I took a deep, steadying breath as I approached the door—not my own, but Roman's.
The anticipation bubbled within me, especially after our exhilarating game and the delicious meal Mrs. Eve had treated us to. Just the memory of it made my stomach churn; I couldn't fathom having another bite.
I glanced down at my phone as it chimed with a new message. It was my mom checking in on me.
"Carol, it's 8 already. Where are you?" she wrote, and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. Biting my lip, I hesitated before replying.
"I'm with a friend," I typed back, hoping she would be understanding and not press for more details.
"Roman?" she responded almost immediately, and my heart raced. I wondered what her next question would be. Just as I anticipated, she asked, "Are you sleeping over?"
"Mom, I'll just spend a few minutes and come back," I replied, attempting to reassure her.