Page 191 of Dance of Defiance

Evie:Also…want to do dinner sometime after you’re feeling better?

Me:I’d love that

Evie:Me 2! :)

Evie:Feel better!! Call anytime!

Me:Thanks girl

Evie:lol??

Fuck. I’ve lapsed into the wayItext Evie.

Me: Sry, Covid brain. Going back to sleep now.

Then it’smyphone dinging again. Jesus.

Brooklyn:So, you’ll be at rehearsal tomorrow? Joking aside, missing five days would be bad.

Me:I know. I’ll be there.

Me:Clingy much?

Brooklyn:Asshole :P

I finally put both phones down and sit back in the lounge chair, looking out over the city.

“Hey.”

I whip my head around and then smile when my eyes land on him. Roman looks likehell, but I don’t give a fuck.

“Hey.”

I jump up from the lounger and walk over to where he’s leaning against the doorframe out to the veranda with a blanketwrapped around his shoulders, a haggard expression on his unshaven face.Fuck. The guy looks like he’s lost ten pounds. He's leaner, especially in his face and jawline, and when I wrap my arms around him, I feel a noticeable lack of padding over his muscles.

“How’re you feeling?” I murmur, letting him sink against me a little.

Roman snorts into my shoulder. “About as good as I probably look.”

“Well, you look fucking hot, so…”

He grins weakly as he pulls back, flashing me a half-smile.

“You hitting on me?”

“Duh.”

He grins again. “I don’t look hot. I look like shit, and we both know it.”

“Agree to disagree,” I grin. “You’ve got this delicious early 00’s Brad Pitt thing going on. Like, lean, dirtyFight ClubBrad. Ooo, or greasySnatchBrad.”

“All I heard was dirty and greasy.”

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around his back as I help him out onto the veranda. I guide him over to the lounge chair and sit down before I ease him between my spread thighs, his back to my chest as I wrap my arms around him.

“Do you need anything?” I ask gently.

He shakes his head. “Still no appetite.None.”