Page 73 of Inside Out
“Can I wear my leggings and ratty sweatshirt?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“What’s the catch?” Heather asked, narrowing her eyes.
“No catch. You can say I need your help coming up with a school fundraiser to raise money for my Ohio Science Olympiad team.”
“That’s a great idea,” she said excitedly. “I really could help out during my visit so I wouldn’t be lying to my husband.”
“I already have my fundraiser set up for the spring, but we can talk about it to ease any guilt you might feel about sitting and reading undisturbed for hours at a time.”
“You’re a genius, Julius.”
“My mother says so,” I said, bumping my shoulder against hers.
“You’re a man of science then?”
“Among other things,” I replied vaguely. I reserved talking about my music with my inner circle. “I’m definitely passionate about teaching advanced sciences at Blissville High School.”
“You know a thing or two about chemistry then,” she teased.
“Are you referring to my relationship with Rome?” I asked uneasily. Was she indicating that chemistry was lacking between us?
“Honey, it doesn’t take a scientist or require special goggles to see the chemistry arcing between you and Rome. You can’t possibly know how much it means to see him looking so happy.” Heather stopped walking and faced me. “I just want to be certain it’s not the kind of chemistry that burns white hot at first then fizzles out because sustaining that level of heat and intensity for long periods of time is impossible. I want it to be a slow burn that builds up over time, binding you closer every passing year.”
I had the urge to pull back from her and go find Rome. Was it because I was insulted or because Heather had spoken my biggest fear out loud? Most of the time, I ignored the tiny nagging voice that cautioned me that Rome and I had moved too fast. When love was new and the passion was explosive, it was easy to convince yourself the differences between you were no big deal. Love will conquer everything and all that jazz. The truth was, love wasn’t always enough. If differences couldn’t be bridged and compromises found, no amount of passion could sustain a relationship for the long haul. My scientific brain knew compatibility needed to be an equal component to love and chemistry in the relationship equation, while my musician’s soul only knew Rome made my heart sing. Did Rome and I have the perfect trifecta working for us? Prior to seeing this part of his life, I would’ve said yes. After meeting his friends, I had some doubts I couldn’t ignore.
Heather shook her head and snorted derisively. “Look at me getting all emotional.” I returned my gaze to hers and saw tears swimming in her eyes. “You really love him. It’s written all over your face right now.”
“I—”
“Don’t say another word. I had no right to say that to you. I’m acting as supercilious as some of the pompous windbags you’re about to meet.”
“Oh joy,” I said dryly.
“Stick by me, kid. I’ve got your back.”
“Kid?” I arched a brow dramatically so she wouldn’t know her arrow had pierced through my armor.
“I meant that as a term of endearment and not a crack at the age gap between you and Rome.” Heather’s hand slid down my arm until she laced her fingers with mine. “You’ll need thicker skin if you’re going to come out of this party alive.”
I figured she was being dramatic, but she wasn’t. While some of the people she introduced me to were nice or polite, some were downright snide. They didn’t bother to hide their surprise that I was Rome’s boyfriend. Of course, they weren’t bold enough to say what it was about me that stunned them, but it didn’t matter. Their message was clear: I didn’t belong in their world; therefore, I couldn’t possibly belong in Rome’s.
Speaking of my guy, where the hell was he? I’d tried to discreetly search the room while trying to appear engaged in the conversations going on around me but didn’t spot Rome anywhere. Everything was fine with Heather by my side, but the claws came out the moment she was called away for an emergency in the kitchen. Questions changed from polite but indifferent to rude and probing.
“Who are your people?”
“My people?” It took me a second to realize they weren’t referring to my ethnicity. They wanted to know if I came from an affluent family. Then again, had I been as white as Rome, they would’ve naturally assumed my attendance meant I had good social standing in their community. “My mother is a nurse and my father drove a taxi cab.” They didn’t gasp in horror, but it was close. I looked around the room once more, hoping to find Rome but didn’t see him with any of the assholes. I decided I’d had enough separation and politely excused myself from the group to go find him. I was tempted to rescind Heather’s invitation to our—Rome’s—house after she abandoned me to the wolves.
Heather had told me the general direction of Frank’s study during our tour, and I wondered if that was where my man had gotten off to. If not, she’d said there was a bathroom close by, and I could just pop in there to catch my breath and center myself.
As I walked down the corridor, a familiar voice coming through a partially open door stopped me in my tracks. “Ted, you don’t have anything to worry about. I could tell you made a good impression on Rome. He probably went to order a car to send the whelp back to the litter.”
“Don’t be crude, Cybil,” a man said. I didn’t recognize his voice, so I hadn’t met him yet. “Now I guess we know why he’s never shown any interest in the rest of us. He wants younger guys.”
Cybil snorted. “It’s a midlife crisis, my pet. Nothing more. You’ll be in Rome’s bed by Thanksgiving, if not sooner. When you are, I wantallthe juicy details.”
“Not a chance,” Ted told her.
My stomach pitched and rolled. I continued down the hallway, hoping they didn’t see me walk by. I found the bathroom door further down the hall but was upset to find it was already occupied. I didn’t want to walk toward the study again and risk running into Cybil or overhear more of her poison. I had decided to peek inside the rest of the rooms down the hall to see if any of them had a door that led outside, but the bathroom door suddenly opened.
Rome’s pale blue eyes widened in surprise and his lips curved into a joyous smile. He didn’t look like a man who wanted to get rid of me. “There’s my guy,” he said. “I’ve been—”
I cut him off by pressing my lips to his while walking him back inside the bathroom and shutting us inside.