“I love you too. I will never forgive myself for leaving.”
Romeo cracked a relieved smile. “I believe you. But it’s done. I have you back and you’re not gettin’ away again, even if I have to tie you to the f**kin’ bed. We won’t talk of it anymore. I can’t keep thinkin’ of all the bad. I need good. I need things to be good.” He smoothed the damp strands of hair from my forehead. “When we go back to Bama, you’re movin’ in with me.”
“Okay.”
Romeo’s eyebrows arched high. “Okay? I was expectin’ to have to convince you. You’re not gonna tell me we’re too young, it’s too soon, or any of that kinda shit?”
“Nope, my home is with you. I know that now. I finally get it.”
“At long f**kin’ last!” He sighed.
He entwined our fingers. “My momma’s been released. Some connection at the courthouse got her off. My daddy’s out on bail, but he’ll be doin’ some serious time. I spoke to him and his lawyer and we agreed to just walk away from one another. We have no relationship anymore. Can’t save somethin’ that never was.”
“Rome, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I needed assurance that they wouldn’t come near you again. They won’t. They only wanted the marriage to Shelly to get her daddy’s money. That’s officially done with.”
I ran my thumb over his palm. He watched the action with a contented smile. “It’s funny, but I finally feel free.” He rolled to the side and we faced each other, sharing the same pillow. “We’re finally free to be together, no obstacles.”
“No Shelly?”
“She won’t come near us again. Cass made sure of that,” he added, chuckling.
I pulled a frown. “What do you mean?”
“She knocked her the f**k out for what she did to you. Broke her f**kin’ nose. I only wish I’d been there to see it!”
“No! I can’t believe it.” I needed to hug the living daylights out of that girl when I saw her next.
I couldn’t help but giggle and kiss his hands. He lost his smile and placed his flat palm to my stomach. “Was I too rough with you? You still hurtin’, baby?”
I shook my head sadly. “Not anymore. At least not physically.”
Romeo’s beautiful dark brown eyes regarded me sympathetically. He understood. “Are you wantin’ more babies?”I swallowed back my wrought emotions. It was time to put my troubles in the past. It was time to move forward. “One day I’d like to be a mother. But not right now. We both have dreams; we’re young and want to accomplish so much. We will have children, Romeo, but when we decide it’s right.”
“I agree. And we’ll always have our little angel in heaven.”
I dipped forward and gently kissed the large tattooed wings. “So, superstar QB… You’re probably going to be first for the draft in a few months’ time, especially after your game-winning touchdown, eh?”
He wrapped a piece of my hair around his finger. “Yeah, I suppose.”
“Spill it.”
He exhaled a long drawn-out sigh. “You go wherever you’re drafted. No choice.”
My PhD. He was worried about my PhD.
“Look, I haven’t even got my applications together yet, so let’s not worry about any of that, okay? We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Let’s just enjoy being us for a while without any more drama.”
He nodded and smiled.
“Plus, I’ve got a new philosophy about everything. I think we should both adopt it.”
He looked at me expectantly.
I cleared my throat. “Some things in life are bad. They can really make you mad. Other things just make you swear and curse. When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle, and this’ll help things turn out for the best. And always look on the bright side of life…”
Romeo backed me up with the accompanying whistle and raised an eyebrow on a laugh. “Monty Python, Shakespeare? That’s your new philosophy?”
I hunched my shoulders. “It’s Python.”
He laughed, free and unbarred, and echoed, “It’s Python.”
I read the time on the clock. “It’s still early. Do you want to go out and meet your teammates? Go for dinner? What do you want to do?”
He spanked me firmly my on my arse, and I couldn’t help but yelp out a laugh.
“You. I’m not done with you yet, Shakespeare. We have weeks of missed sex to make up for.” His tone dropped to a deep timbre as he buried all gentleness. “Now stand at the side of the bed, reach for your ankles, and prepare yourself to come at least three more times.”