Love Me (The Elites of Cheshire shore #2)

41. Florence

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

florence

M y first week as Rome’s real girlfriend, not just because he needs to impress a business associate, is done. I can’t believe it, but it actually gives me butterflies every time I remind myself, I’m somebody’s girlfriend. Tonight, we have our first official date night and I’ve been floating on a cloud all day. I message Luca, I’ve really neglected him since my relationship with Rome became more than just something to help them get a deal across, and I have a lot of making up to do with him.

Flo

I have so much to debrief you on. I’m planning a brunch session if you’re free this weekend?

Luca

Absolutely. But please bring Rome’s credit card. He’s paying.

Flo

On it, Boss *wink face*

I giggle and pocket my phone. I can’t wait to spend the evening on the couch with Rome watching trash TV, or maybe if I can swing it, I have a whole heap of new study cards I’d love for him to test me on.

“Rome,” I call as I open the door to our apartment, but I’m greeted with silence. I notice his satchel on the table, and strewn folders and paperwork. Odd.

“Hey, beautiful, you’re home early.” I hear Rome’s voice moments before he appears in front of me looking like a Greek god with a towel wrapped securely around his waist, his brows pulling down, puzzled by my arrival.

“Yeah, this new rotation has much better hours.” I stand on the balls of my feet, kiss his jaw, and sigh, finally at peace now that I’m with him once again.

“I just need to grab a quick shower. You can tell me all about your new rotation. Give me ten minutes and I’m all yours.”

“I’m counting down,” I call as the bathroom door closes, brushing off the feeling that something seemed off with Rome. I put it down to the fact that he must have had a busy day.

“Now look who’s the sappy one.”

“I know, you’re rubbing off on me, this is really bad.” I laugh because that’s what this has turned me into—a person that is so in love they’ve become sappy as fuck. I never thought I would be here, yet here I am. I tug on my dad’s necklace.

Rome’s phone pings through the apartment just as a sharp rap on the door disturbs my thoughts. Opening the door, I find Sav standing before me in a trench coat and, from what I’m guessing, nothing on underneath. “Oh, umm, hi?” I stumble over my words. Rome was just here moments ago in nothing but a towel, surprised I’d finished work so early, and now Savannah has arrived in equally as little clothing.

Sav eyes widen as she takes me in. “Hi, Dr. Liu-Savino, I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. Rome mentioned you were helping with the acquisition.” She makes her way past me and into our apartment. “Is Rome around? He asked me to come by tonight.”

Her words slash through me, and I piece together everything in front of me—Rome showering just as Sav arrives. Oh my god. My eyes burn as I quickly blink away tears; I knew Rome was going to hurt me. I knew my heart wasn’t safe with him. “Y-yes.” I try to keep my face from falling to show my hurt. “He’s in the shower.” I grab my bag and discarded coat. “I was actually just heading out, so I will be out of your way,” I say, trying to hold back tears.

Sav smiles. Of course she does; I’m the added complication standing between her and Rome, and I’m removing myself. “It was so nice to see you, Dr. Liu-Savino.”

Same can’t be said to you.

Closing the door behind me with a thud, I slump against the wall, my chest rapidly rising and falling but my ashy lungs can’t seem to take in a single breath. There is no way I could stay in that apartment and hear that woman get her brains screwed out by the guy of my dreams. What the fuck. I trusted Rome. I opened myself up to Rome. And he just went and proved exactly why I don’t believe in love, why love just hurts.

Air.

I need air.

I pull up the sleeve of my jumper and see red splotches marring my skin. Rome’s been playing me the entire time, and I’ve fallen for it. He was just using me to push the contract through with Deeter Group…and I guess the fact I’m going to be here after this goes through became convenient for him to make us look even more like a loved-up couple. I stand and charge toward the elevator; I can’t go to Luca’s because he’ll just ask questions, but I need to get out of here, I need to get off this floor.

I run straight into Sof, exiting the elevator. “Shit, sorry.” My voice sounds foreign even to my own ears.

“Flo.” Sof gasps, dropping the bag in her arm. She rushes to my side and pulls me into her chest. “What happened?”

“I did exactly what I said I would never do. I fell in love, and it’s completely ruined everything. I took my eye off the ball and now I might lose my career. Fuck.” My tears stream down my cheeks. “I thought he loved me, I really did. Now I know it was as fake as our relationship was supposed to be.”

“Oh shit.” Sof’s lips thin. “Come on, let’s get out of the hallway.” Sof bends down to grab the bags she dropped and leads me straight into her apartment.

“What happened?” she asks the moment we’re safely behind her closed door.

Wracking sobs peel from my lips as images of what just happened float through my mind. Sof’s face turns ashen as she continues to hold me, rubbing calming circles on my back and shoulders while I continue to let the pain out.

“God, I feel so stupid. He doesn’t love me. He was using me, just like I knew he would. I knew it, but I was stupid and listened to everyone around me and now look at me.” I rub my forehead and blink away another round of fresh tears trying to escape my eyelids.

“Oh, honey, no. You’re not stupid, you’re in love. Here.” She hands me a glass of water.

“Thanks,” I mumble, wiping the fallen tears on my jumper, as I accept the glass from her. Sof comes to sit beside me, her plump lips pulled down. Her own jumper wet with my tears.

Her elusive cat, Mr. Rhubarb, chooses at that moment to make an appearance. Tiptoeing out of his hiding spot and onto the couch, curling himself up between us, sensing my need for his support. I lightly stroke his belly, enjoying the feel of his soft fur under my fingertips.

My reflection in the shiny black glass on the wall catches my attention. I zero in on my pastel lilac hair. And suddenly hate it. I want it gone. I hate the outlandish hair color, because I’m not special or unique. I’m just like everybody else.

“I need to change my hair color,” I blurt.

Sof blinks a couple of times, trying to decipher if I’m being serious. “Sure, let’s book an appointment with the salon.”

“No, I want to do it now.” My voice hardens. “I want you to do it.”

Her eyes dart around the room like I’ve just asked her to perform a small surgical procedure in her living room instead of putting dye in my hair. “Are you sure you won’t feel better having a skilled professional do it?”

“I’m sure.” I nod.

I guess the hard glint in my eye must’ve been convincing enough because Sof pulls her phone from her pocket. “What color do you want?”

“Can we talk about the drastic change of hair color?” Sof shakes her head, pointing to my now jet-black locks as she finishes running the brush through the blow wave she’s given me.

I shrug, my throat constricting. “It was a stupid hair color for a na?ve woman,” I say as Mr. Rhubarb jumps onto my lap and purrs.

“It wasn’t and you aren’t. Your hair color was a reflection of you, Flo. It was full of life and color just like you are.”

I snort. “My dad used to always tell me ‘look for the color behind the black and white,’ That was what I was. But I guess even he was wrong.” I down the last of the water like it was high-proof liquor. “At least I know I was right all along; love isn’t worth the pain. Love just ends up making you miserable and I’m not going to be that stupid or na?ve ever again.”

“Oh, babe, no don’t say that.” Sof curls her arm around my shoulder.

“It’s all right. I’ve made my peace with it. But it’s about time I stop thinking about the Venuccios, and being the one they can count on.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks.

“Well, first, do you need a new roommate? Because I’m in the market for one.” I can’t go back to Rome apartment. Not now. Not ever, I don’t think.

“Are you kidding, that would be great. Mr. Rhubarb and I would love if you moved in.”

My shoulders sag, in part with relief and also sadness. I’d really come to love living with Rome; it was so easy and felt so right. It felt like home. I just can’t go back there now after I finally let someone in and got hurt in the process. I just need to put some space between me and Rome and remember how to shovel my feelings back in that box. My phone continues to hum in my pocket, but I ignore it.

“How about I debut this new look?” I wipe the last trail of tears, my face no doubt puffy and blotchy from all the crying I’ve done.

“What do you have in mind?”

“A new friend of mine from the hospital has been asking me to grab drinks for a while. He’s actually been a good friend, and I think it would be good for me to get some fresh air.”

Like a magician, or some sort of fairy godmother, Sof had me dressed and ready, waiting for the Uber to pick me up in no time. I messaged Archer, who sent me the name of a bar to meet at, the hard part was covering up the fact I’d just bawled my eyes out. We snuck up to Livvy’s floor, and with some help from Livvy’s trove of makeup goodies, she managed to conceal the nearly hour of crying in a matter of minutes. My phone continued to beep. When I saw Rome’s name pop up on the screen, I decided to ignore it. But now Luca’s messages are just as relentless. I debated turning my phone off, but that idea also seems fraught with danger. So it’s staying on mute.

“Bye.” Sof kisses my cheeks.

“Have fun,” Livvy says as she closes the Uber door behind me. I nod and blink. Have fun? Not likely, but I’ll try . I offer a halfhearted thumbs-up and that seems to convince them.

They both take a step back while the car pulls away from the curb. The car ride goes by incredibly quickly; I’m so deep in my thoughts I don’t remember a thing, until it stops in front of the bar. I thank the driver, get out, and walk straight into the bar. I scan the crowd and immediately find Archer waving back at me.

“Hey.” I smile as I take a seat opposite him.

“Hey,” he returns my greeting.

A waitress quickly appears and we both order a beer, not my usual go-to drink, but tonight, I don’t really care. The waitress materializes seconds later with our order. I grip the long neck and take a few deep swallows and grimace. Why the fuck did I choose beer ? I guess new hair, new Florence? The old Flo is shaking her head right now, sipping her dirty martini happily.

“Nice hair color. Don’t tell me hospital policy finally won?” Archer points the rim of his beer bottle at me. Obviously, my defiance seems to have proceeded me.

“No, I felt like it was time for a change.” I let my answer hang in the air. A small part of me cracks when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the window. The jet-black hair, done beautifully with blue flecks—just isn’t me.

“So I was surprised to get your text. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to have someone to go grab a beer with, but I thought you’d have a date with Rome tonight?”

I let out a heavy sigh and take another sip of my beer. It seems to taste better this time, maybe it gets better the more you drink. Lucky me, tonight I can test that theory. “There’s no need to go on a date with someone if you’re no longer dating them.”

“Oh, mate,” Archer’s face falls, “I’m sorry to hear.”

I shrug my shoulders and play with the label on the bottle, trying to appear casual and unaffected by my words. Build those walls back up, Flo.

“Hey, Flo, wanna look up at me for a sec?” He uses a finger to tilt my chin up. What he sees on my face has pity clouding his eyes.

“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that. I’m sure you two will work it out.” His hand comes up to cover mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

The air thickens as the door bursts open. My eyes glance up before quickly focusing back in on Archer. Just as a looming presence shadows our table. How the fuck did he find me so quick? No, the better question is why the heck did he want to find me? The fact that he’s showing up here is a waste of his time.

“It’s so nice of your man to be so chill with you coming out with me. No possessive red flags there at all. So…” Archer searches for the word, “awesome. I’m loving that for you.” He eyes Rome standing over my shoulder. I almost snort a laugh. Everything about Rome is intense. It’s part of the reason I’m so attracted to him.

“He’s not my boyfriend, not anymore. I’ve just gone back to being his little brother’s best friend. I’m more like a little sister to him.” The words are bitter on my tongue, but I make sure to say them loud enough so he can hear exactly why I’m pissed. “And no one tells me what to do and who I can see. Period.” I finish the rest of my beer and let the glass clink on the table.

“Flo.” My name is like crushed gravel stuck in his throat, but I refuse to look at him. I can’t. Not after he just ripped my heart out.