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Roman chuckled, swirling his flute and making the bubbles go into a frenzy. “I remember that. We stayed there the entire day and most of the night. Our parents were pissed.”
“I would be, too, if I were them. I also wouldn’t change a damn thing.”
“Was that one of our first dates?”
“It was the first time you sucked me off—does that count?”
Roman made a “hmm” sound before nodding. “Yeah, that’s probably what I’m thinking of.” He laughed again, rubbing a warm hand against Wyatt’s side. “Do you want kids?”
The question made Wyatt pause. He had thought he’d known the answer to this: yes. He did. He always pictured himself changing diapers and teaching vocabulary words and planning yearly trips to Disney World. He wasn’t always exactly sure how it would happen, but he never let that stop him from thinking about it.
That had been changing lately. Maybe it was getting older; being twenty-seven now, it made him think about it differently. He focused more on the sacrifices he’d have to make—and as selfish as it sounded, he just couldn’t find it in himself to make them. The money alone would be a massive hurdle for him to overcome. Either adoption or surrogacy would cost more than he made in a year’s time, and that would mean no saving for a house or paying off credit cards. That was before the possibility of him becoming a millionaire overnight, but still, it was his reality, and he had to face his decisions with that in mind.
“I’m not sure,” Wyatt said, mulling it over. He looked to Roman, seeing a similar thoughtful expression twist his lips and slant his brows. “I’m leaning more toward ‘no’ if I’m being honest.”
“And why’s that?” Roman asked.
“I just don’t know if having a kid is for me, not now at least. Maybe down the road. But for right now, the thought of being responsible for an entire person, dependent on me for their every need? Yeah… no. I think I could get my baby fix when Julie has a kid and makes me their fairy guncle.”
“Don’t call yourself that.”
“What, guncle?”
“Fairy.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes, and Roman laughed. “You’re right. I much prefer to be called another F word.”
“Oh, well, you should have told me.” Roman laughed again, the sound spreading to Wyatt. “I’m just teasing. But I do think you’re right. Kids change the calculation. I’d need to adjust in ways I don’t know if I’m capable of. Obviously, I’m sure the dad instincts kick in the second you hold them, but I’d rather not risk it. Especially not in my line of work. Imagine if I had a kid during all of this? The stress, it would be insane. And I doubt I’d take any of the risks I do now.”
“You’d make a great dad,” Wyatt said. “You’re patient, smart, funny, caring. I’ve heard you say a couple of shitty dad jokes and watched everyone around you laugh.”
“They weren’t that shitty.”
Wyatt gave Roman a sideways look.
“Even the one about the shoemaker and the hay barrel?”
“Especially the one about the shoemaker and the hay barrel.” Wyatt drank the champagne, alcohol beginning to soften his already limp body.
“Maybe in a few years,” Roman said, looking back out at the ocean. The wind was strong with how high up they were, carrying with it a salty freshness. “I’ll start off with a cat first. Let’s see how that goes.”
Wyatt was happy they’d had this conversation. Deep topics were never difficult to discuss with Roman, but if their views differed on this one, then he could see where friction would be created. But with them being on the same page, it made Wyatt feel much stronger about their future together. Like everything was lining up to create a runway straight into paradise for them. After all they’d been through, Wyatt felt like they deserved at least that.
They stayed on the balcony until they finished their champagne and their conversation slowed. Once Wyatt’s eyelids started closing on their own, he knew he had to call it. They had a long and important day ahead of them, and sleep would be crucial to success.
He followed Roman back into the bedroom, curling up next to him, naked bodies soft and perfectly fitting together. It only took a couple of minutes before Wyatt was out like a light, Roman soon to follow.
Chapter 23
Roman Ashford
The Rainbow’s Seven met on the boat at the crack of dawn, Roman and Wyatt getting a restful few hours of sleep together before waking up with a nervous buzz flitting through the air. Roman understood the stakes had never been higher. They needed to make sure this all went off without a hitch. Mimic and the tome were both on the line, and Roman didn’t want to lose either, especially not Mimic. He’d give up the tome a thousand times over if it meant getting his friend out of there alive.
