Page 284 of Blackwood

His hands stay in his pockets. His eyes, those steel-gray eyes, are locked on me. Steady. Quiet. And for once, not cold. Just… waiting. Like he’s not here to command. Like he’s just hoping I’ll choose to walk toward him.

I take a slow breath and step forward. Lex’s hand catches mine. I glance back. He looks tense, like his body wants to move before his brain tells it to.

“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper, squeezing his hand. “I’ll be right back.” I nod toward my bag on the ground. “Grab my bag?”

He grunts, still not letting go.

I press a kiss to his cheek. “Promise.”

He lets go. I walk toward Roman slowly, legs still wobbly from the dances and the adrenaline crash.

“Hey,” I say quietly.

Roman smiles. “You were amazing, Bella.”

My breath catches. Not at the words, but the way he says them, he means them. Like he’s proud of me.

“The way you moved, the emotion in it. It wasn’t just a routine. It was something else. Like watching someone bring the storm to life.”

He runs a hand through his black hair. “You remind me so much of your mother when you dance.”

That hits harder than I expect. I nod, swallowing past the sudden ache in my throat.

“Thank you. I just wish I could have known her.”

“She was fierce,” he adds, almost to himself. “Didn’t care what anyone thought. But onstage, she was unforgettable.”

I glance down at my shoes, then back at him.

He clears his throat, shifting slightly. “I know you’re headed to your party tonight and I wanted to ask, if it’s alright, I’d really like to be there.”

My face pulls into something between confusion and horror. “Wait, what? Roman, it’s a college party. A real one. You absolutely do not need to be there.”

“No, no, no,” he says quickly, hands lifting in surrender. “Not like that. Not to, I don’t know, crash it or hang out or whatever the hell you kids do these days.”

He takes a breath. “I mean for protection.”

That stills me. He takes a careful step closer. “I know Luca’s been quiet lately and maybe it’s nothing. But I’d feel a hell of a lot better knowing someone was keeping an eye on you. Just in case.”

I cross my arms. “I’ve got Lex. And Cade.”

Roman tilts his head. “And most likely, you’ll all be drunk as shit.”

I blink.

“And I’m not judging,” he adds. “You deserve to blow off some steam. But if anything were to happen tonight, I just want to be close. Out of sight. Out of the way. But there.”

I hesitate. “Lex will lose his shit if he sees you there.”

“I’ll stay hidden,” he says. “Promise.”

I sigh. “Fine. But don’t hover. And for the love of God, don’t get into a staring contest with anyone.”

His lips twitch like he wants to laugh but doesn’t. Then he steps forward just a little. A tentative movement. He reaches for me and I tense.

He stops immediately. Hands lowering like I slapped them. “Sorry. I… I’m sorry.”

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “It’s okay. I’m just not ready for that yet.”