I shake my head. “He said some words to me. Things that made me doubt whether I was good enough for my family.”
She grabs my cheeks and forces me to look at her. “You listen to me. That is for only Eva to decide. But I can tell you that you are an incredible man. Any woman would be lucky to be on the receiving end of your love.”
I’m still filled with doubt. Maybe I lost the chance with Eva. I should have treated her better from the beginning.
“Walker is like you,” she adds. “He’s hotheaded. He thinks he knows what’s best for his sister. You may need to give him some grace throughout this. You did go behind his back. He’ll need some time. But with Eva, you fight. You fight like hell for her love and for your family. You deserve them. Do you hear me?”
“I do.”
“Good.” She smiles. “Now, you go back to her. Be there for her. Don’t rush anything. Just be there.”
Don’t rush. Just be there.I can do that. I can start with showing her, not telling her.
I am going to prove to her that I’m ready. That I’m madly in love with her and can’t wait to start the rest of our lives together.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Eva
Itry to get rest like I told my parents I needed, but it’s impossible. All I can think about is whether I should text Roman. Maybe I can ask him to come back so we can talk about this.
I know what Walker said was wrong, but it’s nothing we can’t figure out. We knew he was going to react this way. I’m sure my pregnancy and landing in the hospital didn’t help in delivering the news.
It’s like the universe is working against us. I lean back and close my eyes, willing my body to calm down enough to get some rest.
A sudden noise from my left startles me.
“Sorry,” Roman whispers next to me in the chair. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I … wasn’t sleeping,” I answer slowly. “Where did you go?”
“I just wanted to give you guys some space. It was a little crowded in here for a bit.”
“Jessie said she saw you walk outside.”
“Yeah. I needed some fresh air.”
He turns his head, and all the air leaves my lungs.
“What happened to your face?”
He touches his cheek. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
That is not nothing. It’s swollen and red.
“Did Walker do that to you?” I grit through my teeth.
“It’s fine, Eva. I deserved it.”
“No, Roman, you didnotdeserve that. I’m going to kill him.”
“Hey, hey.” He moves to sit on my bed. “Don’t worry about me. It doesn’t matter what my face looks like or how I got the bruise. What matters is you and the baby.”
He places his hand on my belly for the first time. My breath catches in my throat. Not because of the warmth of his hand, but because of what it means.
He isn’t just touching me. He is touching us. Choosing us.
Even if we never figure it out between the two of us, he is showing me that he wants our baby.