Hallelujah.I’ve been hoping to hear those exact words from Roman for days now. But even so, I don’t want him asking me only because he’s currently drunk on jealousy and testosterone. I want him to want me even in the calmest, quietest of times.
“Are you sure?” I ask, even though I want to scream, “Yes, yes, yes!” “I don’t want you inviting me because you’re suddenlyfeeling territorial.” By way of explanation, I motion vaguely to the window.
Roman rolls his eyes. “That’s not it. I’d just mustered the courage to ask you to come with me when Brandon walked in. I swear, he interrupted me mid-sentence.”
Butterflies whoosh into my belly. “You had to muster thecourageto ask me?”
“Are you kidding me? After the way you kicked my ass in Hawaii—and rightly so, by the way—I’m scared to death about what your answer will be. Especially now, when there’s so much more at stake, yes, I most certainly had to muster my courage.” He inhales deeply. “Please, Iris. Come with me tomorrow. Maverick is going to his mom’s house for a couple weeks when I get back to LA, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
It sounds like Roman is asking me to come for only a two-week visit, which, admittedly, isn’t what I was hoping for, in a perfect world. But it’s not nothing, so I decide to accept his invitation.
I open my mouth to say yes, but when I notice the pleading, waiting-with-bated-breath look in Roman’s dark eyes, I suddenly realize I’ve got some leverage here.
“What’s at stake now compared to in Kauai?” I ask, referring to his interesting word choice from a moment ago. “Answer that question to help me decide.”
Roman runs a hand through his mop of dark hair, but he doesn’t answer my question.
“Tell me, Roman. Explain it to me. I need to know.”
After a long pause, Roman inhales deeply and answers me on his exhale. “If you say no to me this time,” he murmurs softly, “I’ll know it’s not because of bad timing. Not because you just got out of a long-term, terrible relationship. Not because you just involuntarily starred in a traumatizing viral video.” He shifts in his seat. “It wouldn’t be because you haven’t had the chance to get to know me. It wouldn’t be because you don’t know what’sreal.” He pauses, looking intensely uncomfortable. “This time, unlike last time, you know me. The real me. You’ve spent time with me. With my parents and my son. And I’ve met your family, too.” He swallows hard and his Adam’s apple bobs. “This time, unlike in Kauai, if you say no to me, I’ll know it’s because you’ve decided you simply don’t want me.The real me.” He shifts in his seat again. “And if that’s your ultimate decision here, Iris ...” He levels me with dark, blazing eyes, and his broad chest rises and falls in the brief, poignant silence. “Then that would honestly break my fucking heart.”
I’m swooning uncontrollably. It’s the most vulnerable—and handsome—he’s ever looked. “Yes, I’ll come to LA with you tomorrow,” I blurt. “I can’t believe you doubted my answer.”
Roman looks equal parts relieved and elated. “When it comes to you, Iris, I don’t take anything for granted.”
We share a beaming smile. I don’t know what will happen between Roman and me after my two-week stay, once it’s time for Maverick to return to Roman’s from his mother’s. But in this moment, I don’t care to think that far ahead. For now, all that matters is I’ll be leaving Orchard Blossom with Roman and his family tomorrow, rather than saying goodbye to him for however long and then going home to sob into my pillow. For now, I remind myself, that’s simply got to be enough.
Chapter 32
Iris
After we disembarkfrom the private plane in LA—how is this my life?—Roman and I walk across the tarmac with Maverick between us and Roman’s parents trailing behind.
“Mommyyyy!” Maverick shrieks. He breaks free of our hands and runs to the most spectacularly gorgeous woman I’ve ever beheld in my life. A woman so stunningly beautiful, I’m not surprised Roman threw caution to the wind and had unprotected sex with her. Who wouldn’t take that gamble, when there was a possibility of creating a kid blessed with half this woman’s stunning genes?
Insecurity floods me in a torrent. Roman and I had amazing sex in Kauai, but that feels like a lifetime ago, given that we didn’t sleep together in Orchard Blossom. At some point during this past week, I decided that was because Roman had made some romantic decision to court me. But now, suddenly, this woman’s jaw-dropping beauty is making me wonder if Roman’s physical attraction to me has waned since Hawaii. Were all those internet trolls right? Was Roman “bottom-feeding” when he bothered with me in Kauai? Has he invited me to stay with him for a spell in LA to see if we might recapture some of our old physical chemistry?
“Hey, Vanessa,” Roman says warmly. He gives the woman a brief side hug before gesturing to me. “This is my girlfriend, Iris. Iris, this is Maverick’s mother, Vanessa, and her husband, Jay.”
There it is again.
The same word he used with Brandon yesterday.
Girlfriend.
I exchange pleasantries with Vanessa and her husband, before Vanessa shocks me by gushing, “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Iris. During every FaceTime call this week, Mavvy talked about all the fun he was having with ‘Irish.’ Thank you especially for taking him horseback riding. He was over the moon about it.”
I’m thrilled and relieved. Of all the ways this first encounter could have gone down, this is best-case scenario. “I’ve loved every minute with Maverick,” I reply. “He’s so sweet. You’ve done a great job with him.”
With a smile, Vanessa runs her manicured fingers through her son’s soft, lush hair. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from a preschool teacher.”
I’m shocked. Roman told me he’s on great terms with his baby momma, but even so, I was petrified to meet Vanessa today—terrified she might not like or trust me enough to let me continue interacting with her son. But now, I can plainly see my worst fears aren’t going to materialize.
Vanessa’s husband asks me a question and we chat briefly, but long enough for me to realize he’s every bit as amiable and welcoming as his wife. As we’re talking, Roman’s parents reach the group, and another round of warm greetings ensues. There’s no tension, I notice, as cheeks are kissed and words exchanged. No secret side-eyes or stilted conversations. Only love and respect.I can feel it.
Roman squats down in front of his son. “Bye for now, buddy. I’ll see you in a couple weeks at my new house. You want to know the best part? I’m gonna pick you up in my car at your house anddriveyou to mine. No more hotels. No more airplanes. We live in the same city now.”
Maverick hugs Roman. “I love you, Daddy.”
