"Roman?" I asked, my eyebrows lowering, "did you hear me?"

Roman looked like he was too busy processing what I just said to answer. He sat up straighter in his chair, and he was looking down at me like I was speaking another language.

"Sorry," Roman told me after another moment, then his mouth turned from a straight line into a smile. "I'm going to need to hear you say that again."

I felt my lips widen, the edges pointing upwards. I reached my hands out, laying them on his thighs. "I said, I like you Roman."

Roman snaked his arms around my waist so quickly that I almost jumped, which no doubt would have caused me to fall of the stool. I didn't have time to let out a squeal or even a laugh, because he pulled me onto his lap instead. I closed my legs around his waist, pulling my body closer to him as my stomach dances in circles.

Roman's lips met mine, and he kissed me. Though, just like last night his kiss was different than the ones I had experienced before. While the others were desperate and left me gasping with want, this one was light and airy. I could feel the way he was still smiling as our lips moved together.

Even still, I began to feel the drive of lust pump through my veins again. I pushed my mouth harder against his, trying to convince him to open his mouth so I could let my tongue in. When he realized what I was doing, however, he pulled back. The smile was still on his lips, and he shook his head as a low chuckled escaped his chest.

"Babe, how about we take this slower?" He asked me, and I felt my lips pout in response. "You barely know me."

"So?" I told him, biting down on my lip as my blood still felt soaked in need. "I barely knew you last night, too."

Roman's chuckle turned into a laugh at that, and he tightened his arms which were still around my waist. "Even though I told you that you'd be in my bed naked, I didn't think that's the only place you'd want to be."

"Well, you told me that you would give me the best sex of my life, remember?" I joked with him, and I couldn't help the smile that was bursting on my lips. It felt strange, I hadn't felt that in a while. "You can't expect to deliver on that and then hold out on me."

"No one is holding back, Lilac," Roman told me, and he loosened one the arms that was wrapped around my waist. He brought his hand towards my face, gently grabbing my chin. "I don't expect I'll last long anyways. But, I want something real with you. I don't just want sex. I want everything with you. I want to show you what it's like to have everything with someone, and I can't do that if we're locked in my bedroom."

I titled my head as I took in his words, the butterflies in my stomach becoming more like doves being set free. Once he was done speaking, he dragged his eyes down my body.

"No matter how much I want to," Roman added, his voice low again. He let go of my chin, and he pushed away a stray strand of hair that had fallen onto my face. "Please tell me you don't have anywhere to go tonight."

"No where." I told him quickly, and even if I did, I had a feeling I wouldn't have gone anyways.

"Good." Roman smiled at me, "I have a match tonight, I want you to come. I think Clara will be there with Samuel."

"Okay," I easily agreed, and a part of me was excited to see him fight again.

"But, until then, we can talk." Roman told me, and though I realized that was a good idea, I wanted to do much more than talk.

"Okay?" Roman asked me, and he pressed a quick peck to my mouth as if to convince me.

When I nodded, he stood from the stool, once again the weight of my body seemingly not affecting him. He easily walked towards the couch with me around his waist, and he placed me on the sofa before sitting beside me.

"So," I started, once we were both seated. I looked at the distance between us, not enjoying the fact that suddenly we weren't connected at all. I quickly moved to fix that fact, throwing my legs over his lap. Roman only looked startled for a second, before he placed his hands on my legs and pulled me closer to him. Once he had completed that action, his fingers traced abstract art over the fabric that was covering my skin.

"So," he repeated my singular word. "Let's go over what I know about you. I know people call you Lilly. I know Clara is your best friend. When did you meet her?"

"I met Clara in after school daycare. She stole my glitter pens," I started to laugh at the memory, "and when I demanded she give them back, she said she would be my friend forever if I let her use them to finish her drawing."

"That's cute." Roman smiled at me, "I'm glad you have her. Does she know... about everything with your boyfriend?"

"No," I shook my head, feeling annoyed at the reminder of Jesse. "And I'd like to keep it that way."

"She won't ask questions about why you broke up with him?" Roman asked me, his eyebrows narrowing.

"What?" I asked him, blinking a couple of times.

"When you break up with Jesse? Which you're going to do soon, right?"

"Oh, right," I said quickly. "Yeah, as soon as possible."

Which, wasn't quite a lie, I had realized I wouldn't play this game anymore. The only problem was that I wasn't sure he would let me break up with him. Though, if anything, being with Roman made me want to try. I had to call his bluff, didn't I? It was the only option at this point.

"How did you meet Samuel?" I changed the subject, hoping he didn't hear the slight shake in my voice.

Roman looked at me sternly, like he was trying to determine if I was lying, for only a second before he answered.

"We meet at the gym a couple of years ago. Our coach made us train together, said we could learn from each other," Roman told me, his eyes softening.

"Learn what?"

"Samuel is quicker than I am, but I hit harder than him," Roman explained, and I understood what he meant, my mind replaying the two of them fight.

"So, what else..." Roman said, as if he was thinking of questions for me. "I know you live on the other end from town as our school. Why don't you go to the public school in your neighbourhood?"

I sighed, weighing the answers I could give him. Though, I didn't want to lie this time. Roman had earned some of my truths, after all.

"It was my dad's idea to send me there. He pays my tuition." I answered, pursing my lips together.

"I see," Roman said, "and your parents are divorced? How's that? Do you see him a lot?"

"No," I told him quickly, "I haven't seen him in a long time. He has a new family now."

"I'm sorry," he told me, his voice sincere. "His loss. Anyone who misses out on knowing you... well, he's missing out on knowing an amazing person."

"Thank you," I told him, grabbing one of his hands and squeezing it gently. His words has taken residence inside my heart, like they were thawing all the hurt inside of it.

"What about you?" I asked him, "what's your family like?"

Admittedly, I knew nothing about Roman's family. Though, I imagine their relationship wasn't great considering he moved out of his parents house as soon as he was able to.

"Well," Roman started, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. "My parents own a financial investment company. They work pretty hard, so their dedication to the kids was less than what I assume is normal. I think my nanny bought me more birthday cakes than my mom ever did."

I frowned as I listened. Though my relationship with my dad was nonexistent, my mom was amazing. I felt sad for him that he didn't have the connection that my mom and I had. I don't know what I would do without knowing that she would always be on my side.

"But they're good people, don't get me wrong. They did the best they could, I assume. Something has to give, whether it was growing their business or being absent parents. At least I had my brother with me," Roman continued.

"Brother?" I asked him, I had never heard him mention a brother.

"Yeah, my older brother, Derrick," Roman explained.

"That's cool," I added, "I wish I had a sibling."

It was true after all, it was lonely to be an only child. I always wished I had someone to play with, or someone just to have that unbreakable bond with.

"Yeah, it was great."

"What's he doing now?" I asked.

"Well," Roman said hesitantly, and he looked down. I knew he was trying to avoid me seeing the pain that flickered into his eyes. "He's passed now."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize," I rushed out, feeling the shock of his words in my chest.

"He was in a boating accident this summer," Roman told me, "on Pigeon Lake, July 22nd."

Nothing could describe the feeling that took over my body. It was like an ice cold bucket of water fell over my head, every inch of skin the water touched burned in panic.

July 22nd. It was the day my own life as I knew it ended.