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“And you wanted revenge that badly?”
I roll my eyes. Maybe this was a mistake. “You know what? Forget it?—”
Roman interrupts me by stepping in front of me protectively, just like he did with Elio. “I understand that you’re still angry. I even understand why. But you’re not being fair to your sister.”
“Are you?” Brandon bites back. Gently, Chloe strokes his arm, but he yanks it away. “Because I don’t think you are. I think you liked having someone take care of your problems a little too much, and you’ve mistaken that for love.”
“Do you honestly think I would sacrifice our friendship if this was nothing?” Roman’s voice rises shakily. “Brandon, I am trying. Please, just give us an hour or two. Let us prove to you that we care for one another.”
I take out the Tupperware as a last resort. “Mom made your favorite. Egg salad.”
“Come on, babe,” Chloe pleads. “You love them both. Is it really so bad that they also love each other?”
I blanch at that word. Love. We haven’t said it to each other, though I’ve come close. Still, a part of me is afraid that I’ll wake up one day and Roman will realize that he could get any woman in New York. I’m afraid that, one day, he’ll go back to being the other Roman. The one I didn’t like and didn’t trust.
Mostly, I’m afraid that spilling too much of my heart will drive him away. It isn’t as though he’s ever been a romantic. This thing still feels fragile, even if I’m stronger beside him.
Brandon tugs at his hair, but I see his resolve waver.
Roman takes my hand, surprising me. “I do love her,” he whispers. “If you were ever my friend, you’d know I don’t say that lightly. I love her, Brandon, and I will take care of her. I won’t hurt her. I swear.”
Surprise turns me cold. I look up at him, and he returns my shocked gaze with a determined one. It pierces through every part of me, leaving me punctured by holes I’m not sure will ever heal completely.
He loves me?
He loves me. Of course, he loves me. This isn’t all in my head. I saw the way he took care of me, the way he let me in when I knew it was difficult. He trusts me with his kid. He listens to everything I say.
He loves me.
Brandon’s jaw looks about ready to hit the floor. “Oh my God. You’re serious, aren’t you?”
He nods resolutely. “More serious than I’ve ever been about anything.”
Brandon’s gaze falls to our intertwined hands. “You’re still wearing the rings.”
“It may be too soon to marry her, but I plan to keep promises. To commit. So, yes, we still wear the rings.”
“Jesus. I feel like the world is about to implode. You being all in love and shit is one thing, but… you being in love with my sister? It used to be an effort just to get you two in the same room without biting each other’s heads off.”
I smile up at Roman, wondering now if maybe I always was drawn to him, even if my patience with him had been much thinner back then.
“That’s still an issue sometimes,” I tease. “He’s still a pain in the ass.”
“Ha,” Roman deadpans, rolling his eyes before tugging on my hair lightly. His attention returns to Brandon. “See? Not much has changed.”
Except everything has changed, and I couldn’t be happier. I finally feel like myself again. Scratch that. I feel like a new, improved version of myself. Like I had to go through all of that heartache in Italy so that I could get here. So that I could find a new home.
Brandon scratches his chin and then seems to sag in defeat. “Give me the damn egg salad.”
He may as well be giving us his blessing. I hop up excitedly and pass over the Tupperware, as well as a fork. Chloe gives me a wry smile as though she knows, too. My brother is a lot of things, but easy to read is not one of them.
As we sit on the picnic blanket, I hand Roman a sandwich, which he leers at haughtily.
“Too old and wealthy for PB&J, Mr. Sterling?” I taunt, poking his shoulder.
“Please. I offered him Kraft mac and cheese once and he nearly ended our friendship,” Brandon says through a mouthful of egg.
“A meal should not come from a cardboard box.” Still, he takes the sandwich out of its cellophane and nibbles the corners skeptically.
