Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Monroe dramatically clears her throat. “‘Rome, I thought it was only fair that I be there to hold you when you need me too. Counting down the days, XO Emerson.’” She hands me back my phone with a proud smile on her face.
“You did good, Em. It’s short and to the point. Not over-the-top corny. Not at all.” She pops a handful of popcorn in her mouth, and chews. I can tell from the look in her eyes she has something to say. “Do you want to know what I think?”
“What?” I steal a handful of popcorn.
“I think that you’re going to bring that man to his knees. Hell, he’s halfway there.”
“I don’t want to bring him to his knees. I just want to be with him.”
Monroe reaches over and places her hand over mine. “I see the way he looks at you. Everything is going to work out. I can feel it.”
“Enough about me. What about you? It seems like ages since you’ve been on a date.”
“Yeah.” She sighs. “I see the way Roman looks at you, and I want that, you know? I’m not going to settle for subpar when I get to witness epic.” She winks. “Besides, the guys who have been interested lately are out for one thing, and you and I both know I’m holding out for love.”
“Yeah.”
“You love him, Em. It’s okay to take things to the next level.”
“Right.” I laugh. “Try telling him that. He’s all ‘we can wait, blah, blah, blah.’”
“I get it, though. He’s worried as hell about your relationship with your brother. Maybe he thinks that if this one thing stays unchecked, that it will make a difference.”
“Maybe,” I reply as my phone rings. I smile when I see his name pop up. “Hey, you. How was your day?” I answer.
“Baby girl,” he rasps, and my heart skips a beat. “It’s been over two weeks since I’ve tasted your lips, and I’m feeling that. I’m feeling the loss of you here with me, like missing a fucking limb. I’m not sleeping at night because my arms ache to hold you. I’m bone-ass tired. I rushed home from the shop tonight because all I want to do is talk to you. I know you have an early class tomorrow, and we can’t stay up late, so I blew off the guys and told them I wasn’t feeling a beer.” He pauses. He’s breathing heavily, but I don’t dare say a word. “I get home and there’s a package on my front porch. I didn’t order anything, but I carry it inside, kick off my shoes, and give it a better look. It’s from my girl, so I’m anxious to tear it open.”
“Did you?” I finally ask him. I’m hanging on his every word. My eyes glance at Monroe, and she’s munching on popcorn with a grin on her face. She gives me a thumbs-up and I shrug. I’m not sure yet if my gift was a good thing or a bad thing.
“Yeah, Em, I opened it.” Another long pause. “It smells like you.” His voice is soft, almost reverent.
“Yeah, I slept with it, with both of them, for a few nights. I know it’s lame that I stole your idea—” I start, but he cuts me off.
“Not lame, baby girl. Fucking incredible. We’re going on three weeks of me missing you, and this—it’s everything I needed today. The only thing that could be better was if you somehow managed to tuck yourself into this box with it.”
I chuckle. “Pretty sure I’d need a bigger box.” My heart soars knowing that he loves his gift, even if I stole his idea.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Just sitting on the couch chatting with Monroe, stealing her popcorn.”
“Hi, Rome!” Monroe calls out.
“I’m sure you heard that, but Roe says hi.”
“Tell her I said hello.”
“Rome says hello.”
“Emerson?”
I sit up straighter at him calling me by my full name. “Tell Monroe goodnight and go to your room. You might want to lock the door and turn on some music if you don’t want her to hear you.”
“Hear me?” I ask, and Monroe grins wider.
“I’m gonna take this to my room and watch a movie. With headphones. You know those noise-canceling ones my mom bought me so that I could concentrate on studying. Yeah, I’m going to use those.” She winks as she stands with her half-eaten bowl of popcorn, her phone, and a bottle of water in her arms. “Night, Em. Love you.”
“Night. Love you too,” I tell her. “She just went to bed.”
“Lock up, baby.”
“Okay. Do you want me to call you back?”
“No. Fuck, no. I miss the hell out of you, and I’m not losing any more time. Take me with you to lock up.”
I do as he says, making sure the apartment door is locked, and I turn off the lights. When I make it to my room, I don’t bother with the overhead light. Instead, turning on the small bedside lamp. Just as he instructed, I close and lock my bedroom door.