head in my hands. I don’t know how long I sit in here, but it’s long enough that Roman bangs his fist on the door, startling me.
“Olivia, if you don’t come out of there, I’m coming in.”
Sucking in a large, much-needed inhale of air, I force the words past my lips. “I’m fine, Roman. Just…just give me a second, please.”
I hear his deep sigh, and I can imagine the look of impatience written all over his face. It brings a shaky smile to my own. It’s just like him.
When I feel, somewhat, better, like my lungs aren’t on the verge of collapsing, I stuff away the pill bottles that fell and splash some water onto my face, before opening the door.
Roman pushes off the wall immediately, his eyes raking up and down my body. He lingers on my splotchy face a little longer than usual. Heat rises to my cheeks in embarrassment, and I glance around, avoiding his gaze.
“The police should be here soon,” he mutters, something dark in his tone.
I heave a deep sigh. “Oh, joy.”
I let Roman lead the way out of my bedroom, and I jerk to a halt in the hallway, when I see the shattered glass across the floor.
“What the hell…?” I whisper.
“Get some shoes on. I don’t want you stepping on any glass,” Roman orders, already walking around the living room to survey the mess.
After I get on some shoes, I walk back out and clasp a hand over my mouth, taking in the mess and the shattered front window. My stomach sours.
Someone was in my house. It hasn’t really hit me until now.
“Did you…did you see anyone?” I’m afraid of the answer to that question, but I need to know. Did Roman catch this person running off? What would’ve happened if he wasn’t awake and didn’t run over here?
A cold chill travels down my spine at the thought.
He shakes his head, still glancing around. His nostrils flare, and he looks angry. I take in his stiff posture and suddenly feel bad. I’m ruining his sleep over this, and after how badly our last conversation went, I’m sure this is the last place he wants to be.
“I’m sorry about all this. I’m sure you have to get up early, and I hate to be the reason you lose sleep.”
Roman shoots a glare my way. “I’m not leaving you here by yourself, Olivia,” he snaps.
I raise my brows. Okaaay.
“How did you know something was wrong?”
Rome sighs. “Max kept barking. He doesn’t usually bark for any reason. Took him out to use the restroom, and he was still barking. He did the same last night. When I heard the crash next door, I knew something was wrong. I turned on the light in the bedroom, hoping I’d be able to see whatever was going on over there, and when I saw you in your bedroom, the look on your face, I knew something was wrong.”
My stomach cramps. “You can see in my bedroom? Even in the dark?”
Something enters Roman’s eyes, and the muscle in his jaw clenches. “You’d be surprised what I can see from my bedroom, Olivia.”
I cough, heat blazing my cheeks and neck in embarrassment.
Well, holy shit. It’s one thing to strip and touch myself for him with the light on, but all those other times in the dark that I didn’t think he could see—obviously, I was wrong.
He clears his throat. “Anyway, I ran over. I let Max out, and by the time I got inside, there was no one here. Didn’t see anyone outside either.”
I deflate at his words. How can someone get in and out that quickly without being seen?
When flashing lights shine through the window, our conversation gets cut short. We step outside, meeting with the officers, and relay the events of the night. I tell them everything I heard, what I was able to see, and what I wasn’t. Roman tells his side of events, and I make myself comfortable on his front porch. Sadness engulfs me, as I watch my house get walked through by police officers.
I glance down at my dead tulips and back up to the shattered window above, my brows crinkling.
“I didn’t touch your flowers,” Roman says, walking up his porch steps. He leans his strong body against the rocky column of his house. I crane my neck to glance up at him, my brows furrowed. I take in his expression, the sincerity in his eyes, and I suddenly feel like the biggest shithead because