"Hi, Seth," Roman said.
Seth and Nika looked up from Nika's phone and smiled at Roman that came walking out into Seth's garden. Roman smiled back and settled his eyes on Seth's two years older sister Nika. She always looked so beautiful to him with her reddish brown, curly hair and cognac brown eyes.
"If it isn't the woman of my dreams," Roman said.
"Stop!" Nika giggled.
Roman leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Nika's head before walking around the table to sit down on the opposite side.
"What are you watching?" Roman asked.
"Just some cat videos," Nika answered.
"You love cats a little too much," Roman laughed.
"There's no such thing as too much when it comes to cats," Nika said.
"You don't need anymore cats," Seth chimed in.
"Don't start with me," Nika said.
"Fine," Seth looked over at Roman. "I'll grab our lunch."
Seth stood up and walked inside the house. Roman looked over at Nika again and smiled warmly at her.
"How have you been since last time?" Roman asked.
"Same old, same old," Nika answered. "You?"
"I'm doing good," Roman said.
"That's good to hear," Nika said.
"Come help me carry the stuff!" Seth shouted from the house.
Nika rolled her eyes at Roman and stood up.
"Bossy little brother," Nika said.
"Need my help?" Roman asked.
"No, you're his guest," Nika said.
"So are you," Roman said.
"It's different," Nika said.
"Nika!" Seth shouted.
"I'm coming!" Nika shouted back.
Nika looked at Roman and smiled before moving into the house. She found Seth in the kitchen and grabbed her phone that was placed on the countertop.
"Sorry, I accidently brought it with me. I thought it was my phone in my hand," he said.
"Roman caused a distraction," she laughed. "Grab the tray and I'll grab glasses and lemonade."
He picked up the tray of sandwiches and carried them out in the garden. She followed after him a minute later and placed glasses and a pitcher of lemonade down on the table. She sat down next to Seth again and grabbed an egg salad sandwich.
"Uh, roastbeef," Roman said. "I hope you don't mind if I grab that one."
"It's all yours, big man," Seth said.
They all dove into their chosen sandwiches and ate lunch together. As always Seth talked over the table and lead the conversation. Both Nika and Roman were used to that and they didn't mind.
"That was delicious," Roman said. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Seth said. "I was thinking that maybe we could..."
Seth was cut off by his phone ringing. He took a look at the display and stood up.
"I need to take this," Seth said.
Seth disappeared into the house and left Roman and Nika in the garden. Roman smiled at Nika before taking a look around Seth's garden.
"I see he planted roses," he said.
"I helped," she said.
"Let's go check them out," he said.
"They're just roses," she said.
"Humor me, Nika," he smiled.
She smiled back and stood up. They walked to the rose bushes and looked at them.
"They're pretty," he said.
"They'll be even prettier next year," she said.
"But they'll never be as pretty as you," he said.
She looked at him and had a hard time breathing for a moment. He leaned down to kiss her but she placed a hand on his chest to stop him.
"I'm sorry. I always thought..." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I got it all wrong."
"No, you didn't. You thought right but it can't happen," she said.
"Why not?" He asked.
She sighed and looked towards the house. Seth was still nowhere to be seen. She needed to say all this while she had the chance.
"Here's how it would go," she said. "We'll be happy for a while and then you'll get proof that I'm cheating on you. No matter what I say, you won't believe me because you got the proof right there. It happens everytime."
"You cheat everytime?" He asked confused.
"No, I never cheat but someone is good at making people believe I do," she said.
"Who?" He asked.
"I don't know," she answered. "All I know is that it's easier not to love anyone anymore."
"That sounds lonely," he said.
"It is," she nodded. "Whoever it is, he has nudes of me. Just my body. He cut off my head on the pictures. They're old pictures and my face wouldn't match what I look like now. Neither does my body anymore."
She lifted up her t-shirt and revealed a tattoo of a tree and some black birds flying around it on her ribcage. It was a beautiful piece and he couldn't help but smile.
"That is one beautiful tattoo but it must have been painful. Ribcage is never fun to get tattooed," he said.
"It hurt like a motherfucker but it was worth it. You're the only one I've shown it to," she said.
"I feel honored but why do you hide it?" He asked.
"If I ever find myself in a relationship again, I can prove those pictures are old. I don't have a tattoo on them," she said.
He smirked and leaned down again. She placed her hand on his chest again but there wasn't as much force behind it this time.
"There's a reason you chose to show it to me, isn't there?" He asked.
"I want to, Roman, but you're gonna get hurt. Whoever it is, they won't allow me to date anyone," she said.
"I'm willing to take the chance," he said.
"I'm not sure I am," she said.
He closed the small gap between them and kissed her. Her hand on his chest grabbed his t-shirt in a tight grip. He broke the kiss and smiled at her.
"Why the fuck do you have to be so damn cute?" She asked.
He laughed and she pulled him down for another kiss. It meant so much that she took the first step for the second kiss.
"We're gonna give it a try," she said. "But I'm warning you."
"Whoever it is, he can give his best shot. He won't get rid of me," he said.
"I hope not," she said. "We better get back to the table and pretend nothing happened before Seth comes out. I'm not sure how he'll react to his friend dating his sister."
He chuckled, pecked her lips, and let her go. They walked back towards the table while keeping their eyes on the house for Seth to come out.
"Are you home tonight?" He asked.
"I am now," she said.
"I'll stop by then," he said.
"6.30," she said. "I'm cooking you dinner."