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“Where am I taking you?” he finally asked.

“The library across from the farmer’s market is fine.”

He didn’t bother responding and we rode in silence for fifteen minutes until…

“I’m sorry for what I said about your parents. I didn’t know?—”

“It’s all good,” I said, waving him off.

“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have been rude to you. I’m just a creature of habit and I don’t?—”

“Like disruptions to your routine.”

He cut me a glance, his jaw flexing as he nodded. “Yea. That.”

“I get it.”

More silence loomed and I occupied myself with staring out the window at the jagged rocks jutting out from the mountain, closest to the street. Rome handled the curves on the road with ease I was still trying to learn. It was nerve-racking getting adjusted to the narrow lanes and ever-winding roads. Especially when you drove a van as old as mine with questionable power steering.

“Congrats on your two year anniversary.” I didn’t know why, but I wanted to talk to him, hear his voice a few more times, before we said goodbye.

“Thanks,” was all he said. But his jaw wasn’t clenched anymore and I took that as a sign to continue the conversation.

“What’s the name of your shop?”

“Soulstice Apothecary.”

A gasp left my throat. “Oh, I’ve been there! You make my favorite hibiscus tea blend.”

I tried to contain some of the excitement in my voice, but it was impossible. I loved that place. I bought all my incense, teas and body balms there. It was my little monthly treat to myself.

“How come I’ve never seen you at the shop or farmer’s market?”

“I like being behind the scenes.”

“Hmm. I get that.”

The shop was always quiet with a single attendant near the front whenever I stopped by. But I knew they had an impressive online shop that brought in most of their revenue. They made everything in-house and shipped their tinctures, teas and herbal supplement capsules all over the state.

It was strange that he didn’t even man his weekly booth at the farmer’s market though. At least he wasn’t there whenever I popped by.

Still, I couldn’t believe I’d unknowingly come in such close contact with him so much over the past year.

It was a good thing though. If I knew the owner looked like Romeo, I probably would have found my way in that cute little shop way too often to spend unnecessary money just to get a glimpse of him. Istillcouldn’t get over how beautiful he was. I hadn’t met many people with a complexion as dark and mesmerizing as his in my life. I was so enamored I kept catchingmyself staring without knowing it. The muscles pulling his skin taut didn’t help, either.

Before I knew it, we were in the library parking lot. I smiled when my Volkswagen bus came into view.

Just as I suspected, it hadn’t been towed or booted overnight. The public library was one of the few places I could count on in any city not to be a stickler for extended parking.

“This is me,” I said, pointing to the blue and white van.

Romeo frowned and pulled into the parking spot beside it.

“This is your car?”

“This is myhome. But yes, I drive it too,” I told him, digging around in my purse to find my keyring. “Thanks for everything. Tell Sincere and Lorenzo the same.”

He didn’t say anything as I climbed out of his luxury car and headed straight for the side door of my van.