I moved back to the pillows and reburied my head.

"What the hell??? You can't just come in here... wait!"

"MOVE!".

"Molly! Molly! Watch out-"

My bedroom door smashed open with a loud crack as Rome powered through. Cait, my sorority sister, ran behind, panting, her mousy brown hair swinging in her face. "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't leave. Do you want me to call security?"

I stared at Rome, a ferocious expression across his features.

"Don't. Even. Think it," he threatened, a staccato on each word.

I turned to Cait and shook my head.

Cait edged in closer, eying Rome. "You're sure?"

I sighed. "Yes. Thanks, Cait."

She curled her lip in disgust at Romeo; she wasn't a fan of the opposite sex. "Holler if you need me." And she shut the door. Romeo twisted the lock, trapping me inside.

"Just leave, Romeo. I have nothing to say to you."

He stormed towards the bed and spread his hands on the mattress beside me. "Well, I have somethin' to say to you!"

"What? That you've been lying and cheating all this time and that when you say you're training in the gym, what you really mean is that you're meeting up with Mommy Dearest and that tart?"

He bolted upright, fists tight. "That's not what fuckin' happened at all!"

"Whatever. I don't care. Leave." I lay back down, staring unseeing at the white wall.

Hands gripped my upper arms and Romeo jostled me to his chest, our noses almost touching. "My momma asked me to meet her today. Some kids charity she's on the board of asked for a signed Tide jersey for an auction. I went to drop it off and when I got there, Shelly and Mrs. Blair were waitin' with her at the restaurant."

I swallowed as he released me, kneeling on the mattress, and he dropped to his knees, gripping tightly to my thighs with his hands. "They fuckin' bombarded me. Shelly'd told them about you and they started goin' off about how irresponsible I was and all that shit. My momma laid into me and told me that if I didn't break it off, she'd make damn sure she did. I can't let that happen to you."

He glanced up at me briefly before focusing on the floor. "My folks... they... look, baby. They treat me real bad, not goin' into it, but they do, and I'm their fuckin' son! I couldn't let her upset you in the same way, so I made up some bullshit about you bein' just a fling, a friend. Shelly's too stupid to even realise I was lyin'. I stayed for the lunch to appease my momma. No way will anythin' happen to you. They'd have to get through me first."

His mother had planned all this crap? Planned to ambush him and persuade him to call us off? Hordes of questions almost spilled from my lips: Why do they treat him so badly? What have they done to him throughout the years? But I kept quiet. He was pulsing with anger and I didn't have the heart to push him any further.

"Why did you lie and say you were going to the gym? Why not just be honest with me?"

He spoke through gritted teeth. "I was honest, I swear. She called when I was finishin' up. The plan was to just drop off the jersey and leave."

"But Shelly was touching you. She kissed you and you let her! How could you do that?"

Rome threw his head back on a groan. "Because I don't want my parents to come after you! I had to play along... to protect you. You don't understand what they're like! Powerhouses, Mol. 'Round here they're fuckin' powerhouses."

Shifting closer, Romeo gently took my face in his hands. "God, baby. I would never do anythin' to lose you. Believe me when I say that I sat there and endured their schemin' hell to protect you. Fuck Shelly, I can't stand the bitch!" He stood and paced before me, sincerity dripping from every action. "Don't matter now of course."

I frowned. "Why's that?"

He stopped and exhaled a humourless laugh. "Because I told Momma to shove her Blair/Prince marriage merger bullshit when I came gunnin' after you."

A flicker of hope fluttered in my chest. "You did?"

He stalked closer, climbing on the bed, forcing me on my back. "Mm-hmm. Told her that I ain't ever marryin' Shelly 'cause I'm with you. That I'm done with their shit 'cause I'm with you. Plus, I ran down the street after your cab, screamin' and bangin' on the paintwork. I'm sure that hammered home my point."

Reaching out, I clutched his hair and brought him towards my lips, only breaking the contact to say, "You need to tell me if you're going through stuff with your parents. Tell me so I can't doubt you. It's hard for me to trust, but I'm learning to trust you. Please... confide in me."

Rome brushed his stubbled chin along my throat, inhaling my scent. "Baby... you're safe with me, and I would've told you everythin' that happened when I got home. I didn't expect to see you. God, it almost destroyed me when I saw your reaction from across the road... and then you ran, after you promised you'd never run from me."

His hips tilted and his hard groin pressed between my legs. I had to bite my tongue to stop from moaning out loud. "I do trust you. I-it just looked bad. She kissed you. I... I didn't like it. I needed to get away."

Rome continued grinding against me, my eyes rolling back in pleasure. "I'll never cheat on you, Shakespeare. You're too damn important to me for that. I told you I'd never fuck around on you, and I don't like to be doubted."

Nervous excitement surged within me at his usual brusque tone. "Okay."

I twisted the sheet in my fists as his hardness pressed against me with more pressure and I felt that delicious feeling build at the bottom of my spine.

I stared down into Rome's eyes and they brightened.

"Romeo," I murmured as he moved and began shifting to the foot of my bed. "What-"

"Shh..."

Romeo's hands drifted up my bare thighs and under my dress. My breath caught in my throat when two fingers grasped the edge of my panties and slowly pulled them down.

My head pressed into the pillow as Romeo discarded my underwear to the floor and set to lifting up my dress to my hips. I made sure my tattoo was well covered.

"I'm gonna taste you, baby. You're gonna come in my mouth."

"Ah... God," I whispered, only to suddenly lift my back off the mattress on a moan when Romeo's mouth latched onto me.

"I only want you, Mol. You get me?" he said as his tongue built up speed.

"Yes! I get you!" I screamed, unable to focus, mouth lax.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful."

He didn't let up until I exploded, panting feverishly as I held on tight to his dirty-blond hair, only pushing him away when his actions became too much for me to take.

Romeo shifted to his knees, straightening my dress, drinking me in, spread on my back, and crawled beside me, wrapping me tightly in his arms. I knew he was relieved that he'd taken back some control by the calm that had settled upon his flushed face.

Once I'd caught my breath, I turned and ran the back of my hand across his cheek. "God, Rome. You've got me so confused. I never know whether I'm coming or going with you."

"Always comin' I hope," he said slyly, pursing his lips. I play-punched him in the ribs and watched his smile slowly fade away. "I'm not sure if you get the significance of what I did today in comin' after you, in leavin' my momma like that." I didn't, but I understood by his shaken demeanour that it was huge.

Romeo gripped the sides of my dress, pain evident in his large eyes. I smoothed his hair from his face. "What is it, baby?"

He swallowed and glanced out of my balcony doors, before fixing his attention back on me, whispering a heartbreaking, "Don't ever leave me."

I felt my heart miss a beat in response to his desperate plea. "Hey, what's all this?"

Romeo pressed his forehead to the warmth of my stomach, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. "I just can't believe I've got you in my life. You make everythin' better and I don't wanna lose you."

I ran my fingers through his hair, concerned at his strange behaviour. "I won't leave you."

"You almost did today. You told me to leave you."

"It was a misunderstanding." I swallowed nervously. "Truthfully, Rome, how much trouble are your parents going to cause us?"

I shuddered as I remembered his mother's disgusted face and catty wave my way. Even from today, I could tell she wasn't going to let our relationship drop, and Romeo's erratic emotions were playing heavily on my mind.

"Don't know. Not gonna let you near them to risk findin' out. I'm gonna protect what we have no matter what. I explained to your friends what happened. They understood, but Cass punched me in the stomach and called me a stupid shithead for hurtin' you. Jimmy-Don has his hands full with that one. She's one scary gal!"

I giggled and guided his mouth off my stomach and to my lips before laying my head next to his on the soft pillow. "What did your momma whisper in your ear when you saw me? You went white."

Rome immediately crashed his mouth to mine and spoke against my lips. "Shut up, Shakespeare. I'm done talkin' and need to show you again how sorry I am for hurtin' you."

The master of deflection struck again.

13.

Saturday arrived, and when I opened my eyes, lying in place of Romeo on his pillow was a ladies red Crimson Tide jersey, number seven on the back with the name PRINCE above it in large white lettering. I ran my hands over the writing and flipped it to the front. His number was there again and in the upper left hand corner was a four-leaf clover stitched into the material. A note was pinned to the collar: My jersey for MY girl to wear at the game.

Sit with Ally and I'll come to collect my good luck sweet kiss.

Your Romeo x * * *

The stadium was packed. It was an expansive sea of red and white shirts. Groups of students had painted their chests red with R-O-L-L-T-I-D-E white lettering branding their skin. On the away team side, navy and white shirts dominated the stands.

Cass, Ally, and I grabbed a Coke and snacks from the indoor vendors and set off walking to our seats. As soon as we passed the full stands, people began cheering, and when the three of us looked to the screen in confusion, there I was, being followed by the camera, with digital four-leaf clovers scattered around my face, creating a border. I stumbled at the sight and Cass and Ally screamed.

"Oh my God, Molly, you're famous!" Cass trilled in awe as she waved to the camera and blew a kiss. She was in her typical Stetson and jeans, wearing Jimmy-Don's jersey, and she lapped up all the attention.

I scurried to the seats, covering my face with my Big Gulp, completely humiliated and chanting under my breath, "Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod!"

I tried to ignore the catcalls and whistles directed my way. Ally and Cass sat on either side of me, laughing and clapping along with everyone else. I was just thankful that I'd decided to apply more makeup than usual and had assured that my mass of brown hair was at least in a stylishly messy chignon.

After a few minutes of tortuous fan-focused hell, which also included the cheer team facing me and waving their pom-poms-except for Shelly, who scowled and refused to acknowledge me-the introductions of the starting team began on the big screen. Cass whooped and hollered and dragged me to my feet to dance along to the music pumping through the sound system. When a segment showcasing Romeo's highlights played to Planet Perfecto's "Bullet in the Gun," I couldn't help but jump up and giggle along with my crazy Texan friend as the pregame infectious atmosphere took hold.

The music changed as the starting line-up's pictures travelled across the big screen. Romeo's picture was last, and his stats came up accompanied by the deafening roar of the crowd.

The announcer took to the microphone as the cheerleaders rushed along the band's spirit line from the tunnel to the field.

"Alabama, get to your feet for your Crimmmssssooonnnn Tiiiddddddeeeeeeee..."

The team exploded out onto the pitch and the stadium almost lifted from its foundations with energy. Austin and Jimmy-Don led the team, pumping their hands to get the crowd going.

I looked frantically for Romeo, and at the very back, slightly behind everyone else, he ran out, waving his helmet in his hands, the camera following his every move.

As he reached the pitch, it seemed like every single supporter began to chant, "Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss," over and over until I was sure it could be heard in the next state over. Ally grabbed my hand as Romeo's amused face dominated the north and south Jumbotrons, and with a salute of his hand, he turned towards the direction of our seats and broke into an easy jog.

When he got to the end of the field, our gazes met, and he crooked his finger for me to go to him. The crowd only seemed to increase in volume at his playfully cocky action.

My feet planted to the ground, fear seizing me on the spot. I knew my eyes were as wide as saucers as they darted around the roaring crowd.

I felt a hand on my back and Cass pushed me forward, forcing me to move. "Go on, girl. Don't keep him waiting in front of all these folks!"

I threw her a dirty look over my shoulder and she waved her hand in dismissal. I faced the field once more and Romeo stood only metres away with a hungry expression and his hands on his hips, waiting to see what I would do.

"You can do this, you can do this," I repeated in a quiet chant as my boots propelled me forward.

When I reached the edge of the field, Romeo grabbed my hand and launched me forward into his chest, his other taped-up hand cradling the back of my head.

The crowd lost control.

He pressed his forehead to mine, leaving me no other choice than to focus solely on him, letting the deafening stadium noise fade into the background.

"Hey, Mol."

"Hey, you."

"You gonna give up that lucky sweet kiss?"

"If that's what you want."

His nostrils flared. "It most definitely is." He tipped my head and pressed his mouth to mine-passionate and all-consuming-before pulling back, winking, and taking to the field, leaving me stood like a mindless, love-drunk dunce.

For a moment, I didn't think I could walk, but I turned and, without lifting my head to face the screams, practically ran back to my seat. Ally and Cass were laughing at my embarrassment, and we stayed on our feet as the game kicked off.

Rome was having an unbelievable game. At least, it looked as though he was, and by Ally's and Cass's nudges and high-fives, I was pretty sure I was right. By halftime, they were leading by twelve and everyone was confident it was going to be a convincing win.

I was sitting back in my seat, just enjoying the electric atmosphere, when I caught Ally staring at me. "What?"

She tilted her head in assessment. It caused me to fidget. "You know, in all this time, I've never seen your hair down. Is it long?"

"Yeah, probably to nearly the bottom of my back. Why?"

Her eyes sparkled with scheming. "We're going straight home after the game."