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I can’t tell you how many times I almost broached the subject of Roman and me. I even thought about just suggesting I’d met someone older, but I didn’t want to ruin the day or my visit home. We’re only here until Sunday. We have to drive back for a couple of weeks of exams before we come back home for Christmas break.
By the time I make it to the living room, everyone is sprawled out. Forrest is in his recliner, already looking like he’s half asleep. Maddox is sprawled out on the love seat, while Lachlan and Legend are on one end of the sectional. Monroe and Roman are on the other end, and wouldn’t you know there is just enough space between the two of them for me. I plop down and pull one of the throw blankets off the back of the couch, and snuggle up. I’m already wearing leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Perfect napping attire.
“Oh, I want one.” Monroe hops up and steals the blanket from the back of the love seat. Maddox doesn’t even put up a fight when she takes it from the back. These guys know we’re always cold. She takes her spot on the couch and snuggles deep.
“Give me some of that,” Lachlan says, and pulls the cover over him as well.
“I’m going to fix this.” Legend gets up and runs downstairs. He comes back with three blankets. He tosses one to Maddox, one to Forrest, and keeps the other for himself.
“What about me?” Roman asks, pretending to be hurt he was left out, but we all know he’s just kidding from the tone of his voice.
“Sorry, only found three. Em, we taught you to share, right?” Lachlan says. He then proceeds to wrap himself up like a burrito on his end of the couch.
“Yeah, Em, share. If I have to, then so do you.” Monroe taunts.
Have I mentioned that I love my best friend? “Fine.” I act like I’m being put out. “But you better not be a cover hog.” I already know he’s not. He just holds me closer so that we’re both snuggled up at night or on the couch. But here, we can’t snuggle, not like we’re used to, but this is better than I could have hoped for this cold Friday afternoon. Belly full, snuggled up with my man and all my favorite people. I’m calling that a win for today’s festivities.
Roman settles the cover over him, making sure that I’m also covered, and his hand immediately finds mine beneath the covers. The room is quiet, with the recorded football game in the background. I’m warm and Roman’s hand is wrapped tightly around mine. The last thing I remember is Forrest and Maddox, both snoring as I drift off to sleep.
My eyes flutter open, and the room is dark. The TV is on, but the volume is still down low. Once my eyes adjust to the lighting, I see Forrest still asleep in his chair, and the others are all asleep too. Even Roman, my human pillow. As bad as I hate to move away from him, I know I need to. I try to sit up and his arms wrap around me tighter. I lift my head just enough to see his eyes, and he’s staring right at me. He bends his head and presses a kiss to my forehead, then sits back and closes his eyes. I glance to my right and see that Legend and Monroe have somehow changed places. She’s curled up on him, just as he is her, and Lachlan has his head in Monroe’s lap.
I smile because the five of us are like a twisted pretzel. Roman’s hand is still locked tightly around mine, and his thumb traces over my knuckles. He’s not ready to break this connection yet, and I know that if I pretend to still be asleep, I can lie here in his arms a little longer. Thankfully, Monroe and the guys have found themselves in a similar situation, which means there shouldn’t be any question as to why I’m using Roman as my pillow.
Closing my eyes, I try to go back to sleep, but it’s no use. Out of nowhere, I hear a thump, then “Motherfucker,” and I can’t help it. I start to laugh. Roman joins in and when I sit up, I see Maddox lying on the floor by the love seat.
“You okay, Mad?” I ask between giggles.
Roman slips his hand up the back of my sweatshirt and traces his fingers down my spine. I try like hell to pretend he’s not touching me, but it’s difficult.
“Too big for this fucking thing,” Maddox grumbles.
“You want to come over here, and join our Monroe sandwich?” Lachlan asks.
“Hey,” Monroe protests in her sleepy voice. Then we hear a grunt, and I’m sure she’s either whacked him on the back of the head or dropped an elbow.
“Just kidding, Roe, but you are comfortable,” Lachlan adds, trying to kiss up to her.
“Can you jokers not see I’m sleeping?” Forrest grumbles groggily.
We all laugh, and just like that, my solo time with Roman is gone. Slowly, we all sit up and stretch. Roman manages to touch me under the radar, his hand still on my thigh beneath the covers.
“Pie,” Monroe announces. “I’m gonna need me some pie. Em?”
“Let’s do it.” Roman squeezes my thigh and moves his hand, and I toss back the cover, and stand, pulling Monroe to her feet. Linking my arm through hers, I lead her to the kitchen. We break out the pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies that we made and serve up a piece of each for the guys. She and I do the same, but our pieces are a fraction of the size of theirs.
It takes us a few trips, but we serve the guys dessert. They all offer to help, but we wave them off. No sense in all of us being up and in the kitchen.
“Oh, God,” Maddox moans as he takes a bite. “You two made these?”
“Just like we do every year,” I remind him.
“Marry me.” He looks at me, then at Monroe. “The offer stands for both of you if I get pie like this more than just on holidays.”
I feel Roman stiffen at my side, and I bump my leg into his. Maddox isn’t being serious, but when I glance over at Roman, he’s glaring at his plate. “Nah, you’re not my type.”
Maddox scoffs. “What? Sexy, artistic, good in bed, stable career, owns his own home, isn’t your type?”
Everyone laughs, except for Roman. I don’t know what to say to that, because he described himself and every other man in the room, including mine. They’re all totally my type, but Roman is the only one I see that way. I start to panic, not sure how to get out of this when my bestie comes to my rescue.
