“That’s where this conversation ends.” Roman rotated his grandmother’s body toward the door and herded her out. He’d nearly made it through the doorway himself when Sadie cleared her throat.
The way she cleared her throat? The result was an invisible tether that pulled him back to her side.
“I’ll be right there,” he said to his grandmother, who gave him a subtle wave and continued moving forward.
Sadie cleared her throat louder.
Roman turned and jogged back to her.
He just needed to clarify the situation and then it’d all be good. “I can explain—”
“Did you really tell your grandmother you’re going to get me pregnant, and I’m going to have a baby girl, and we’re going to name her Nadzieja? Because I think we really should discuss this stuff first.” Sadie crossed her arms, but the gleam in her eye told a different story.
Besides, he had this covered. Sadie had taught him a thing or ten about fine print.
“Yes, I told her I’d be naming my first daughter after her. But don’t worry, because I am getting a puppy,” he announced.
Not right then. But someday. When the time was right.
“Or a kitten.”
Sadie had an expression like he’d lost his mind
“What?”
“Or maybe a gerbil. I like gerbils. I had one when I was kid. Cute little thing. I called him Otto. I loved that little guy.”
“I’m seriously not following you.” Sadie was appearing less and less amused as the moments ticked by. The lines on her forehead grew deeper and the tiny adorable crinkles around her eyes fanned just a touch.
“Maybe even a goldfish,” Roman continued. “You and I can get a whole family of goldfish to go with Sushi and Wasabi.”
“And this has to do with anything because…?” Sadie stretched out the last word.
“I’m going to name my new pet Nadzieja.” He wiped his hands together like he was dusting off the remnants of Babushka. “I’ll call her Nads. It’ll be great, and my agreement will be fulfilled.”
“You’re seriously going to call your new puppy Nads?”
“Puppy or kitten or goldfish or possibly a gerbil,” he clarified. “So none of my children have to deal with being Nadzieja the Second.”
“Are you serious?” Sadie asked, squinting adorably. “Because I don’t think you can possibly be serious, given that your grandmother is Babushka and you made a pretty substantial agreement with her, which you’re now planning to back out of.”
Uh-huh. That was exactly his plan. He nodded.
“That seems like a bad idea. I mean, she’s Babushka, so she’ll come up with a way to convince you to do this her way.”
“This worries you?”
“Are we going to be together long enough for it to worry me?” she asked.
Oh yeah. Yeah, they were going to be together long enough for her to worry about what they were going to name their kids.
“Do you want kids?” he asked. He’d just assumed she did, but he would forgo the kid gig if that’s what she wanted.
“I don’t know.” Sadie’s throat visibly worked with emotion. “Do I have to decide today?”
“No.” He stepped toward her, hoping his intent to go in for a kiss was clear. “But it’s what I’d like.”
Her mouth did the O thing again.
