55

CARLY

Since I met Rome, I learned a few things in the kitchen. I could now make sandwiches and boil water without burning the whole kitchen down. I could make an omelet and pasta sauce. I finally put the food processor to good use.

“Hey. Are you going out tonight?” I called him out from the kitchen. He had changed to casual from the suit he had worn earlier before work. Yeah, we finally had a good conversation. We were not really back like how we used to be, and we had not slept together, but we were getting there. And I was happy with that.

“Yeah. Did I forget to tell you?” He seemed to think about it.

“You don’t tell me shit, Romare.” I continued stirring the sauce in the pot.

“Whoa.” He arched a brow. “We talked about using words, Carlott Laylin Jemaine Storm Gattewarde Braynburd. And you just called me by the name you hate.”

“I don’t hate your name. And next month, I will hyphenate Langston.” I tapped the wood ladle a little bit stronger on the pot.

“Will the palace allow