Dropping onto the wooden bench in the corner, I tuck my knees into my chest and breathe in the crisp overnight dew. Then, tilting back, I close my eyes and listen to the melodious chirping of the sparrows who have found a home in our gutters.
Roman says we have to find a new place for them to nest, but the thought of uprooting them from their chosen home brings pangs of sadness to my heart. They deserve the same security I’ve recently discovered. So, I’ll protect them, just as Roman protects me.
Although, as of late, there hasn’t been anything Roman’s needed to protect me from. Memories of my father and the games we played haven’t left my mind, and there are days where the nightmares play on a constant loop. But I survived them in my past, and I will continue to survive even in their death.
They can’t hurt me anymore, and I won’t allow them to bring me further pain by keeping their vile memory alive.
A shrill chime beeps through the partially closed door. Rushing from my spot on the table, I race inside the house and shut off the machine, hoping its annoying song didn’t wake Roman from his peaceful slumber.
I pour myself a steaming cup, adding in a generous helping of sugar and a heap of milk before returning outside and watching Shadow frolic in the wet grass.
We stay outside, enjoying the clean morning air and other sounds of life until the sky blinds us with its crystal-clear blueness.
I call Shadow to follow me inside, pleasantly surprised when I see Roman at the kitchen counter, whisking yolky eggs in a clear glass bowl while the pan sizzles with garlic potatoes and turkey bacon.
“You’re cooking?” I ask, gulping down the rest of my coffee before rinsing the mug and dropping it in the dishwasher.
“Today is a special day. So I thought I’d make a special breakfast,” he says, shifting to stare at me over his bare shoulder.
Roman’s love makes my skin burn with flaming devotion, and I can’t stop myself from displaying my adoration. Taking the bowl from his fingers, I set it on the counter and wrap my arms around his neck, drawing him down until our lips meet.
Time permanently ceases to exist when Roman’s lips devour mine. Heat rises from my stomach to my chest as he sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, nipping at my delicate flesh until my hands thread through his curls and I sink into him.
His scent of mint and musk consume my senses, making me delirious with desire. I’m ready for him to worship my body on the kitchen floor when a sudden knocking drags us apart.
I want to be upset by the interruption, but as I watch officer Colton’s shadow move outside the frosted glass, excitement swallows my arousal.
Roman and I share an electrified glance before he shuts off the stove and rushes to the front door.
I can hear their muffled conversation from outside the door, but my jitters keep me from moving.
Eventually, Roman invites Colton inside and lets out an exuberant laugh when he spots me hiding behind the kitchen wall.
“Come on, angel. Let's see the new you.”
†††
My low heels clink against the grey tiles as my leg bounces uncontrollably. The exhilaration and nerves coursing through my veins prevent me from keeping still, but I’m not the only one. Everyone in this waiting room is making some type of anxious music.
“I think I’m gonna fucking throw up,” Roman whispers, adjusting the jacket around his shoulders while rolling out the tense muscles in his neck.
I spin to glare at him, keeping my face stern before breaking out in a fit of laughter. “Me too.”
“Don’t you fucking dare! You two will not ruin this moment for me,” Ash snarls, altering the collar of his firmly pressed shirt, so it lies perfectly around the cords of his neck.
Roman barks out his chuckle, hiding his face in the crook of my neck when Ash and the couple next to us give him a nasty sneer.
Before they can chastise us for our giggles, I ask, “How are we ruiningyourmoment?” I twirl my finger around a lock of Roman’s hair, battling his hand while it runs up the bare skin of my thigh.
“Because this is never going to happen to me again! It’s not every day that my best friends get—” Sage bursts through the door at that moment, eyes wild as she scans the waiting area looking for us.
“I am so sorry I’m late! Work was a shitshow, and then I had to go to the dry cleaners and get my dress. Please tell me I didn’t miss anything!” Sage cries once she spots us, rushing in our direction from the echoing hall. Her curls dance wildly around her head, bouncing in and over her eyes. She skids to a stop at my feet, wrapping her arms around my shoulders to pull me into a deep hug.
I see a pair of amber eyes gazing in our direction. Subtly, I shift my head and catch Ash’s burning stare locked on Sage’s smiling face.
Breaking out of her hold, I’m just about to tell her that she didn’t miss a thing when the clerk behind the glass calls out, “Next!”
Instantly, Roman’s grip tightens on my knee and any laughter that was left in our hearts vanishes.
