Street Heat

Chapter Five - Behind the Smile

When we finally pulled up to my house, he eased the car to a stop in front of the driveway. The soft glow from the porch light spilled out onto the street, making the whole thing feel more personal somehow, like this was a moment I'd remember for a while. 

"You live in a nice spot," Roman said, leaning back in his seat, his eyes flicking from my house to me.

I smiled, unbuckling my seatbelt. "Yeah, it's home."

For a second, I felt like I should say something more, maybe thank him again for the night. But before I could, Roman spoke first. 

"I had a good time tonight, Lottie," he said, his voice low and smooth, but not in that over-the-top way. "Thanks for saying yes."

I looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. He wasn't being cocky or trying to push anything. Just...genuine.

"I did too," I admitted, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Thanks for, you know, the whole rooftop thing. It was really nice."

"Maybe we'll do it again sometime." He smiled, with a softer tone this time, and leaned back. He reached over and opened my door for me. No pressure, no moves, just respect. It made my stomach flip in the best way possible. "Goodnight, Lottie,"

"Goodnight, Roman," I replied, stepping out of the car. As I started toward the door, I could feel his eyes on me, but not weirdly or creepily, more like he was just making sure I got inside safely. When I reached the door, I glanced back and caught him giving me a nod before driving off, the sound of his engine fading into the night. I stood there for a second longer, replaying the night in my head. The race, the rooftop, the way he'd been so different from what I'd expected. Sure, Roman had that reputation, but tonight, he was charming and thoughtful. Maybe I'd judged him too quickly. With a small smile still lingering on my face, I unlocked the door and slipped inside quietly. I put my jacket on the coat rack and trudged to my room, I noticed my mom was asleep on the couch so I paused and walked to the linen closet, quietly opening it and grabbing a blanket. I spread it over her shoulders gently and continued to my room. I changed into comfy clothes and slumped onto my mattress, a content grin lingering on my face. I lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment, but my eyes soon fluttered closed. I was happy but tired. I yawned, pulling my fleece blanket over top of myself, and sleep came swiftly.

The sun filtered through my curtains, casting warm rays across my room. I stretched, still feeling the lingering excitement from the night before. Roman's smile, his laughter, it all replayed in my mind as I got out of bed. I grabbed a quick breakfast before texting Magnus to see if he wanted to spend the day together.

Me: Hey, you down to hang out Mag?

Magnus: Always, you should come over. 

I smiled and put a thumbs up on his message. A little while later, I found myself at Magnus's place, the familiar smell of motor oil and grease welcoming me as I stepped into his garage. It was like my second home, filled with tools, car parts, and the constant promise of new projects.

"Hey, Lottie," he called, wiping his hands on a rag and flashing that easy smile of his. "Ready to get your hands dirty?"