A corner of his mouth twitched. “I think I like this bossy side of you.”
I inhaled, deep and slow, trying to keep myself calm. “I’m only bossy when you’re acting like a stubborn child,” I scolded.
He blinked at me, and then he laughed again. That genuine smile of his had surfaced more tonight alone than the entirety of my stay so far.
Before he said something else ridiculous to distract me, I said, “What’s your question?”
That sobered him. His expression shifted to the serious tone I was accustomed to.
His brows narrowed. “Why are you alone, Palmer?”
The words hit close to that tender spot inside my soul that I never wanted to examine. I sank to the floor, afraid my legs would collapse, and leaned my elbows on the side of the mattress.
“What do you mean?” I breathed.
He watched me with that intense gaze. “Hailey said that you told her you didn’t have a family.” He shifted on the bed, his body tilting closer to mine. “You don’t have to tell me what happened to them if you don’t want to. But—” He paused, and reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “I want to know more about you, Golden. I’ll take any little scrap you’re willing to give.”
I went so still I wasn’t even breathing. Not many people asked about my past. The truth was, I’ve never had many real friends. No one cared enough to ask me where I’d come from or what I’d gone through. I usually poured everything I had into the kids I took care of. They were safer, in a lot of ways. They might burrow into my heart, but they didn’t care where I came from. They only cared about who I was now.
Roman waited patiently for my answer. I thought about not giving him one. It would be smarter not to. Safer.
Instead, I found myself talking. The words flowed out of me as if he’d given me permission to let go.
“When I was around Hailey’s age—I can’t remember when exactly because my memories from back then are foggy—DCFS took me away from my father.”
Roman did not move. He didn’t speak. His stillness encouraged me to keep going.
“I never knew my mother. She left us when I was a baby and never returned. When I would cry about wanting her, Dad said she was never good at being a mom anyway, so I shouldn’t miss her.” I let out a breath. “I think he missed her, though. He was constantly drinking to forget her. Sometimes, when there was nothing left to eat and he drank the last bottle of beer in the fridge, he’d tell me about her. Only when he was too drunk to remember the next day, he’d get really close and tell me how much I looked like her. He’d tell me that he’d kept me because he liked to see her in the color of my eyes.”
I jumped when Roman took my hand. His expression hadn’t changed, but his fingers tightened around mine.
“He never hurt me, or anything,” I said quickly, as if having an alcoholic for a father wasn’t bad enough. “He just didn’t really take care of me. By the time I was around Hailey’s age, I was fairly good at taking care of myself, but…there were some signs I couldn’t hide no matter how hard I tried.”
I shrugged, but there was a knot in my stomach so tight I felt nauseous. “I grew up in foster homes until I was an adult. Some were good, and some…not so good. Either way, no one liked me enough to keep me.”
I dropped my gaze to our entwined hands, suddenly drained. Neither of us spoke for a long moment.
“My daughter likes you enough to keep you,” Roman said, voice soft.
There wasn’t any pity in it, though, and I appreciated that.
One side of my mouth lifted, thinking about sweet Hailey. I nodded, because I knew it was true.
Silence settled around us, but it wasn’t heavy or uncomfortable. It was almost peaceful.
I should probably get up and leave, but most of me didn’t want to. It was getting late, though, and Roman needed sleep.
I let out a sharp sigh, gathering my strength to finally stand, but Roman’s hand squeezed mine.
“Don’t go.”
When I looked up at him, his eyelids were heavy, as if he were fighting every blink to open them.
“You need to rest,” I insisted, but I still didn’t move.
His eyes closed and this time, they didn’t open. “Better stay to make sure I listen,” he breathed.
I almost smiled. He was stubborn, and I should’ve gone back to my room, where it was safe.
