Torn Between Tides

Chapter Twelve

The last time Roman was at Colt's house, he didn't exactly get to see the neighborhood given that he was unconscious. But this time he was wide awake, and something about the gated community Colt lived in felt weird. But Roman didn't think much about it, all that mattered was that Colt was beside him.

Colt parked in the driveway, and Roman didn't miss how the neighbors seemed to stare as the two men made their way inside Colt's house. Colt didn't seem bothered by it, though. So Roman figured it wasn't a big deal.

Once inside, Roman felt his mouth go dry. He wanted to be alone with the man, he was, so now what? Colt took his jacket off, hanging it on one of the hooks by the door and Roman's eyes followed his every movement. Roman always had something to say, so why was he struggling to find words?

"Everything okay?" Colt broke the silence, making Roman look at him as he nodded.

"Yeah, yeah of course," Roman replied, hoping his voice didn't show just how unsure he was of everything. Colt frowned at Roman's response, as if he knew that the man was lying. Thankfully, he decided not to comment on it.

"Right. So, lunch? What do you want to eat?" Colt asked.

"Anything works," Roman shrugged, "I'm not that hungry."

At that exact moment, Roman's body decided to betray him as his stomach made a noise that could be heard by even the people living next door. Colt chuckled, raising a brow as Roman smiled sheepishly. Goddamnit, way to embarrass myself, thought Roman.

"Let me see what I can whip up," Colt said. "Help me out?"

"Sure."

Roman watched the man at work. Taking out ingredients, chopping vegetables and expertly throwing in spices without measuring. It only made him all the more attractive, to say the least. Roman helped out where he could, as he did at home whenever Ezra cooked.

"I wanted to apologize," Roman stated finally. "I said I'd call you and...and then I didn't."

"You don't have my number," Colt retorted, his voice devoid of any emotion as he stirred the pot.

"I could've asked Trevor," Roman said.

"So why didn't you?" Colt questioned, glancing at Roman who sighed at the question before shrugging lightly as he looked down at the ground.

"I don't know," Roman muttered. But this was the one thing that he did now.

"You know that you're not as good a liar as you think you are, right?" Colt commented, making Roman chuckle.

"I guess it kind of scared me," Roman answered truthfully.

"What did? Calling me? I don't bite, at least I can't through the phone."

"That's not what I meant," Roman couldn't help but laugh again. Who knew that the mean and intimidating looking Colt had a sense of humor too?

"Then what exactly do you mean?"

"It scared me to think that..." Roman paused, trying to find the right words to explain. "I don't do relationships. I've never been in love and honestly? I don't think I've ever even had a crush. At least not one serious enough that I'd want to date the other person."

"Uh huh."

"And I hope you don't get crept out or think that I'm being too forward but—"

"You have been too forward with me the entire time."

"—I felt such a...such a strong attraction towards in what? Two days? Three? And it scared me because that has never happened before and I didn't know what to make of it. So I didn't call you, because frankly the idea of one person having this much hold over me is terrifying but I've been drowning in guilt ever since," Roman ranted.