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"𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬"

The drive took longer than I had expected. I had no idea where he was taking us, and I didn't ask.

My music was playing from his car's speakers, I felt bad that I had taken over his car, but he didn't seem to mind.

We'd made it past the city, and the signs and directories we passed indicated that we were on our way to Lincoln Square.

The anticipation was eating me. I loathed not knowing what was going to happen; it was something that caused me anxiety, whether good or bad.

Even when I'm on jobs I was filled with anxiety. Even though I was convinced that everything would work out - as it always did - the unknown had always frightened me.

I turned down the music and focused my attention on Roman to distract myself from my curiosity.

When I took a closer look at him, I noticed that his posture and demeanour were both relaxed and soothed. His exceedingly dark eyes, veiled within the amber, remained focused on the road - maintaining his stern, emotionless demeanour.

"Can I ask you something?"

His brows raised a fraction and he looked at me emotionlessly, as if my voice had surprised him.

He returned to the road with a single nod.

"Are you close with your father?" I blurted out, my gaze stuck on his side profile.

I realise it was a strange question, but I was genuinely interested. He appeared to be around him for business purposes, but they didn't appear to be really... family-like.

My question must of ticked something inside of him - due to the small jump of a muscle in his jaw and the way his grip on the wheel tightened the very slightest.

I had turned away after a few moments of silence. The stillness was deafening, but the unanswered question weighed heavily on my mind.

"No."

My attention returned to him, the question answered. The tone of his voice told me that asking any further questions was highly prohibited, so I did what the quiet said and shut my trap.

'Thank you, next' by Ariana Grande played softly on the speakers, and if I weren't in this situation right now, I'd be laughing at how absurd it appeared with the uncomfortable silence.

I cleared my throat and changed the subject almost immediately - and my stupid uncomfortable ass decided to bring up the very thing that kept this whole car alive.

"So... what type of music do you like? I've got Bad Girl Riri or... Drake if that's how you swing. However, if you're a Chase Atlantic fan, I've got an entire playlis—

With a soft chuckle, he put an end to my rambling. The sound was breathy, but that made it all the more appealing.

"Whatever you want, Ella." I grinned as I took in his slightly amused features.

I'd grown accustomed to the tilt of his lips, which was the closest thing to a smile. His normally deceiving eyes had a glint of amusement in them.

I smiled as I shuffled the playlist again, letting the songs come to me.

After another fifteen minutes, Roman arrived at an empty parking lot - with only one car a few spaces ahead of us. He had parked, turned off the engine and exited the vehicle, coming around to my side.

Roman had taken my handbag for me as I stepped out of the car, and my gaze was diverted to the area we were in.

Three tall trees blocked anyone's view of what was behind them - but the many lights that peeked out through the dark branches suggested it could have been buildings, particularly the city itself.

The sound of the car locking had jolted me out of my thoughts, and I shifted my focus back to Roman.

His eyes were already on me, and his calculating, hard expression made me shift in my position. I took one of his tatted hands in mine, and he threaded his fingers through mine.

He leads me across the car park and over to the tall trees that I had been eyeing previously. Once we made it through the gaps, my steps came to a halt, and I knew exactly where we were.

Riverside Park, South New York.

New York City's sparkling buildings and structures gleamed in front of the dividing waters. This location was well-known for its side view of the city, but the actual reason for its popularity was for the view of the stars - which stunned me completely.

The gleaming sky, peppered with bright spots across the deeper blue sky that blanketed New York. With my lips parted and my eyes wide with amazement, I felt utterly engrossed in this mesmerising sight.

But it was the person alongside me who - by bringing me here - made me feel so completely heart warmed. Given the fact that he knew I wanted to see the stars - yet he took me to see the stars.

I drew my gaze away from the irresistible view and fixed it on the man next to me. His body was resting against the railing behind him - one hand in his sweatpants pocket and the other holding my bag.

With his head tilted and lips quirked into a slight smirk, my arms threw themselves around his neck, pulling him down into a hug.

"Thank you, Roman," I murmured in his neck as I drew him closer to me.

As his lips pushed against the side of my neck, I could feel the faint smirk play on his lips. I smiled back and moved away, and he followed.

Our eyes were locked, and our lips were centimetres away from touching. His gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips, darkening as he stared at them - and then the slow movement of our lips getting closer until they finally connected.

Warm, plush, and soft, was everything I felt from his lips. With the delicate movement of his lips, his customary sweet flavour overwhelmed my senses. This kiss was slow, delicate, and everything I've ever wished to experience.

With his palm cupping my cheek, his thumb stroking across my cheek, and the warm sensual feeling of his touch from my lips to my skin, he had fully captured me.

Exhaling a short breath as the brief kiss ended, carefully moving away with my eyes closed and my breathing fanning his.

I smiled at the infectious energy he carried around with him, which somehow absorbed and attracted me. I smiled at the fact that despite his obscurity and closed-off self, he found a place in his heart to guide me to my deepest wish.

Finally, I smiled as I realised how much he mattered to me.

I shuffled away from him as I looked away, my gaze travelling to the sky above us. I took his hand in mine and led us to the modest grassy meadow that overlooked the waters and the city.

Sitting down and crossing my legs below me, I turn to the side to face Roman. He sat down next to me, one leg propped up and the other flat on the cut grass.

He returned his eyes to the bag in his palm, which he offered to me; I accepted it, taking out my laptop and setting my bag aside.

"Have you finished yours?" I asked as I turned on my laptop.

"Yes," He replied flatly. I glanced up at him for a second, examining his eyes that were pointed towards the water besides me.

Opening the document, I moved the laptop from my lap and placed it in front of Roman. He looked towards it and then to me, his gaze amused as he returns to the laptop, placing it on his lap.

"You haven't started," He pointed out, it was delivered more as a question than a statement.

"Erm, no," I replied weakly.

"That's why I needed your help." I looked at him curtly.

Before speaking again, he nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the blank page.

"Where are your notes?"

I quickly pointed my finger to the second opened tab, he clicked there, and I watched him read through the other document quickly.

His fixated eyes trailed along with the words, his long tatted fingers scrolling along with the touchpad - and my easily distracted self had completely forgotten what was even happening.

I observed as he tapped onto my essay document and began typing, formal, convincing, and informative words.

Within five minutes, one entire paragraph had been completed - and I was definitely considering hiring him as a tutor or something.

He traveled down a line before withdrawing his fingers from the device and refocusing his gaze on me.

"Your turn," He said, reclining back in his spot and staring at me with blank eyes.

"Can you just do it for me?" I pouted and tilted my head.

With a shake of his head, he rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the screen.

"What happens when you have another essay and I'm not here to help you?"

"Why wouldn't you be here?" I frowned.

He ignored the question and nodded towards the laptop, "Come on, I'll help you but you gotta talk,"

I let out a deep sigh and nodded.

He sat up and returned his hands to the computer as I sat closer to him, starting a new paragraph with my own voice forming the starting sentence.