She rose up onto tiptoe so she could hear him, so she could get closer, to encourage him to finish what he’d been going to say.
‘What else was I going to do?’
The query was almost inaudible, but she heard the thread of pain and longing.
‘I thought you wanted to be alone,’ she whispered.
‘I did. I thought that too. Until...’ His sombre eyes didn’t waver from hers. ‘Until I didn’t.’ He swallowed. ‘I don’t want to be alone.’
Her heart simply burst.
‘I thought I’d come find you instead.’ His breath was the softest warmth brushing her forehead.
‘Okay.’ She slipped her hand in his and swallowed. ‘Okay, then.’
She glanced about, suddenly aware that people had noticed his arrival and that he looked awkward. Roman didn’t do awkward. Roman was suave and confident. But now he gripped her hand.
‘Did you have that suit on the train?’ She smiled up at him.
‘I have a whole wardrobe here.’ He stared at her. ‘Where’d you get your dress?’
‘It’s Linda’s daughter’s old prom dress. The theme was The Golden Age of Hollywood. I feel like I should be in the nineteen-twenties. She shortened the straps for me.’
‘Prom dress, huh?’
She chuckled. ‘Yeah. I finally got to wear one.’
‘And the earrings?’
‘Linda’s costume jewellery.’
‘That’s what she told you?’
‘It is. Isn’t it?’ She put her hand to her ear. ‘The crystals are too massive to be real.’
A gleam entered his eyes and suddenly she was suspicious.
‘Are they not costume?’ She was shocked—and then appalled. Was she wearing something unspeakably valuable? ‘How do you know?’ Her eyes narrowed as she realised. ‘You deceived me.’
‘I’ve said nothing.’ He shrugged.
‘Omission is still a lie.’
‘Don’t be angry. They’re beautiful on you.’
‘I thought...’
‘They’re kept here. Family vault. They haven’t seen the light of day in years.’
They really were real! ‘What if I’d lost them?’ She breathed.
‘At least they’d have been worn one last time.’
‘Why did you do it?’
‘You’d have said no if I told you. I just wanted to do something nice for you without any...’ He trailed off.
‘Drama?’