Chapter 76: Chapter 76

"Are you not supposed to call your best friend and let her know where you're going?" Romeo suggested as we walked towards his car.

I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "My best friend, who ignored me at a party?" I accused.

Telling Joey that I was going out with Romeo seemed pointless, especially since she might not even have her phone with her. And, even if she did, she'd just yell at me for hanging out with my ex, and tell me to come back home.

"You came to the party alone. What did you expect?" He shot back, a laugh escaping his lips.

I wrinkled my nose. "Whatever!" I snapped.

We reached his car and got inside. I hated to admit it, but I had missed being in his car. It brought back so many memories of our old days.

Romeo turned on the car radio and music started to play. He then turned the key in the ignition and the engine came to life.

As we pulled away from the curb, the song "Too Many Nights" by Metro Boomin' started to play.

I pulled my phone out of my bag, my first chance to check it since arriving at the party. I had left it in my handbag all night. I checked the screen, and I saw a few new messages.

The first one was from Joey. Her message simply asked, "Are you having fun?"

I rolled my eyes. "If only she knew," I thought.

I replied with a quick, "Yep!" I hated lying to her, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I didn't need her worrying and fussing over me like I was some silly child.

The next message was from my boyfriend, James.

It has been a while since he sent the message.I took a deep breath before opening it.

"Dinner's over," His message said. "I'm so tired. I'm heading to bed. Just wanted to check in and make sure you're having a good time. Sweet dreams, baby. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Night, James," I wrote, adding a heart emoji.

I tucked my phone back into my bag, then clenched my fists. I closed my eyes. I wasn't sure what to feel.

All I could think about was the argument I had with James before going to the party. He did not want me to be around Romeo, and here I was, riding in Romeo's car, about to follow him to his friend's house.

Was I really being this irresponsible? What was I doing? Did I even remember that I had a boyfriend?

But then, I thought about how Romeo had been that evening.

Romeo had been nothing, but respectful to me since I saw him at the party. He had not made any flirty comments or tried to cross any boundaries. The only time he touched me was when we were about to leave the party, and he only held my wrist.

I wondered if Romeo had finally accepted that I was in a relationship. Then again, even if he had not, I knew he would never try to hurt me or force me to do anything I didn't want to do. He would never cross that line.

"What's on your mind?" Romeo asked, his husky voice jolting me out of my thoughts.

He was glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

"You," I blurted out before I could even stop myself.

I quickly stole a quick glance at him.

A corner of his mouth curved, giving a lopsided smile."I guess you are thinking about how handsome and charming I am," He teased.

"I was actually thinking about how much of a pain you can be ," I shot back.

"At least, you agreed that I was handsome and charming. A win is a win,"

I couldn't help, but smile back.

"You're being so delusional," I told him.

For a moment, we just sat in silence. The only sound was the soft music playing from the car's speakers.

I gazed out the window, watching the dark city streets slip by. There was something peaceful about the quiet night. The night was calming and relaxing. It was like everything had come to a standstill.

I decided then and there that late-night drives might just be my new favorite thing. I would love to do this again. Probably, with James.

"Fuck, this silence is killing me," Romeo complained, breaking the silent.

"It is peaceful," I muttered under my breath.

"Yes, but I don't like it. I can't stand the silence especially when I have someone with me," He blurted out. "You know that? Let's just play a game."

"What game?" I asked him.

Romeo shrugged."I don't know. Maybe, would you rather? Never have I ever? Truth or dare? - "

I cut short his words, raising an eyebrow. "It's okay. Let's just play twenty questions. It can be ten questions too," I rambled.

I had to cut him off before he suggested even more games. I knew he was a social butterfly and had plenty of ideas.

I intentionally suggested that we should play a question based game. I thought it would be a chance for me to get some answers from him.

Romeo frowned. "Is this a trap?" He inquired.

"Depends on how you look at it," I teased him.

"Well, I don't turn down a challenge. So, shoot," He said.

I hid a smile. Just as I thought, he couldn't resist a challenge.

"Why are you crashing at your friend's place?" I questioned him.

"I knew this was a trap!" He accused. "But fine, I'll play along. Let's make it three questions,"

I nodded my head. "Okay. You get to ask me three questions too," I agreed.

Romeo took a deep breath, having a blank look on his face. "Well, I am staying at my friend's place because my dad is staying in our house right now," He answered my first question.

I swallowed hard. I did not know what to say to what he just said. I knew his dad was not the best dad, especially when I caught him cheating on Romeo's mother. But, why would Romeo leave the house because of his father?

"Do you love your boyfriend?" Romeo asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I gazed at Romeo , wondering why he would ask me this question.

"Yes, I love him." I replied.

"Good for both of you," He uttered.

I rolled my eyes at him, and decided not to comment on his last words.

"Do you love Samantha?"

"No," Romeo replied.

"Why?" I probed. "You kissed her at the cafeteria,"

I wanted to add that he made eye contact with me while he was kissing her, but I decided to keep quiet.

"I don't love her, Ivy. It's not possible to love two people at the same time,"

"Who is the person you love?"

"You have already asked three questions, dummy,"

I let out a hiss, and I silently cursed myself for wasting the opportunity to ask him three precious questions. I was only lucky to ask the first question. What a waste!

Romeo cleared his throat. "By the way, I didn't kiss Samantha. She kissed me," He blurted out.

I hissed."You kissed her back,"

"Well, that is a different case,"

I watched as Romeo drove through the quiet streets, heading towards an unknown destination. Eventually, he pulled up to a house and turned off the engine.

"You only have two questions left," I reminded him.

Romeo turned to face me. "I'll ask them later," He said, locking his green eyes with mine.

Before I could reach for the door handle, Romeo's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Wait!"

I turned to face him.

"What?" I asked.

He stared at me intently. My heart fluttered as I felt myself losing myself in his eyes.

"Have you had sex with him yet?" He blurted out, his voice low.

My eyes narrowed. I knew he was referring to my boyfriend, but why would he ask me this question?