I stared at him blankly, thinking I’d misheard. My heart swelled.
“Are you serious?” I touched Stephen’s arm.
If Maverick was going to that school, they would know exactly how to help him excel.
Stephen’s cheeks reddened as he bobbed his head. “Uh, yeah.”
I was stunned. They had been so against it not long ago. So much so that they’d fired me. “What changed your mind?”
Stephen shifted on his feet, his eyes darting to Roman briefly before returning to me. “Uh, someone finally talked me into it. We found out he got accepted a week ago. Kayla didn’t know I’d put in an application, but you were right, Palmer. About everything. I think this is going to be the best thing for him, and Kayla sees that now, too.” He grimaced. “Well, she’s coming around to it at least.”
Tears welled. I was so happy for that little boy. It was all I wanted for him.
“That’s great, Stephen. It really is.”
Stephen gave me another smile, but then Roman squeezed my hand and stepped closer to me.
“If you don’t mind,” he said, his voice low but kind, “we were just about to have a dance.”
Stephen straightened. “Oh, of course. I’ll see ya later, Palmer.”
With that, he walked away, disappearing into the crowded room.
I stared after him before turning to Roman, suspicion building in my mind.
Roman wasn’t looking at me. He tugged gently on my hand, leading me the rest of the way to the dance floor.
When his arms were back around me, pulling me close, he smiled. I looped my arms over his neck, and we swayed to the music.
His smile faltered the longer he studied me.
“What’s wrong?”
I bit my lip.
“Roman…” I began, feeling a little silly. I had no idea how Roman would even know about Maverick, but the way Stephen had glanced at him felt like it meant something.
I swallowed hard. “Did you contact Stephen by any chance?”
Roman’s hand tightened on my hip, and he sighed. “Maybe.”
My mouth fell open, and I froze. “How?” I croaked. “How did you even know about Maverick?”
His grip loosened, and he rubbed a hand soothingly up and down my lower spine. “I thought there was something off about Stephen when I called him for a reference before I hired you. Then Hailey might’ve mentioned something about you and her running into Maverick at the coffee shop.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. But it was the biggest deal.
A rush of affection filled me, and I pulled Roman closer, holding him as tightly as I could.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He tensed before melting around me.
“You’re welcome,” he murmured, his voice warm against my ear.
I rested my head on Roman’s chest as we continued to sway. I breathed in the smoky cedarwood scent of him.
Part of me wanted to stay like this forever, wishing he would always hold me this tight. I listened to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. Wrapped in the warmth of his body, I found a deep, unshakable security in his presence.
