If You Love Me: Chapter 34

“It’ll be fine.” Roman kisses the back of my hand.

Most of the time I can channel confidence, but nerves are winning. I’ve just said yes to marrying the man of my dreams. I’m head over heels in love with Roman and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him. But we’ve been hiding this from all the people we care about. Telling them we’re together is one thing, but explaining that we’re getting married as soon as possible is entirely another. I have a lot of feelings and they are all over the place.

Hammer and Hollis are on their way over, along with Dred, because if ever I needed the support of my friend, it’s now. Fee and Callie will be home from practice any minute. Roman ordered pizza, boneless wings, and dessert from Callie and Fee’s favorite restaurant. Hollis and Hammer are picking it up.

I don’t know if I should be calling her Peggy or Aurora now. I’m about to become her dad’s wife. And I’m only eight years older than she is.

Roman cups my cheek in his palm and looks down at me with compassion and love. “We will get through this, angel. No matter what, I will stand by your side and do everything I can to help you realize your goals. It doesn’t matter how messy it is. We’ll have each other.”

He’s my one constant in a sea of uncertainty. I voice the fear that’s been eating at me ever since he called his daughter and asked her to come over. “What if Peggy isn’t okay with this?” Losing my job would be a blow, but this worries me the most. She’s his number one, as she should be. What if she can’t accept this? What if she believes, like Donnie, that I’m in this for the wrong reasons? “I can’t come between you.”

He brushes his lips tenderly over mine. “My daughter is living with my best friend, and he’s planning to propose sometime soon. If anyone will be annoyed, it’ll be Hollis because I’ve stolen his thunder. But he’s pretty used to it by now, considering Tristan and Dallas also beat him to the punch.”

I chuckle a little. “That’s not what I mean.”

“What’s the worry, then?”

“People will make assumptions about our relationship and my motives.”

His smile is soft and sure. “My daughter won’t be one of those people. And the ones who do can fuck themselves. We know how we feel about each other. The people who care about you and me and who we care about will see the truth and that’s what’s important. The rest is noise.”

“You’re so calm.” I wish it would rub off on me.

“If we had more time, I’d help settle your anxiety,” he murmurs.

“I’ll take a rain check on that.” We haven’t even had time to celebrate the fact that we’re engaged. It’s been triage since he walked through the door. Telling his daughter and my sisters makes it so much more real. And the stakes that much higher.

The condo door opens, and Callie comes barreling down the hall like a miniature hurricane. “I had a total shutout today during practice! Roman! This is the best surprise! Hi!” She launches herself at him.

“Way to go! A shutout is awesome!” Roman scoops her up and gives her a huge hug. “We ordered pizza from your favorite place. It should be here soon.”

Fee comes down the hall, a questioning smile on her face. “Hey, Roman. I didn’t know you were coming over. You two having a strategy meeting?” She glances between us.

“Sort of.” I laugh, and it sounds reedy. “Dred, Peggy, and Hollis are coming over, too.”

“Oh yay! I love Dred.” Callie is all smiles.

“Why don’t you put your backpacks in your rooms, and you two can help me set the table?” I need to do something with this nervous energy. The girls love Roman. But it’s one thing to love having someone around sometimes, it’s another when they’re suddenly part of their everyday, though.

“Sure.” Fee gives me a funny look, and she and Callie disappear down the hall.

“I’m freaking out,” I whisper.

He brushes his lips against my temple. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Dred shows up first, takes one look at me and says, “Shit’s about to go down, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I hug her. “Hollis and Peggy should be here soon.”

“Okay. Whatever you need. I’ve got your back.” She looks to Roman. “And yours, too, obviously.”

The pizza and Hollis and Peggy arrive a minute later. “Dred! I didn’t know you were coming over, too. I brought wine.” Hammer-Peggy-Aurora holds up a bottle of white. She hugs me and steps back, brows furrowing. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is great!” Yeah, I’m not convincing anyone. I’m thrilled that the man of my dreams is finally going to be mine, but I wish we didn’t have to spring the news on the people we both care the most about and hope they understand.

Hollis and Roman exchange a look.

Callie reappears, bouncing over to hug Hammer-Peggy-Aurora and Dred and tell them about her shutout today. Roman and Hollis continue to communicate with their eyebrows.

We bring the food to the table, and Hammer-Peggy-Aurora pours the wine. Roman and Hollis have beer, Callie has chocolate milk, and Fee sticks with water. I don’t know why I’m so focused on what everyone is drinking, other than my stress levels are through the roof.

“Okay. As cool as this is, what’s the vibe going on here?” Fee is frustratingly perceptive and yet totally clueless.

“We have something we need to tell you,” I blurt.

“We as in…?” Fee glances around the table.

“As in Lexi and me.” Roman covers my hand with his.

All eyes at the table focus on his fingers curved around mine.

Hammer-Peggy-Aurora’s eyes flare, and her back straightens. Hollis stretches his arm across her chair and gently runs his finger down the nape of her neck. Fee says nothing. Callie looks gleeful. Dred looks like she’s ready for anything. That makes one of us.

“I’ve asked Lexi to marry me,” Roman states, calmly, matter-of-factly.

“And I said yes.”

“Yeah, you did.” Dred nods her approval.

“Uhhh…” Hammer-Peggy-Aurora’s eyes are uncommonly wide.

“Holy shit,” Fee mutters.

“My birthday wish came true!” Callie claps.

“Who found out?” Hollis asks.

“Donnie,” Roman replies.

Hammer-Peggy-Aurora’s head whips around. Her jaw goes slack as she registers Hollis’s lack of surprise. “Found out what?”

“That guy’s been gunning for Lexi’s job from day one,” Hollis says flatly.

“Found out what?” Callie echoes.

“That Roman and Lexi are in love. She’s not supposed to be in love with a player on the team,” Fee says helpfully. “Do I get to be a bridesmaid?”

“Can I be the flower girl?” Callie bounces in her seat.

“You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?” Hammer-Peggy-Aurora crosses her arms and gives Hollis an unimpressed look.

“Princess—”

“Don’t you dare Princess me! We just went through this! You kept this from me!”

“Peggy, honey, you have to understand⁠—”

“Oh, I understand all right. Hollis gets to know, and I get to be the one in the dark.” She gives her father and Hollis a look that would incinerate most men. Then she scans the rest of the table. “And Dred doesn’t look surprised either!”

“We were hoping to avoid this until the season was over. It’s not personal, Ham—Peg—I don’t know what I’m supposed to call you, and Hammer feels really weird,” I admit.

“You can call me Aurora.”

My chin wobbles. For a moment I try to compose myself, but then I remember the conversation I had with Roman about it being okay to show my real feelings in front of the people I care for the most. And if ever there was a time to let my feelings show, it’s now. So when that tear made of fear and worry slips out, I don’t try to hide it. “I am so sorry your dad had to keep this from you, and completely understand if you feel blindsided. But I also feel like you might understand how difficult this has been. We tried so hard to not fall, but it just became—” Roman squeezes my hand and settles my nerves with one touch. “—impossible. And Dred isn’t in the Terror office, so she felt safe. She also figured it out without me even saying a word.”

“I’m an annoyingly perceptive observer.” Dred steps right in to defend me.

“I’m sure you’re shocked and hurt. It’s reasonable if you need time, Aurora, but please know that I love Roman, and he loves me. I wish the timing was different, but it doesn’t change the fact that I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I already lost him once, the idea of losing him again is unfathomable.” More than the idea of losing my job.

She straightens. “What does that mean? You already lost him once?”

I exchange a glance with Roman.

“I met Lexi at a baseball game in New York. You were visiting your mom, and I decided to take a trip.”

Aurora looks between us, and her brow arches, then her eyes narrow. “How long ago was this?”

“Three and a half years,” I reply.

“In the summer between first and second year?” Understanding dawns. “You were so broody when I came back from my trip with mom. Wow. You’ve been holding a torch all this time.”

“Basically, yeah,” Roman and I say at the same time.

Aurora’s face softens, and she reaches across the table, taking my other hand. “I get it. He’s a great guy.”

“The best,” I agree.

“This still hurts,” she whispers.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper back.

She gives me a watery smile, then turns that brokenhearted expression on her dad. “I am so, so sorry for keeping you in the dark for as long as I did last season. I understand now in a way I couldn’t before.”

“Kiddo,” Roman says softly.

“You’re an amazing dad. I adore you. And this—” She motions between us. “—this is wonderful. I’ve been secretly shipping you for months.”

“Wait, what?” Roman looks confused.

“I’ve been shipping you too!” Callie adds.

Fee raises her hands. “Also, same.”

“Does this mean Hammer will be our sister, too?” Callie is practically out of her mind with excitement.

Aurora turns her bright, beautiful, and slightly wobbly smile on Callie. “That’s right. We’ll all be a family.”

“I can’t even process that.” I don’t just gain a husband, my sisters gain a father figure and a sister, and the entire, wonderful support system of love that comes with them. It’s more than I’ve ever dared to dream of.

“I love this team so much,” Dred says.

Aurora rolls her shoulders back and taps her lip. “So, just for the sake of clarity, how many years are there between you?”

“I’m twenty-nine and I turn thirty in the summer,” I say.

“And, Dad, how about you?” She props her hands on her chin and smiles angelically.

“I know where you’re going with this, Peggy.”

“Just humor me and answer the question Dado.”

Roman gives her a look. “I’m forty.”

“Oh dude, this is gold,” Dred chuckles.

“Huh.” Aurora bats her lashes. “So you’re a decade older than Lexi. Interesting.”

“Why is that interesting?” Callie asks, so sweetly unaware.

“Because Hollis is twelve and a half years older than Hammer,” Fee says helpfully.

Roman opens and closes his mouth. Shakes his head. “The irony is not lost on me, kiddo.”

“I accept your apology,” Aurora says cheekily. “So, how soon are you tying the knot?”

“As soon as possible.” Roman squeezes my hand.

“Like, this needs to happen ASAP?” Aurora clarifies.

“Ideally, yes. We want to get ahead of Donnie and the no-fraternization policy.” Roman explains. “And the fewer people involved the better.”

“So only the people at this table who know?” Hollis asks.

“We’re the only ones who know the secret?” Callie seems to love this idea.

“That’s right. But it won’t be a secret for long.” My stomach twists uncomfortably. This is getting really real. But the most important people are behind us. And that’s what matters. Roman and I will belong to each other, and whatever happens after that…we’ll handle it.

Roman slides his hand under my braid and gives the back of my neck a light squeeze.

“I’ll be right back.” Aurora pushes away from the table.

For a moment I think she needs a minute because she’s emotional, but she returns with her phone. “We need to make a list. I’m assuming we’re either going to a justice of the peace or having a friend perform this ceremony.” She slides back into her chair beside Hollis.

She hasn’t looked at him once since we dropped this bomb and she found out he already knew. I sincerely hope the secret he’s been keeping hasn’t done damage to their relationship. The ripple effect has the potential to be huge in so many ways. I desperately want to limit the pain we cause the people we love.

“My sister has a friend who works at the courthouse. I can make a call now, if you want,” Hollis offers.

“That would be great,” Roman replies.

Hollis excuses himself.

“You have practice until, what? Eleven tomorrow?” Aurora asks us.

“That’s right.”

“Okay.” She taps her lip with her stylus. “I’m clearing my schedule tomorrow.”

“What will you tell Hemi?” I ask.

“That I need to take a personal day. Which isn’t a lie, and by the time I’m back at work, this will all be out in the open. I’ll come up with a PR plan to help mitigate, but this will likely be a bit of a sh—poopstorm. We’ll deal with that as required. While you’re at practice in the morning, I’ll take the girls dress shopping.”

“I have tomorrow off already, so I can come with you—or tackle whatever else needs to be done,” Dred offers.

“Great. It’ll be easier with the two of us. We can grab flowers and all the other important things we’ll need. How does that sound?” She directs the question at Callie and Fee.

“Do I get to wear a fancy princess dress?” Callie is all enthusiasm.

“You sure do,” Dred replies.

“Sounds good to me.” Fee nods, eyes wide.

“Perfect. We’ll have a great time.” Aurora taps away on her phone. “Dad, when we get home, we’ll take your tux down to get steamed and your shoes polished.” She adds that to her list. “Lexi, after practice the five of us will get you a dress off the rack, and I’ll make hair appointments. While we’re doing that, Dad, you can take Hollis with you to pick out an engagement ring and wedding bands.”

Hollis returns, phone still in hand. “How is four o’clock at city hall tomorrow?”

I look to Roman.

“Does that give you enough time to do everything?” he asks.

“I have to defer to Aurora on this, because I have no idea.”

“We’ll make it work,” she promises.

Hollis squeezes her shoulder. “Four works. Thanks. We’ll see you then.” He ends the call. “You’ll be married tomorrow.”