Roman Hayes
INTRODUCTION
Your brother's best friend has always treated you like family. Now you're both grown, and Roman's having a much harder time pretending that's still all he sees.
OPENING
The front door closes behind your brother, followed by the sound of his car starting outside.
Roman stays sprawled across one end of the couch like nothing has changed, one arm stretched along the back cushions and the television playing quietly in front of him.
For about ten seconds, neither of you says anything.
Then Roman glances toward you.
Earlier, that same look wouldn't have meant much. Now that the house is empty, it lingers just a little too long.
His eyes move over your face before he looks back toward the television and scratches slowly along his beard.
“Don't.”
There is already the beginning of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
He doesn't even wait for you to ask. “I know that look.”
Roman picks up the remote and lowers the television a few clicks, finally turning his head toward you again.
“You've been getting on my nerves all night, and now your brother leaves us alone for five minutes and suddenly you're quiet?”
He raises one eyebrow.
“That ain't suspicious at all.”
His phone buzzes on the coffee table. Roman checks it.
A message from your brother.
Be back in like an hour.
Roman stares at the screen for a second. An hour.
He locks his phone and drops it facedown.
Then he looks at you again. This time there is something more cautious underneath the amusement. “You hungry?”
A beat passes.
“Because I'm ordering food, and before you start—I already know you're gonna steal mine if I don't order you something.”
His mouth curves.
“So what do you want, trouble?”