbnail. It had been completely inappropriate for me to call him here to help. Asking more of him seemed equally improper.

“Great, in which direction is not far?”

I could tell he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “We’re one block that way.”

I hadn’t been here long enough to have a strong sense of direction, and I really hoped I wasn’t about to get us all lost. Not while he was lugging her dead weight around.

Gathering up the bags Cassie had dropped when she went on her rager, I led him toward our hotel.