The light in the penthouse was unforgiving. It flooded through the floor-to-ceiling glass, turning the grey marble floors into a mirror.
Sienna groaned, burying her face into the pillow. Her head felt like it had been split open with a dull axe. She reached out blindly, her hand slapping against warm skin.
Roman caught her wrist. He didn't let go.
"Up," he said. His voice was rough with sleep, vibrating against her back.
"No," Sienna mumbled. She tried to pull her hand back, but he tightened his grip, pulling her backward until her back was flush against his chest. His arm wrapped around her waist, heavy and solid, holding her in place. His nose brushed the back of her neck, inhaling sharply.
"We have class in an hour," he murmured, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin below her ear. "And you smell like vodka."
Sienna turned in his arms, facing him. Roman looked annoying good in the morning. His hair was messy, falling over his forehead, and the sheet was pooled at his waist, showing the V-lines of his hips. He wasn't smiling. He was looking at her mouth.
"I'm skipping," Sienna decided, closing her eyes. "My dad is coming to campus for lunch. If I see him now, I'll throw up on his shoes."
Roman's hand slid down her spine, resting on the curve of her hip. He squeezed, hard. "If you skip, I skip. And if I skip, my father freezes my accounts again."
"You're rich. Un-freeze them."
"It's the principle," Roman said, though he didn't move to get up. He leaned in, kissing her. It wasn't a sweet morning peck. He bit her lower lip, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, tasting like mint. His hand moved from her hip to her thigh, hiking her leg up over his waist.
For a second, the headache didn't matter. The dread of seeing her father didn't matter. There was just Roman, the heat of his skin, and the way he made everything else in the world go quiet.
A crash from the kitchen shattered the silence.
Roman pulled back, groaning against her lips. "I forgot she was here."
Sienna blinked, confused. "Who?"
"Maya."
Sienna sat up, the sheet falling away from her chest. "Maya is here?"
"She crashed on the couch," Roman said, rolling out of bed. He stood up, completely naked and unbothered, and walked to the dresser to grab a pair of sweatpants. "You wouldn't let her take an Uber. Said it wasn't safe."
Memory flashed back—Sienna clinging to Maya in the elevator, refusing to let go.
"Right," Sienna rubbed her temples. "She's the best."
They walked out into the living area ten minutes later. The penthouse was freezing, as always.
Maya was in the kitchen. She was dressed in one of Roman's oversized t-shirts that hung to her knees. She was scrubbing a pan in the sink, her back to them. The smell of burning toast hung in the air.
"You don't have to clean," Roman said, walking past her to the coffee machine. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. He watched her.
Maya jumped, turning off the tap. "It's fine. I made a mess trying to make eggs. I'm not used to... induction stoves."
Sienna flopped onto the leather sofa, pulling a blanket over her legs. "Don't apologize, May. Roman's maid comes on Tuesdays. Leave it."
Maya dried her hands on a towel. She looked tired. There were dark circles under her eyes that stood out against her pale skin. She looked from Roman to Sienna, then pulled at the hem of the shirt.
"I should go," Maya said, glancing at the digital clock on the oven. "I have a shift at the library before Bio."
"Ugh, the library," Sienna groaned, flopping back onto the sofa and pulling the fur throw over her legs. "Why do you even work there? It smells like dust. Just quit. We're supposed to go to the Hamptons next weekend and you can't bail on me again because you have to 'shelve books.'"
"I can't quit, Si. It's part of my scholarship package," Maya said, her voice steady. She picked up a sponge and started wiping down the counter, purely to have something to do with her hands. "If I don't work the hours, I lose the housing grant."
"So? My dad can fix that," Sienna waved a hand dismissively, like she was swatting away a fly. "He's on the board of trustees. One phone call and he can get you out of it. He'd probably prefer it, actually. He always says you look tired."
Maya's hand froze on the marble countertop. "I don't need him to call anyone. I like the job. It's quiet."
"You're so stubborn," Sienna sighed, but she didn't push it. She sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders like a cape. "Fine. Go to your dusty library. But you have to come back for lunch. My dad is coming at one. He's bringing the campaign manager, which means he's going to be in 'Senator Mode.' I need you there to dilute the tension."
Maya hesitated. "I have class right after my shift."
"Skip it," Sienna said immediately. "It's just Bio. You're already smarter than the professor. Please? If it's just me and Roman, my dad will spend the whole hour asking Roman questions and ignoring me. If you're there, he has to be polite."
Roman, who had been leaning against the counter in silence, finally looked up from his coffee.
"She's not a prop, Sienna," he said.
Sienna looked hurt. "I know she's not a prop! She's my best friend. I just want her there." She turned big, pleading blue eyes toward Maya. "Please, May? I'll let you drive the Porsche back to campus."
Maya looked at Sienna. She looked at the genuine desperation in her face. That was the thing about Sienna—she wasn't trying to be manipulative. She just genuinely believed the world revolved around her schedule, and she loved Maya enough to want her in that orbit.
"Fine," Maya said, dropping the sponge. "But I can't stay long."
"Yes!" Sienna clapped her hands. "Oh, and borrow something from my closet on your way out? You can't wear Roman's shirt to class and the dress last night is definitely not appropriate ."
Maya looked down at the oversized t-shirt she was wearing. It smelled like Roman and It was warm.
"I have clothes in my bag," Maya lied. She didn't. She had a pair of jeans that were fraying at the hem and a sweater that had shrunk in the wash.
"Don't be silly. Just grab the blue cashmere sweater, the one with the V-neck. It brings out your eyes," Sienna said, already losing interest as she picked up her phone to check Instagram. "Code is 0000. Lock up when you leave."
Maya stood there for a second longer. She looked at Roman.
He was watching her over the rim of his mug. His dark eyes traveled down to where the t-shirt ended at her knees, then back up to her face. He didn't say anything. He didn't offer her a ride again. He just took a sip of his coffee, his gaze heavy.
"See you at lunch," Maya murmured.
She walked past him, careful not to brush against his arm.
She went into the massive walk-in closet in the hallway. It was bigger than her entire dorm room. She found the blue sweater Sienna mentioned. It still had the tag on it. Price: $450.
Maya pulled off Roman's shirt, shivering in the cold air conditioning, and pulled on the sweater. It was soft.
She folded Roman's shirt neatly and placed it on the bench.
As she walked to the elevator, she heard Sienna's laugh echoing from the living room, followed by the low rumble of Roman's voice. They sounded happy.
They sounded perfect.
Maya stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby. She checked her bank account on her phone as the doors slid shut.
$42.50.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool metal wall.
"Just the library," she whispered to herself. "Just a shift."
The elevator dinged, and she stepped out into the lobby, putting on her sunglasses to hide the circles under her eyes, ready to walk the ten blocks to campus because she couldn't afford the Uber Sienna thought she was taking.