The House

I rolled my eyes and tried not to be too obvious I was looking at him through the corners of my eyes. It was very hard to keep my gaze away from him.
Roman grumbled something under his breath. He was driving slowly, and at first I heard a light tapping on the windows as the suddenly, violent winds blew from all directions and just as quickly, the sound became a pitter-patter. I watched through the windshield, fascinated, as the large pillows of clouds formed, people either running for cover outside or seeking shield under umbrellas as the roofs of the cars danced with spray and I could hear the murmuring of the rain through the window. It sounded like a distant memory, a jazz melody. Calm. Relaxing.
I looked at Roman, really looked at him. He looked warm and fresh, like frail clouds. There was really only one word to sum it up. Angelic.
The dream had not done him justice.
"Er... Roman! Thanks... for everything," I mumbled, embarrassed, looking out of the window again, my cheeks heating up instantly. I was glad he was watching the road.
His eyes were tight. "Um... okay."
I looked up at him and then deliberated not sure if this was a good idea, but then I sighed and leaned towards him and quickly, nervously, kissed his cheek. I abruptly moved back to my seat as though I'd been electrocuted.
Roman just stared at me, his face wiped clean of all emotion, no doubt regretting his decision to get me away from Bill. He didn't speak as he watched me warily and then he sighed, shaking his head. What was he thinking? Not knowing was agonizing.
"Thank you," I said again — my voice heavy with gratitude — embarrassed.
He nodded once.
I opened my mouth to say something, and then closed it again.
He seemed to relax just a little. “Nuru,” he said, "You could've just asked —though I'd have said no — there was no need to jump on me."
"Doesn't shoving your dirty fangs in my neck constitute as molesting me?" I shot back, smiling in satisfaction when a flicker of guilt shone in his eyes.
He grimaced. "I'm sorry about that." His voice was so remorseful, it made him sound as if he hated himself.
I didn't like that, so I smiled so that he'd know I wasn't mad, but rather... well... and said, "Such a jerk."
"Is that why you want me to break your virginity?" he teased, recovering. "An invitation I refuse to honor, by the way."
"You're so damn full of yourself."
"You could be full of me too," he continued his teasing.
"I'd rather take that dildo you use on yourself rather than lower my standards to the likes of you."
"Whatever chicken lips."
"Chicken lips? Of all the names you've given me — Juliet, Salt, Kid — this has to be the most... disturbing."
He inhaled sharply. Looking at me in a strange way, in a way so strange that it messed with my heart beat.
We drove north out of Port Edward, towards highway 102. As we passed and turned our backs on the welcome sign to Port Edward, there was nothing but trees swaying at the command of the wind.
Suddenly there were glimpses of huge, tall and breathtaking houses. He took the road twisting eastward, which led us to the rough roads that eventually took us to the building forest. If Roman hadn't been sitting next to me, the view would've been the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
Abruptly the trees shied away to allow room for the only street that housed the mansion Roman called home.
The curved road lined with all indigenous kinds of flowers — the range was wider than any I had ever seen in a floral shop.
We stopped at a huge metal gate that had the letters J.K engraved in the middle.
"J dot K?"
"Julius and Kate,” he told me quickly as though he’d been waiting for me to ask the question.
And then the gates parted, presenting a pallid, rectangular, elegant four-story mansion that sat guided by white and purple lilies and red roses. The space was wide and open as he drove up to the garage. He parked a few feet away, though. A fish pond stretched out over the third length of the house. The windows were all wall high, the sliding doors were dark, allowing no view of the decor from the outside. On the patio a glass round table sat surrounded by high chairs that looked royal, expensive. I was envious.
"You live here!"
He didn't answer for a while, he looked like he was having an internal battle, by the hostile glares he kept shooting at the house I had enough sense to assume there was something in that house that upset him. Or someone. But suddenly he was smiling at me with encouragement and his eyes shone with amusement.
“Would you look at that?" He pointed to the flowers. "That's what a rose looks like."
I did my best at a smile. I was nervous.
I was suddenly very aware of where I was and a roll of anxiety crept up on me.
He could sense my unease as he opened the car door for me. I tried to breathe normally.
We walked at a slow pace to the porch. He didn't seem bothered by my stalling, or the rain. “You didn’t give me enough time to prepare for tonight…” I felt and sounded like the breath had been knocked out of me. I had thought we were going back to Anton's. The prospect of living alone with Roman unsettled me.
When we got to the house, I was speechless.
Inside it was spectacular of course, it was how I’d imagined a wedding venue; very spacious.
I inhaled sharply.
Sitting around in the family room, watching a rerun of How To Get Away With Murder, were Roman's family.
I came to a sudden stop, I hadn't expected so many people. Hell, I hadn't expected people at all, now the idea that Roman was hoping to avoid someone didn't seem so ridiculous after all. There was a man spotting a high and tight hairstyle with short black hair left at the top part of the head then slicked back, the sides were bald. He reminded me of men in the military.
At his side was a woman, her dark brown copper hair was pulled into a ponytail, her black eyes were large and she was a couple of dress sizes overweight, not big enough to be considered obese but big enough to hint at the good fortune her family had.
They looked up at Roman and me and the man was the first to get to his feet and then the elegantly dressed woman. I guessed it was Roman's Parents.
“You didn't tell me I was meeting the family,” I blurted out to Roman angrily, my voice was no louder than a whisper. "I would've made an effort to look nice."
"You're not my girlfriend," —he hesitated for a short second— "It's not like you need to make an impression."
“Still,” I mumbled extremely embarrassed. "A little heads up would've been nice." I looked ridiculous in my oversized sweater, it used to be my dad's, and baggy jeans. I completed my look with cream tennis shoes. They used to be white. Time hadn't been kind on them.
"Mom, dad..." He took a step away from me. "Er... this is... a friend of mine, Nuru."
"Nice to meet you, Nuru," the woman stepped forward as she spoke, her steps measured.
"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Reeves."
She raised an eyebrow at Roman and he shook his head. I felt she was asking something important. That caught my interest. We shook hands.
"I'll accept none of that Mrs business. I may be a mother, but I'm sure not spotting any gray hairs yet. Call me Kate." Her voice was warm and inviting.
"You have a beautiful home, Kate." I was surprised by how calm and clear my voice sounded. It was the exact opposite from the panic that slammed me.