From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 12

**Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 12**
**From Best Friend To Fiancé**

**Chapter 9: Casually Rubbing Parts.**

I spat out the cherry tomatoes that had just burst in my mouth, my mind racing to process what I had just heard. “What?” I exclaimed, bewildered.

Roman, ever the picture of confidence, remained unfazed, casually complimenting my mother’s hairdo as if the conversation had never taken a turn.

“That’s a great question actually,” Lizzie chimed in, her voice laced with curiosity.

Chloe, with her trademark nonchalance, shrugged her shoulders. “Not like it’s any of your business, Chloe, but I’m not,” she retorted, her tone dismissive.

A hint of mischief danced in Chloe’s eyes. “Oh well, we were just curious. You know, Roman’s way up there in the world, and you’re, well, barely scraping by. If he’s into you to the point of marrying you, then… I guess we’re right to wonder if you’re either trapping him with good sex or a baby.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Chloe!” My mother gasped, her expression a mix of shock and disapproval.

“Can’t a man be in love, blondie?” Roman drawled, his tone teasing yet serious.

“It’s possible. But with my sister? That’s difficult to believe,” Chloe shot back, her skepticism evident.

“Your sister’s perfect. Too perfect, in fact. There’s nothing hard to believe here. Unless you’ve got a really low IQ, which seems to be the case,” Roman asserted, his words dripping with sarcasm.

A laugh escaped me, the tension easing slightly.

“Excuse you?” Chloe snapped, her indignation flaring. She immediately turned to Dad, her eyes wide. “Dad, did you hear that? He just called me unintelligent!”

“You defending her, son?” Dad asked, a teasing glint in his eye.

“Always,” Roman replied without a moment’s hesitation. His voice was smooth, but the intensity in his gaze was undeniable. “That’s part of the job.”

Dad smirked, a hint of admiration creeping into his expression. “A man who stands up for his woman. I respect that.”

“Are you serious?” Chloe blinked, taken aback.

“I don’t need defending,” I muttered, my fork stabbing another piece of asparagus with unnecessary force.

“Of course not,” Roman said gently, his tone softening. “But I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. It offends my sense of taste to watch someone insult you.”

**Chapter 12**

Alyssa chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “Alright now, I see why she fell for you.”

My heart raced at her words, an undeniable warmth flooding through me. “How couldn’t I?” I replied, a grin spreading across my face.

Mom cleared her throat loudly, rising to her feet with an air of authority. “Does anybody want dessert?” she announced, her voice slicing through the lingering tension.

“I think I’ll pass,” Dean muttered, his disinterest evident.

“I’m on a no-sugar diet, sorry,” Chloe declared, her tone final.

“Maybe next time,” Roman politely declined, his smile unwavering.

Aunt Thelma, ever the life of the party, raised her glass high. “To the Harts, may we never be normal!”

Everyone paused, the room filled with a moment of uncertainty.

I clinked my glass against Roman’s, a spark of defiance in my voice. “To dysfunction,” I proclaimed, my heart lightening.

“To chaos,” he grinned, his expression dangerously playful.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify