Finding Romeo

Chapter 30

(Talia's POV)

Walking down the sidewalk in the hustle and bustle of New York city was usually something that I did without thinking twice about it. With Romeo, I paid attention to everyone and everything that was happening around me a little more. It was because he was twitchy and nervous, keeping his head ducked down. It was obvious that he wasn't used to be on a busy street around so many people. To try and calm him down a bit and keep him focused in something other than everyone around us, I moved closer to his side and wrapped my arm around his waist. I felt him flinch under my touch, but I didn't withdraw, just turned my face towards his until he glanced at me. I smiled broadly and tightened my hold, giving him a little reassuring hug.

We crossed over a crosswalk and made our way to a electronics store, where I could buy Romeo a phone. I hadn't told him that I was going to do it yet. My plan was, I would buy and pay for one, then give it to him so he couldn't argue about it too much. He wouldn't want me to waste all that money right?

"What are we doing in here?" My phone spoke out loud for Romeo.

"I need to pick up something," I said vaguely.

Romeo followed me around the store as I picked out one of the phones, signing the needed paperwork for it and grabbing a cell phone case for it. The phone case had a doggy on it holding a rose in his mouth. It was cute and reminded me of Romeo, so I got it. I paid and we walked outside back into the busy street an hour later.

"Can I have my phone for a minute?" I asked, holding out my hand. It was easy, he handed it over to me without a second thought, giving away his only form of communication. "Thanks. Here you go." I said, holding out the new phone for him.

Romeo shook his head, taking a step backwards away from it. Like the phone was lethal and would kill him if he touched it. Talk about a man being too proud for gifts.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to say. Use the translator on this phone," I said, still holding out the phone.

Romeo grimaced, shuffling out of the way of a group of business people who looked like they were going to try and walk right through him. He shook his head again.

I sighed heavily. "You have to take it. I already paid for it and everything. If I take it back now, I'll have to pay a two hundred dollar cancellation fee. I want a way to communicate with you when we're not together. What if something happened to you? Or me? And I couldn't get ahold of you?" I asked, pulling my emotions up over the top, forcing a tear out of my eye.

Romeo looked uncertain. I had him just where I wanted him. "You can pay me back if that will make you feel better. I just want to be able to talk to you again." Sniffle for affect.

His eyes narrowed slightly on me, before he sighed and took the phone. Yes! He took a few minutes of fiddling with the phone, before he started using the text to speech app to talk. "I would do anything to make you happy my Rose."

"Great!" I said, swiping the lone, forced tear away and brightening back up.

"I will pay you back," Romeo said through the phone.

"Mhmmm," I hummed, waving his words aside. Like I cared if he payed me back. He had saved my life, in my mind we were still very far from even. I let it slide though, knowing that if I fought him on it, he would probably give me the phone back, then still repay me. Stubborn man. "There's a park this way, we can go for a walk if you'd like," I said, glancing back at him as I started walking down the sidewalk. I had no idea if he had anywhere else to be today or if he needed to go back to his and Jack's house to check on anything. I wish I could buy him new clothes, but I knew that was probably something that I would have to time just right. I didn't want him to think that I thought he couldn't take care of himself.