“Yeah,” I reply cautiously. “I guess.”
What felt like an incredible moment of joy at seeing his face in Roman’s apartment just minutes ago suddenly has taken on a different tone.
We take a seat on the same couch, each of us on a different end. I turn my body inward to face him and place a pillow in my lap to get comfy.
My nerves get the best of me, and I immediately start talking. “I’m so sorry, Walker. I know we messed up. It should have never happened behind your back.”
“Yeah, it shouldn’t have,” he states.
I look down at my hands, not sure how to respond. I’m filled with so much guilt over lying to him.
I hear him sigh and glance at his watchful eyes.
“Look”—he runs a hand through his hair, something I think he’s done a lot this morning— “I get it. If you had approached me with it, I would have said no way. It’s not like that would have gone any better.”
“You would have?” I question, wondering why that would have been his response.
“Of course. You’re my sister, and he’s my best friend. I’ve seen him at his worst behavior. I’ve heard him say things that you wouldn’t want to hear from the man who wants to date your sister.”
I turn down my mouth in understanding. “I get that.”
“What I just said is between you and me. Roman still has some major groveling to do to me.”
“But your friendship isn’t completely destroyed?” I ask hopefully.
He smiles. “I think we’ll make it through … eventually. Especially since I’m going to be an uncle to his baby.”
My eyes sting with emotion. “You’re going to make the best uncle.”
“And you … a mom. This baby is so lucky to have you. You’re going to be a natural. Especially since you’ve had so many experiences with our parents of what not to do.”
I snort and laugh through my tears. “Oh God. Mom is probably on cloud nine right now. She loves the money and power that will come with her daughter having Roman Bertini’s baby.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, about that. Tag. You’re it. I’m no longer fielding their phone calls about how you’re doing now that you’re home and doing well.”
I gasp. “Ugh, seriously?”
“I am not dealing with that anymore.”
I chuckle at how dramatic he sounds right now, pouting like a child. “Fine. I’ll call her when you leave. Besides, maybe she’ll be a pretty good grandma.”
“Ha! She’s already insisted the wordgrandmadoesn’t fit her. Makes her sound too old. Why don’t you go ahead and ask her what her other options are? You’ll love them.”
He winks, and I slap his arm.
He looks over his shoulder. “I think he’ll be a good dad too,” he whispers. “If there’s one thing I know about Roman, it’s that once he has his mind and heart set on something, he gives it his all.”
Another flutter of hope builds in my chest—stubborn and growing, no matter how hard I try to ignore it.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Roman
She’s been here with me for a couple of days. I want to do something for her and the baby. Something that shows just how invested I am.
The moment she falls asleep on my bed, I close the door and tiptoe down the hall to my guest bedroom.
One benefit of having construction crews at my fingertips, I can call in favors in the blink of an eye.