I start to see a glimmer of hope that he may believe that there’s more to this than just sleeping around. I use it as my chance.
“Look, I know we have more to talk about—to work on. But Eva is a wreck. She needs you. What do you say you come over to my place and visit with her?”
He nods his head slowly with sagging shoulders. “I could do that—for her,” he inserts clearly. “This isn’t over between us. And you’re paying for my coffee.”
“Obviously,” I reply as I reach for my wallet.
Just as we get up to walk out, he nudges my arm. “By the way, nice shiner. Whoever did that to you must have a killer left hook.”
A smile hits the corner of my mouth as his playful words give me hope that we can get through this.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Eva
Roman was acting weird this morning. We’d had a great evening last night, playing poker until dinner came. He even insisted I sleep in his bed with him. He didn’t kiss or touch me, which had me questioning things.
Just when I convinced myself it was all in my head, he got all nervous when I asked him where he was going this morning. Ever since he left, my mind has come up with far too many scenarios of where he could be.
None of them are pleasant.
Jessie would be an amazing person to have here, but she’s caught in a custody hearing. Obviously, that is more important than me making up shit in my head because I’m too insecure to ask him to tell me the truth about where he is going and not be cagey.
I know I can’t ask him where we stand two days after I get out of the hospital. I’m the one who shot hisI love youdown. Maybe it’s just the morning sickness getting to me. I open another oneof the suckers he got me and viciously suck on it, willing it to make a difference.
These things aren’t doing anything.
The front door opens just as I get up to toss the sucker out in frustration. Roman walks in, holding the door open for someone behind him.
My mouth parts slightly. “Walker.”
He strolls in with Roman and shuts the door. “Hey, sis.”
I nod my head, biting my lip to try to stop the tears as relief floods my insides.
He walks up to me and opens his arms. I fall into his embrace. His bear hug is always something that made me feel better.
“Be right back,” he quips as we pull apart. “Nature calls.”
I giggle as he runs off. Roman approaches with his hands in his pockets. His cheek looks pretty awful, but it’s got a sexy, dangerous vibe to it. I’m kinda digging it.
“What did you do?” I ask him.
He shrugs his shoulders. “Nothing. Just met him for some coffee this morning.”
“Oh, really? As simple as that? Did you pay him off? Do you have dirt on him? Is this extortion?”
His smirk sends a shiver down my spine.
He grabs my hand. “Let’s just say we talked, and he wants to be here for you. The rest will work itself out.”
Walker comes strolling back into the room. I can see his shoulders stiffen a bit when he sees my hand in Roman’s. My smile fades as I realize we have some things to talk about. He’s not over this.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Roman says as he drops my hand gently after giving it an encouraging squeeze. “I’ll be in my office.”
There’s an awkward moment as Walker and I stand in silence. I’m not sure how to start this conversation. We’ve always been on the same side of a dilemma. It’s never been us against one another. It feels foreign.
“Let’s go sit down on the couch.” He eventually breaks the silence. “You need your rest, don’t you?”