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“Not because of you, Rome. If that’s the choice he makes, then that’s the choice that Forrest is going to have to live with. I will forever be grateful for all that he’s done for me, but I’m a big girl now. I don’t need him to handle my life anymore. He got me out and helped me get to where I am, but he has to let me make my own choices.” I pause, listening to him breathe. “I choose you, Roman.”
“Maybe he’ll be mad, but just learn to accept this. Accept us?” There’s hope in his voice.
“He’ll have to if he wants to be a part of my life.”
“I hate this for you.”
“Not for you?” I ask.
“He’s one of my best friends. I love him like a brother, but it’s your name tattooed on my heart.”
“I like this softer side of you.”
He laughs softly. “I’m just me, Em.”
“I know. You’ve always been nice to me, good to me even. All of you have. I was the annoying little sister.” I cringe at the mention of our age difference, hoping he doesn’t latch on to that next. “But you’re different with me now. Softer is the best way I know how to describe it.”
“I guess that’s what happens to a man when he gets his dream girl.”
My mouth falls open, and he chuckles.
Fucking video call.
He yawns again.
“You should try to get some rest,” I say to change the subject. He really does look wrecked.
“I think with this gift I got today, I might actually be able to.” He gives me a sleepy smile. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
“Night, Rome. Sweet dreams.” I blow a kiss at the screen, and he does the same before we end the video call. Plugging my phone in, I turn off the bedside lamp and close my eyes. I drift off to sleep with my heart full, and my body relaxed.
ChapterSeventeen
Roman
“There he is, the birthday boy!” Forrest calls out as I walk into the shop.
“My birthday isn’t until Sunday,” I remind him.
“It’s your birthday week.” He shrugs. “We’re grilling at my place, Sunday, right?”
“Yeah.” I nod. There’s no point in trying to get out of it. This is his thing, and we all accept that. Forrest and Emerson didn’t have the best childhood. Forrest’s was worse than Emerson's because he got her out of that house as much as possible.
“So what’s the plan?” Lachlan asks.
“I was thinking we could head into Nashville Saturday night, hit a few bars, listen to some music,” Maddox suggests.
“Nah.” I’m quick to shut that shit down. “Just not feeling it. Why don’t we just order some pizzas and pick up a couple of twelve packs of beer? There’s a fight on Saturday night, right? Let’s Pay Per View that and just chill.”
“You sure?” Forrest asks.
“Yeah, low-key is the name of the game, my friend.”
“Low-key, my ass. You’re dirty thirty, brother.” He holds his fist out for me to bump into his. “The last of us to leave our twenties. We need to do it up big.”
“Splurge on a bottle of Crown other than just beer.”
“That’s what you call doing it up big?” Legend asks.
