All I've Never Wanted (20 page)

Besides, as expected, Adriana’s really good at persuading people.

When we got to the restaurant, Zack, Parker, and Roman were already seated in the private VIP dining room.

“Hey, honeybee,” Parker said smoothly, standing up to kiss me on the cheek. “Did you find anything you liked?”

Adriana answered for me. “She definitely found a lot of stuff
you
would love.”

“Oooh.” Parker grinned, pulling out my chair for me. “I like the sound of that.”

Roman rolled his eyes. “Can we order now?” he asked crankily, pressing a button on the side of the table.

“Jeez, what’s up your butt?” Adriana unfolded her napkin and laid it across her lap.

“Ignore him, he’s been like that since lunch.” Zack smirked.

The waiter appeared and took our orders. After a bit of indecision, I finally settled on the pancetta.

“Where’s Carlo?” I asked, noticing the Colombian’s conspicuous absence.

“He had something to do,” Zack replied vaguely, looking a bit nervous as he exchanged a glance with the others.

Weird.

“So what color did you go for, honeybee?” Parker asked, breaking the inexplicable tension.

It took me a minute to realize what he was talking about. “Uh…I don’t know…” I mumbled, wondering why fate insisted on embarrassing me every day.

“Whatever color you choose, I’m sure you’ll look amazing,” Parker declared dramatically, grabbing my face and planting a giant smooch on my forehead.

“Come on, Parker, you can do better than that,” Adriana said, leaning back and grinning wickedly at us. “Why don’t you give her a kiss on the lips?”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen you guys kiss!” Zack cried, jostling the table in his excitement. “Do it! Kiss, kiss, kiss,” he chanted, banging rhythmically on the table like an eight-year-old.

Parker raised an eyebrow at me as I stared at him, horrified. Crap. I’d hoped the others wouldn’t notice he and I never did anything more than hold hands!

“What’s with the hesitation? I mean, a kiss wouldn’t be a big deal—unless you guys aren’t really dating…” Adriana’s voice trailed off.

Parker shrugged apologetically, then slowly leaned in. I immediately tensed.

“Sorry, honeybee,” he whispered in my ear, so the others couldn’t hear. “We have to keep up this façade until your grandmother leaves. Just in case.”

I sighed. Even though there was little chance of my grandmother finding out Parker and I weren’t really dating, I didn’t want to risk it.

“Besides…” Parker’s smile turned sly. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”

Before I had a chance to react, he pulled me closer to him and planted a long, lingering kiss, right on my lips, the type of kiss that left onlookers with no other conclusion than the fact that we were most definitely a couple.

The sound of a glass slamming on the table interrupted us.

I pulled back, slightly dazed. Whoa. I know I wasn’t really dating Parker, but the boy can kiss.

He winked at me, a smug look on his face.

I rolled my eyes, my head clearing a little. Not that I was going to tell him that. He had a big enough ego as it is.

We turned to face the others, whose mouths were practically grazing the floor.

A strange expression flickered over Adriana’s face, but when she saw me looking, she quickly covered it up. In fact, it was gone so fast I wondered if I'd imagined it.

“I would appreciate it if you two can refrain from PDA,” Roman said, narrowing his eyes at us as he tightened his grip on his water glass. “Some of us are trying to eat.”

“But the food isn’t out yet,” Zack pointed out, scratching his head. “In fact, it—oh!”

“What happened?” Parker and I asked simultaneously, as Zack doubled over with a groan.

“Oh, god, my stomach hurts,” Zack gasped, pushing back his chair and scrunching his face up in pain.

“What? You were fine just a minute ago!” I exclaimed, slightly worried. I’ve never seen Zack like this.

The blond grimaced. “I must’ve eaten something bad earlier…”

“I told you to stop stuffing everything you see into your stomach,” Adriana scolded him. “Does it really hurt that much?”

“What does it look like?” Zack snapped. “God!” He doubled over even more, clutching his stomach like he was dying.

I gulped. “Maybe we should call an ambulance or something,” I cried, rifling frantically through my bag for a phone. Zack must
really
be in pain, because he never snapped at
anyone.
“What if he has food poisoning?”

“Don’t call 911, it’ll just cause a scene.” Adriana threw her napkin onto the table and stood up. “I’ll drive him to the ER.” She shot us an apologetic look. “Sorry to bail on dinner like this, but as much of a doofus as Zack is, I don’t want him to die.”

“I can’t believe you’re—making fun—of me—while I’m on my—deathbed,” Zack gasped.

Adriana sighed. “Parker, can you help me bring this drama queen out to the car?”

“Sure,” Parker replied easily. He gave me another wink. “I’ll be right back, honeybee.”

“Text me and let me know how things go,” I told Adriana anxiously.

She nodded, slipping one arm around Zack’s shoulders while Parker supported him on his other side. The trio staggered out the door, leaving just me and Roman behind.

Well, this was awkward.

“I hope Zack’s ok,” I finally said, fiddling with the silverware in front of me.

“He’ll be fine.” Roman’s voice was curt. He didn’t say anything else.

So much for conversation.

We just sat there in silence for what seemed like forever, studiously avoiding each other’s gazes.

What’s taking so long?
I thought, biting my lip and jiggling my foot nervously. I didn’t deal well with awkward silences, and Parker should’ve been back by now.

Suddenly, Roman cleared his throat, startling me.

My head jerked up and I stared at him, confused.

“So.” Roman shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I, uh, just wanted to apologize for—for yesterday.”

My jaw dropped. Had he just voluntarily apologized to me? For the second time?
And
he stuttered!

Hell must have frozen over by now.

I was too stunned to say anything, and he obviously took my silence to mean I didn’t accept his apology, because he continued, “I really didn’t mean to walk in on you while you were—er, you know—“ He broke off, his face turning red.

My own face turned the exact same shade of Il Serrano’s crimson walls as I remembered yesterday’s scene. “It’s ok,” I squeaked, jiggling my foot even more. “It’s not your fault. Adri just texted you the wrong number.”

“Right. Right.” Roman nodded absentmindedly. “And just so you know, I didn’t look or anything. I mean, I looked, but I didn’t stare. I mean, I’m not that sort of person—“

I couldn’t help but giggle a little at his discomfort.

“—I wouldn’t stare at you anyway, is what I meant to say.”

“Are you calling me ugly?” I couldn’t help but tease him a little.

Hey, you would do the same thing! It’s not like chances to make fun of Roman Fiori came along all that often.

Roman turned even redder. “No! That’s not what I meant! It’s—well, you’re Parker’s girlfriend, so that would be…inappropriate.”

“Very,” I agreed, hiding a smirk as he shifted again in his seat, an adorable frown on his face.

I blinked. Wait. Did I just think Roman was
adorable?
Oh, god, maybe Zack wasn’t the only one getting sick tonight.

Thankfully, the door swung open and Parker strolled back in, snapping his phone shut.

My relief faded when he gazed at me apologetically. “I just got off the phone with my mom, I have an emergency back home,” he said with a sigh. “I have to go.”

“What? What about dinner?” I blurted, panicking. No way was I going to stay here with just Roman!

“I wish I could stay but I can’t, I’m really sorry.” Parker frowned. “I do have to go though. I hope you understand.”

“Maybe we can do a group dinner later,” I suggested, scrambling to stand up. “Since no one’s here anyway.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s a shame for all that food to go to waste. I spoke with the chefs before I came back and boxed up Zack, Adri, and my meals. You two just enjoy your food here.”

“No, that’s all right. Parker, I can just go with you.” I begged him with my eyes, hoping we’d spontaneously developed an ESP connection overnight. “I can help you at home!”

“That’s a sweet offer, honeybee, but I’m afraid you won’t be of much help. Rome here can drive you home, right?”

Parker glanced over at where Roman was watching us with sharp eyes.

“Right,” the violet-eyed Scion finally replied.

“See? Everything will be fine.” Parker kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow, honeybee.”

My shoulders slumped. “Bye,” I said glumly, as he walked out just as the waiter came in bearing our food.

I poked at my pancetta, my nerves doubling as it suddenly hit me that I was eating in a private dining room with just Roman.

“You know, poking at your food like that won’t make you any less hungry,” Roman said.

I looked over at him. He stared back emotionlessly, all traces of his previous adorable-ness gone, which is probably a good thing.

“You should eat.” He nodded curtly at my plate. “I know you’re sad your lover boy’s gone, but I don’t want you starving on my watch.”

“I am eating,” I protested. “See?” I took a bite of my pancetta to prove my point.

Roman snorted, then abruptly changed the subject. “So you and Adri went shopping earlier today, huh?”

“Yeah…” Where was he going with this?

“Funny, I figured you and Parker would’ve done the deed already,” he commented casually, digging into his own food.

I froze. “Why? Because I’m such a slut?” I asked lightly, trying not to show how much the assumption actually hurt.

Roman’s jaw tensed. “Because it’s Parker,” he answered flatly.

I stared down at my plate. “We’ve only been dating for a week…”

“Guess you’re looking forward to homecoming then.”

“What makes you say that?”

His lips twisted into a wry smirk. “So you guys can finally do what you’ve wanted. Isn’t that why you bought all that lingerie?”

I glared at him. “Have you ever heard the saying, when you assume, you make an ass of u and me?”

Roman shrugged nonchalantly, but his jaw was still tight. “I’m right though.”

“No, you’re not,” I snapped. I didn’t know why I was getting so riled up. I shouldn’t care what he thought of me, but I was getting undeniably frustrated and couldn’t stop the stream of words that came out of my mouth next. “You don’t even know anything about our relationship! Besides, I’ll have you know that I don’t even know if I want to—to do anything homecoming night! I mean, I’m a virgin, for God’s sake!”