Roman stands, then begins walking back and forth, like a professor addressing his students. It suddenly felt like I was in a lecture hall.

"I'm getting a picture here, Sav." He stopped mid-stride,pivoted,and fixed me with that infuriatingly calm stare of his. "He comes to me,showing me the video and spewing these wild accusations against you.Then he goes to you, waving around that list like it's the answer to world peace. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

My brain kicked into overdrive, working faster than the intelligence department-hell, faster than a caffeine-addicted conspiracy theorist at 3 a.m. The more I lined the pieces up, the more obvious it became.

"He's trying to break us apart." I blurted out.

"Exactly." Roman's voice dropped, dark and certain, "That son of a bitch."

How dare Dean try to do something so nasty? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. That was way below the belt and it sickens me that he'd resort to such petty tactics to see me miserable.

The words tasted sour in my mouth.

Dean had always been a manipulator, but this was different-personal,poisonous. And after that little stunt he pulled earlier with the indecent proposal? Oh, he was practically begging me to unleash hell on him now.

"Let's get even, Roman."

He gaped at me as though he didn't hear me clearly so I had to repeat myself.

His brows furrowed, "You're not serious, are you?"

"I'm serious." I sat up straighter, locking eyes with him so he could see that I wasn't bluffing. "If he's trying to break us apart, we'll break them apart first. He should get a taste of his own medicine."

He just stood there, staring at me. As ifI just suggested we start a cult.

"Say something,Roman."

"You can't really be suggesting what I think you're suggesting...

Savannah, calm down and think. Don't make rash decisions. I'll get the tape from him and destroy any copies he made. That's if he even made any."

"And how exactly are you going to get your hands on that? Dean is a fox. He's never going to give it to you that easily. I know him." I insisted."He doesn't hand over anything unless he's already got ten more of it hidden."

He clenched his jaw,"You used to know him." He corrected, "Past tense. Even if he has more stashed away, I'll find them and destroy them too."

"Whatever!" I shot back, "The point is that we're going to sting him with his own venom."

His lips curved in that humorless almost-smile. "So you're suggesting we do what?" He rested one hand on his hip, "Let me guess, I'll seduce the bride and you'll tempt the groom. Is that correct?"

I nodded, pacing around, "Exactly. It's bound to work because can hardly withstand-"

"I won't be a party to that." Roman declared.

I paused, "What?"

"I said, I won't ruin your sister's wedding just so you can get back at your ex who has clearly made his choice. There are much better ways of getting back at that weasel without losing your self-respect." He spat.

I stumbled back a bit like his words had physical weight, "What?" I couldn't even find any words to say. "No, you can't do this to me. You're my best friend. You're supposed to have my back."

"Well, I won't. I'm not going to get close to your sister just so you can attach yourself to her fiancé and blow everything apart." He ran a hand through his hair, "It's not gonna happen. Not now, not ever. What am I to you? A joke?"

I shook my head immediately, "That's not what I meant."

"Well, you didn't have to say it out loud. How could you even think about doing something so demeaning?" He shook his head, "I'm not helping you with this. Count me out."

I grabbed his arm, "Yes, Roman. You're going to help me with this."

"You heard me. That's a ridiculous plan to hatch. Your sister's wedding is in three days. Do you know the chaos you're about to birth?"

"Why are you reacting this way? Why do you care?"

"Because you're not thinking, Sav." He snapped, "You're ruled by anger and jealousy and it's clouding your sense of reasoning.

Now guess what? Your ex is still going to walk down that fucking

aisle and slide that damn ring onto your sister's finger.

And you know what? You're going to stand beside her and smile like you're happy for her even though you're planning her untimely demise.That's what's going to happen."

He grabbed my shoulders-not roughly, but enough to make me still.His eyes locked on mine, dark and unflinching:"Do you understand me?"

I nodded, the weight of his authority sinking into my bones.

"Words, Savannah." He demanded.

"Yes."

"Good." He pulled me into him and kissed my forehead like it was a period at the end of his sentence.′′I′m just looking out for you. The sooner that wedding happens, the sooner you close that chapter for good.And afterwards we're going to get on the first fucking flight out of New Hope and never look back."

I noddedI again, though the truth sat heavy in my chest. He had no idea that I wasn't closing anything. Dean had been my undoing long before Chloe got her claws in him, and no amount of "moving on" was going to rewrite that.

"Tomorrow is her rehearsal dinner," Roman said. "You're going to smile, act accordingly. Even catch the fucking bouquet if she decides to toss one. You're going to be happy for your sister. Understood?"

I didn't know what to say because I didn't know how to tell Roman that I don't think I'd survive watching Dean live out the rest of his life with my sister.

I just can't. I never truly got over him no matter how much I tried to.I lied to myself telling myself that I was over him and that I hated him for sending that stupid text and dumping me like the time we spent together didn't matter, only for him to chase after my sister.

If I opened my mouth, I'd tell him I couldn't do it. That watching Dean marry Chloe would feel like bleeding out in slow motion. So instead,I said nothing.

How could anyone in my shoes get over that so quickly?

"I'm going back downstairs and I hope I don't hear anymore of this,"he said. His back was stiff, hands flexing at his sides like he needed to hit something. Or someone. The door slammed behind him.

The silence was immediate and brutal. I slid to the floor in a miserable heap, pressing my hand over my mouth to keep the sobs in,but it was useless. My shoulders shook, my throat burned, and for a moment I hated the sound of my own crying.

I couldn't stop even if I tried to. The chest was hurting uncontrollably.I clutched onto it to reduce the pain. Nothing seemed to help. So I just sat there on the floor and cried pathetically.

Why does Chloe always seemn to get everything I want? Now even Roman-my Roman-is helping her keep it.

I don't know for how long I stayed like that until I heard a knock at the door.

"Sav,are you okay?"

Alyssa.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I yelled while wiping my eyes.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

Using the nearest thing to me, the bed cover, I wiped my eyes, trying to make my appearance more presentable. And not lie someone who had been bawling her eyes out three seconds ago.

"Sure!"

She stepped inside and immediately saw through me-of course she did.

"Sav, why are you crying?"