Chapter 253 Growing on me.

Chapter 253 Growing on me.
CHAPTER 253
Growing on me.
ROMEO

“How pissed are you right now? On a scale of one to ten?” I ask her once we are alone.

Jordan went with Daisy while Kai is having a much-needed conversation with Pandora. We are alone in my bedroom. She is lying on her back, staring at the ceiling. 

“Twenty.” She answers simply.

I blanch, eyes wide. “Really? I was going to tell you but –”

“I’m kidding.” She cuts me off with a chuckle and turns to me. “It wasn’t your secret to tell, and I understand. It wasn’t much of a secret, to be honest. Kai and I have been best friends for over ten years. I know him. I knew he wasn’t going to pick Oxford. He is a genius. He loves Mathematics as much as I love Oxford. He was always going to choose Cambridge.” 

I blink, staring at her. “Then why are you sad?” 

“Because he is my best friend and he’ll be alone there, at least for a while.” She bites her lip. “He has always been there for me, always had my back, and I guess for a second, I deluded myself into thinking we would be together. What if he doesn’t make friends? What if he gets roomed with a creep? What if he gets lonely and I’m two hours away from helping him? What if we get too busy for each other and fade away?” 

She is close to tears. 

My heart aches, and I sit on the bed beside her. 

“That isn’t going to happen,” I say with all certainty. 

“How can you be sure?” She grumbles, sitting up. 

I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me. “Because we are going to see him every weekend. Realistically, there will be weekends that we are too busy with school and can’t see each other, but you have been best friends for over ten years. A two-hour distance is not going to ruin that. We’ll see him often, baby. I kind of have to see him, seeing as he is my cousin.” 

“And you love him, so stop pretending.” She shoves my shoulder, and I laugh. 

“Yes, he is the closest I’ll have to a twin brother, so yes, I do adore him, but he means the world to you too. Kai isn’t going anywhere. England is big, and we’ve never been before. We’ll take time off from school and explore all the nooks and crannies. Jordan will join us too, and whenever we are back, we go to Jordan. I know how much this group means to you, and I will do everything to keep us together.” I avow earnestly. 

She bites her lips and blinks away tears. “This group does mean the world to me, and I am terrified of us slipping away from each other. I don’t want that to happen, not now, and not ever.”

I nod, running my hands through her hair.

“Realistically, I know the chances of keeping us together are low, because life can happen, but I want us to try.” 

“We will try,” I promise, and she nods. 

“Now, can you stop being so sad? It makes me hurt.” I whisper, pressing my mouth to her cheeks.

She flushes and stifles a yawn. “I’ll be fine. I’m only a little exhausted.” 

“How was dress shopping?” I ask, watching as she lies back on the bed.

I lay beside her, wrapping my arms around her.

“I got the prettiest dress, Rome. I felt like a princess, and I cannot wait for you to see it.” She beams, heat spreading all over her face.

“I’m sure it is beautiful.” 

“When are you going tux shopping for Prom and the Football Banquet? You only have a few days left.” She frowns at me, stifling a yawn.

“I was supposed to pick it up this evening, but Dad wants to come with me, so tomorrow. I’ll send you pictures,” I explain.

“I’ll be waiting.” She burrows further into me and falls asleep slowly.

__

Dad and I rarely spend time together. He is busy with work, and I am busy with school. Yet, here we are, at the VIP Suite on Madison Avenue. They have my measurements and have prepared a few suits for me to choose from. I need a suit for the Football Banquet and one for Prom.

“This is a double-breasted suit in wool fresco. Navy color. Why don’t you try it on?” 

I do as he asks, and have to admit that it’s soft against the skin and snug around my body. 

“This is an important banquet. You will be representing the family. All your years of hard work and training will finally pay off. You have done a good job, Romeo and I am proud of you. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. This is a chance for your school to honour you for everything, to honour the Sinclair family.” Dad claps his hand on my shoulder. 

I meet his gaze in the mirror and smile. “Thank you, Dad.”

“Do you want to take this?” He asks, running his fingers over the collar. 

He wouldn’t have asked me if I wanted to before. He would have decided for me. Yet, here we were. We had come so far, and it started with Millicent.

“Yes, Dad.” I nod, pushing away the knot in my throat.

“Good. Try on two more.” He suggests, and smirks, “I must say, I really like your hairstyle. I wasn’t too thrilled about it initially.”

“Really?” I snort. “How surprising.”

“Hey, keep the attitude.” He feigns anger, and we laugh.

“But it has grown on me. Millicent has a nice eye.” He smiles, and my heart warms. 

“She is the best.” I agree, knowing I won’t make a mess again.

“I hope you are being a gentleman to her.” He says seriously.

“Yes, I am. I made a costly mistake, and I won’t repeat it.” I avow earnestly.

“Good.”