Nico
One month later…
“What do you think about this one?” Roman asks.
“Too close.”
“I thought you wanted to be near your family?”
“Not that close. I need them to know I want to be independent. I want them to understand I’m moving away to live my own life.”
“And you can’t just say that?” he asks. “This house is…”
“Roman,” I warn playfully.
“Fine. Here. You look then.” He goes through his bags, organizing the clothes to prepare for his flight tomorrow.
I gladly take his phone and scroll through the listings in the Montreal area. Roman is ready to move as soon as possible. Once we have a house and it’s paid for, that’s it. Sure, moving in together may be a quick move, but when you know, you know.
Roman is like ice skating for me. I knew I loved it the first time I experienced it. Nothing is ever going to change. It’s my life now.
Roman signed a contract with the Tornadoes, and so living in Montreal works out for us. It keeps me in the area too, which is nice.
“Should we consult Connor and étienne?” I ask.
Roman raises a brow. “You’re asking me that? You’re the one who can’t stand your cousin.”
“Hey, that’s a love-hate relationship. I only dislike him when he’s talking.”
“Oh, well that makes total sense.” Roman rolls his eyes.
“We will just decide on a house and tell them after. They can choose what they do.”
“Good idea.”
The last couple of months have been busy. Me with practices, media touring, fundraisers. Roman with playoff games—bummer they didn’t win, but he makes sure to tell me every day that it doesn’t matter because he has me and that makes him a winner.
It’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Roman is the sweetest man I have ever met. I hate when we aren’t together, but I keep reminding myself that soon we will be. As much as we can be between our busy lives. But this is who we are, and we support each other fully. We will make it work.
“Oh, how about this one?” I say, handing it back to him. “It has a big yard for Taco… and friends.”
Roman laughs as he takes his phone. He scrolls through the photos quickly.
“I like it. Let’s get it.”
“Seriously? Just like that?”
“Nico, I don’t care about the house. Anywhere will be fine as long as you’re there.”
“Don’t say things like that,” I whine. “It makes me want to fuck you.”
He frowns. “What is wrong with that?”
“I’m sore,” I pout.
“Who’s fault is that? I’m not the one who woke you up in the middle of the night and begged to be fucked.”
I groan, lying back on the bed. “Stop being so hot.”
“Sure. I’ll get right on that.” He rolls his eyes again. “Email them, Nico.”
“Fine. You convinced me.”
I send an email from his account to ask about the house, and then I continue looking and email a few more places that look nice.
Taco attempts to jump onto the bed, but is unable because of her little legs, so I help her up.
She lies down, putting her head on my chest, and I pet her as I scroll through houses.
“Have you heard from Connor?” I ask.
“Not yet.”
“They’re probably too busy fucking.”
Roman huffs a laugh. “I am so glad we aren’t sharing a place with them anymore.”
Originally, Roman and Connor rented this Air BNB together. But étienne and Connor’s all-night fucking started getting in the way of my beauty sleep—so they had to go.
I groan. “Me too! And I thought we fucked a lot.”
“We do.”
“Nothing compared to those animals,” I say. “Though, they do spend more time together, considering neither of them have current obligations. I should force étienne to put together another tour for me or something.”
“I thought he was only your fake PA for the Olympics?”
I grin. “Oh, he was. But it’s still funny.”
Roman comes over to the bed, leaning over me and kissing me.
“I’m going to take Taco out, then we can leave—they can meet us or not. I’m starving.”
I wrap my arm around the back of his neck and pull him to me again, for another kiss.
“Come on, girl!” he calls. Taco chases after him.
I look around the area, knowing it isn’t our house but I can’t help but think this is how our life will be when we finally get one just for us.