Friends Forever Read Free Page A

and what sounded like to
Rome as personal ridicule. She ran her hands through her damp hair
and proceeded to rant about privacy, men were blind and her
stupidity.
    “What?” He leaned in to hear her better.
“What did you say?”
    “What?” Kate appeared confused, like she had
almost forgotten he was there.
    “What did you say?”
    “Nothing” she squawked. “Leave.” She waved
her hand at him, dismissing him.
    “I'm not going anywhere. I came here to talk
to you.”
    “Oh, you remember why you're here now?”
Looking deep into her eyes, Rome recognized pain, hurt and a hint
of disbelief.
    “Yes, I remember.” He stepped towards her
but she eased away so he stopped. “Let's go talk.” He held out his
hand to her showing her that he was being serious.
    Kate accepted his hand with hesitation but
permitted his offering.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    Rome sat on the sofa, just feet away from
her, and Kate became self-conscious of his presence. So close yet
so far. She would give anything to spill the truth to him, but she
had a gut instinct he was here for another reason. Not a good
reason at that. Was this going to be the night he finally told her
to leave him the hell alone, to stop pestering him like a school
girl?
    Cringing inside, her stomach recoiled and
bile began to rise in her throat. She knew it was coming, but also
knew nothing could prepare her for his verbal rejection. She'd
spent years swooning for this man and it all came down to a
two-minute conversation ending in a brush-off.
    His eyes were directed down and slowly he
raised them to meet hers. Swallowing hard, she geared herself up
for heartbreak. It was coming, the pain she experienced in the
shower was nothing compared to what was about to be thrown on her
now. Her hands twisted around her robe's belt, knotting the fabric
into shreds.
    “Kate.” Rome's smooth, silky voice entering
her being, she shivered.
    “Yes.” She lowered her eyes in shame.
    “We need to talk.”
    Kate sighed, turmoil continued to rise
inside her. Her lower lip started to quiver and she bit down on it
to prevent Rome from noticing, or worse, to prevent her from having
a complete breakdown.
    “I came here with the intention of telling
you...” Rome stopped.
    Kate raised her eyes to see Rome was staring
at her lips. “What?” She shook her head in confusion and rubbed her
temples.
    “Hung over?”
    “No.”
    “Kate...” Rome started
    “Stop.” She held up her hand. “Just go,
please.”
    Then the tears and breakdown began. She
didn't want to hear the words of rejection from his mouth. She
suspected the letdown was near, but her heart still couldn't handle
it. She had known this day was coming for years, but the reality of
it all was that she would never be prepared for Rome's denial.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Rome stood and closed the distance between
him and Kate. Gathering her in his arms, he let her cry. He'd known
her all his life and had never seen her so upset. He stroked her
back as the tears fell. After a few minutes, when the worst of her
collapse appeared to be over, Rome took her by the shoulders and
leaned her away from his body. Her tear-streaked face made him
crumble.
    “I'm so sorry Kate,” he shushed her as tears
escaped from her eyes. Using the pad of his thumb he wiped a tear
away. “Please don't cry, Kate.”
    Her shoulders continued to shake and Rome
pulled her closer.
    “Tell me who he is. Who hurt you? Tell me
and I'll kick his ass.”
    He stroked her back and when her body seemed
to convulse, he leaned back to see her face. He couldn't believe
she was this upset. But to his surprise when he lowered his eyes to
her face, she was laughing, not crying.
    “What are you laughing at?”
    “You.” Kate laughed in hysterics.
    “Me?” Rome shook his head,