Eternal Flame (Mature 18+)

Chapter 12

"You want to stay in Charlotte or are you thinking of relocating somewhere else?"

"I honestly don't know Roman. I know it sounds bad but I haven't really thought about it."

"It doesn't sound bad. Sometimes it takes people a while to figure out what they want."

His penetrating eyes held hers.

I've wanted you since I was 13. Do you count?

"You have any other plans for your birthday?" she inquired. "Besides the party, I mean."

"No. I'll probably just chill out around here. Maybe watch Netflix or something."

"You don't have anything going on all weekend?" He shook his head no. "If you don't mind me saying, don't isolate yourself. I don't think you should be alone."

He quietly looked at her.

"Mind if I say something else?"

"Have at it."

"I don't know what's going on with you but from what I've gathered it's pretty bad. I know it's none of my business but your family and the guys really care about you, and I can tell they want what's best for you. You're going through whatever and they're being really patient and loving with you because they feel that's the best way to handle it. I think you should cut them some slack. Make more of an effort to be gracious and patient with them in return. You have a network of people around you that love you so much they are willing to suffer relentlessly so you can suffer less. Don't take that for granted. It's not easy to find and so many people don't have that."

Roman continued to stare at her, seemingly untouched by her unwarranted advice.

"I'm sorry if I spoke out of turn."

"You didn't."

He didn't say anything else so she dropped it and turned back to the gorgeous city view.

"You want something to drink or something?"

The wind blew Kristen's hair in her face and she pushed it away with the back of her hand, glancing back over at him. "No, I'm fine." Her insides vibrated at how he was looking at her. His eyes seemed to follow the movement of her hand, all the way over to her hair. His eyes slightly narrowed as they caressed the top of her head to her lower back where her hair lay.

And that's when the phone started ringing again.

Roman irritably sighed and yanked the phone out of his pocket, scowling as he looked at it. "I'm sorry. I need to get this. Can you excuse me for a moment?"

"Sure."

"I won't be long. If you want something to drink, just help yourself."

Without another word he turned and went back inside the house, his phone pressed to his ear as he whispered sharply. Kristen's eyes stayed on him until he rounded the corner by the dining room and disappeared. She remained outside for a bit then went back in, walking around. Making her way over to the keyboard, she ran her fingers over the keys; then turned it on and played a few notes. Her ears strained in the direction Roman had gone but she couldn't hear anything.

She ruefully sighed and continued tinkering with the keyboard, pushing different buttons to play an array of sounds and instruments. Soon, her phone started ringing as well. She walked over to the couch where she had laid her purse earlier and pulled it out. She gratefully sighed when she saw Joy's name popping up on the screen. She promptly answered.

"Joy, it's about damn time. Where the hell you been?"

"Bitch, I haven't heard from you all afternoon either. Did you forget you had a best friend or something?"