003

Chapter 3

Lila’s POV

I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache, my mouth dry as sandpaper, and my stomach rolling with regret.

I couldn’t even remember how I got into bed. Last night was a blur.

All I could recall was getting ready for the party, the burn of beer sliding down my throat… and Roman.

My eyes flew open as a flashback of Roman kissing me slammed into my mind.

I sat up with a gasp, instantly regretting it as pain throbbed through my skull. With a groan I buried my face in the pillow. What had been a hazy memory suddenly became sharp and vivid, like a nightmare I couldn’t shake.

Roman’s lips on mine. His firm hands gripping my waist. The heat and rush of that kiss, the hunger, the way it felt like my body no longer belonged to me.

No. I shook my head hard. I had to be hallucinating. Roman would never…

Another groan slipped out as I tugged at my hair. There was no way he kissed me. It felt too much like a dream, so it *had* to be one. Just a stupid drunk dream and nothing more.

I stopped pulling at my hair and stared at the ceiling, biting my bottom lip. My mouth still tingled like it remembered, making it harder to dismiss.

“God,” I muttered, pressing my palms over my face. “I’m losing it.”

Just as I was about to convince myself it was all imaginary, a loud knock sounded on my door.

“Lila!” Ethan called. “Breakfast!”

“Coming!” I answered, even though I wasn’t hungry and I knew a certain someone would be sitting at the table.

Taking a deep breath, I got out of bed and headed for the shower. I kept telling myself it was only a weird dream, and for a moment it almost worked.

My heart stopped racing… and was replaced by a quiet disappointment. Which was ridiculous. Why would Roman ever kiss *me*?

I glanced at my reflection before leaving the room—messy bun, flushed cheeks, lips still slightly swollen.

My thumb brushed my bottom lip. “It was just a dream, Lila,” I whispered to the mirror. “Just a dream.”

---

I walked into the kitchen to the smell of bacon and coffee. My stomach growled, but my steps faltered the second I saw him sitting at the table.

Roman looked completely unbothered. Brown hair tousled like he’d just rolled out of bed, tattoos peeking from under his T-shirt, coffee mug in one hand while the other scrolled through his phone.

He glanced up. Our eyes met.

My heart skipped. My stomach twisted—not from hunger, but pure anxiety.

“Good morning, Lils.” He offered a small smile.

I nodded, carefully watching his face. Maybe it really *had* been a dream. All I had to do was act normal.

“Good morning… Roman.”

Ethan sat across from him, shoveling eggs into his mouth. His eyes flicked up as I took a seat, and his brow arched in that way that meant I was about to get scolded.

“You were drunk last night,” he started. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I don’t remember giving you permission to drink.”

“I just took one cup. Big deal.” Irritation flared in my chest.

“Big deal?” Ethan scoffed, waving his fork. “I also heard you played truth or dare in that state.”

“You invited me. If you wanted me to sit in a corner and do nothing, you should’ve left me in my room.”

“That’s because I thought you’d be responsible enough not to do anything stupid. If it weren’t for Roman, who knows who would’ve been stuck with you in that closet—”

“What?” I cut him off, looking between them. Why was Ethan talking about something that happened in my *dream*?

Ethan shook his head. “Weren’t you and Roman in the closet during seven minutes in heaven?”

I nearly choked on my food. Roman stayed completely unfazed, leaning back in his chair.

“She was drunk,” he said smoothly before I could speak. His eyes stayed on Ethan, not me. “Someone probably spiked whatever she was drinking. I was just looking after her like I always do.”

Ethan barked out a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. God knows what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”

“No need to thank me. Lila’s more like family to me,” Roman muttered, taking another sip of coffee.

His words stung. I sat there wondering if the whole night really *had* been a dream. My chest felt heavy with an unfamiliar ache that burned deeper than the hangover.

Without a word I dropped my fork and stood.

“Lila?” Ethan called after me, but I didn’t look back. I stormed down the hallway until I felt another presence behind me.

“Lila, wait.” A hand closed around my arm—firm but gentle. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“Let go.” I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.

Roman stepped in front of me, eyes locked on mine. “About last night. Let’s just forget it ever happened.” His voice dropped low, like he was sharing a forbidden secret.

And that was when I knew.

It *wasn’t* a dream.

“What happened last night?” I feigned ignorance, finally jerking free.

Roman’s eyes flashed. His brows drew together. “You don’t remember?”

I wanted to laugh, but I only shrugged. “Like you said, I was drunk. So I don’t remember anything. Did I do something stupid?”

His jaw flexed. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve sworn he looked disappointed.

“Lila…”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Roman.” My voice came out surprisingly steady. “I’m not the kid you have to babysit anymore. And I think you already saw that.” I finished, referring to the towel incident.

Roman’s eyes darkened, but he turned away, taking the hint. “Sorry…”

I forced a smile. “Yeah. And welcome back. Don’t think I actually said that yesterday.”

I turned before he could reply, my smile falling the second my back was to him.

If he was going to dismiss me after kissing me, then fine. I’d rather pretend nothing happened than be treated like a mistake.

---

By late afternoon the sun was brutal, and I couldn’t stand the suffocating air inside the house any longer. My nerves were still buzzing from the morning, every word Roman had spoken replaying in my head.

So I decided a quick swim in the lake would cool me off. The water shimmered beyond the trees, cool and inviting. I changed into my bikini under my shorts and shirt, then headed down the worn wooden path.

I dipped my feet in first, sighing at the relief. Slowly I stripped off the rest of my clothes and dove in, letting the water wrap around me like silk.

I closed my eyes and floated on my back, letting the gentle waves wash away some of the heat and frustration. For a few blissful minutes I almost forgot Roman existed.

“Having fun without us?”

I flinched at Ethan’s voice and whipped my head around. He and Roman were coming down the trail, both shirtless and carrying beers.

I rolled my eyes and pretended not to notice them.

Ethan tossed his shirt aside and dove straight in, grinning. Roman took his time.

He pulled his shirt off in one sharp tug, revealing the sharp cut of his abs. Then his shorts hit the ground, leaving him in dark swim trunks that sat low on his hips, showing the deep V-line that disappeared beneath the waistband.

I tried not to look. Really, I did. But my gaze lingered a second too long, drinking in every movement, every ripple of muscle as he strode into the water.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to look away.

*Get it together, Lila.*

The three of us swam aimlessly for a while. I made sure to keep my distance from Roman.

But his eyes kept drifting toward me, each glance hot enough to make breathing difficult.

Then Ethan’s phone rang from the dock. He cursed under his breath and waded back to answer it. “It’s probably Mom and Dad. Don’t drown without me.”

With Ethan gone, I was alone with him.

I kept swimming, focusing on steady strokes and refusing to notice how the atmosphere had shifted.

I tried a swimming technique I’d seen online—and it turned into my biggest mistake.

As I dove deeper I felt a sudden slack against my shoulder.

My bikini strap.

The top slipped free and floated away like a tiny white flag of humiliation, carried by the current straight toward Roman.

My breath caught. Heat flooded my cheeks as panic surged. I spun around immediately, arms crossed tightly over my chest.

What the hell was this situation?!  

Why *now*?!

I froze as I felt him moving through the water toward me.

“Don’t come any closer!” I hissed, though there wasn’t much I could do.

“I can help—”

“Don’t!”

Despite my desperate plea, Roman kept swimming closer, my top dangling from his fingers.

My mind went blank. I sank deeper, the water stealing my breath as I tried to hide from him.

The cold did nothing to stop the heat crawling over my skin. I kicked harder, desperate to escape both him and myself—until a sharp pain sliced through my calf.

“Agh!” I jerked, bubbles exploding from my mouth. My leg locked up. My lungs burned as I started to sink, the surface dragging further out of reach.

I reached out weakly—

A strong hand clamped around my wrist. With effortless strength I was hauled upward, breaking the surface in a violent splash.

I gasped and coughed, water spilling from my lungs. Without thinking I clung to him.

And that was when I realized.

My bare chest was pressed flush against his. Skin to skin.

Every nerve in my body went rigid. I felt him freeze too.

His heart thundered against me—faster, harder—matching mine. I tried to twist away, but the movement only pressed me tighter against him.

“Stay still…” Roman’s voice was rough and strained.

That’s when I felt it—felt *him*—hard, pressing against my stomach beneath the water.

Oh God.

“L-Let me go…” I hated how I stuttered, but I was falling apart.

A low groan rumbled in his chest. His jaw was tight, eyes dark, like he was fighting something savage inside himself. Yet his grip never loosened.

The air between us felt hotter than fire, thicker than the water surrounding us.

I should have yelled. Punched. Kicked. S

hoved him away.

Instead I only trembled, trapped against him—against his closeness, his heat.

“Lila…” His voice dropped, low and dangerous, half warning and half confession. “You’re driving me insane…”