Page 117 of Lease to Love

I had exactly enough time to wonder who the hell would walk into Roman's house without knocking before the door opened.

"Big brother, I come bearing good new—"

Erik stopped. His eyes widened. "Oh, shit."

Roman moved so fast I barely had time to react.

One second I was on top of him, the next, he had flipped me onto my back and thrown his entire body over mine, shielding me from view.

Erik dropped his bag, one hand flying over his eyes and the other going straight up.

"Erik, get the fuck out!" Roman barked.

"I ain't know she was here! I swear I didn't see nothing, Rome!"

"WHY are you still coming inside?"

“I gotta take a piss!” Erik side-shuffled towards the hallway, one hand still covering his eyes, “I'm leaving the room!"

"ERIK, leave my HOUSE." Roman yelled.

Erik’s footsteps disappeared down the hallway. "I'm in your room and closing the door...”

Then, from around the corner: "Hey, Ms. Proctor!"

"Hi, Erik!" I chirped back, overly friendly on autopilot.

Roman's head snapped toward the hallway. "Nigga, don't speak to my girl when she don't have no damn clothes on!"

From down the hall, Erik yelled, "Lemme know when y'all get decent!"

Roman closed his eyes.

Erik again, "And PLEASE Lysol that couch when you finish!"

I covered my face with both hands. I was simultaneously mortified, amused, and one bad joke away from laughing until I cried.

Roman rolled off me and stood, pulling up his pants and dragging a hand down his face.

He pointed toward the hallway. "I'm gonna kill him."

"Baby, you can't kill your brother over an accident."

"Watch me." He disappeared down the hallway.

A second later, I heard Erik yell, "I SAID I WAS SORRY!" followed by the sound of crashing, thumping, and something heavy hitting the floor.

I buried my face in the couch cushion, laughing.

By the time Roman came back, Erik had been put in a headlock for no less than five minutes, his key had been confiscated, and my clothes had been retrieved from where I'd thrown them.

Eventually, the evening recovered… But the conversation didn't.

Because I still didn't know what Roman had been about to say before Erik walked through that door.

I couldn't stop thinking about the way he'd looked at me when I'd asked what happened after the deal was over. Or the way he'd asked me if I really thought he'd just walk away.

And then there was the other thing.