Chapter 33
Roman
Five Weeks Later
Mom scans the party that’s currently sprawled across my expansive living room. When she finds Iris chatting with Nicola on my couch, her eyes light up. “I knew they’d be fast friends,” Mom whispers gleefully. “They’re so similar.”
We’re in the middle of the preseason schedule with the regular season still a few weeks away, so I figured now was the perfect time to invite everyone in my inner circle to a housewarming party.
At least, that’s what I told Iris. In truth, I’ve been chomping at the bit to introduce my amazing girlfriend to everyone, so I concocted a reason.
I know Iris has only been living here a month, but I’m now more certain than ever I want to wake up next to her every morning for the rest of my life.
Mom taps a manicured finger against her glass of chardonnay before shifting her gaze from Nicola and Iris to me. “Isn’t it wonderful to finally have some women in our family? My God, Sofia and I have been surrounded by oceans of testosterone for far too long.”
Sofia is Mom’s sister. Marco’s mother and my aunt. And, of course, Aunt Sofia is here today, along with everyone else who matters most to me. The only important person who’s not here today is Maverick, but that’s only because he was here over the weekend, and he already loves Iris as much as I do.
“It seems like things are still as wonderful with Iris as ever. Yes?”
I look around to make sure nobody’s within earshot. “They’re better than ever, Mom. I didn’t know I could love someone like this.”
Mom’s dark eyes light up. “Have you told Iris that—in those exact words?”
“Keep your voice down, Mom. Jesus.”
Her eyes narrow. “I was whispering, Roman.”
“No, you were practically shouting.”
Mom snorts. “You’re insane.”
“You might have been whispering with your voice, but your body language was screaming, ‘Give me another grandbaby and give it to me with Iris!’ I don’t want Iris catching wind of that.”
Mom giggles. “Why not? She’s wonderful for you and a perfect fit with the family. I vote you let that cat out of the bag and let her know you love her.”
“Would you take a sip of your wine and act natural, please? Your eyes are bugging out. You look like a rabid dog.”
Mom shoots me one of her patented tsks. “If I’m a dog, then you’re a son of a bitch.”
“I didn’t call you a dog, Mother. It was a metaphor.”
Mom stares me down with those dark eyes of hers that see right through a person’s soul. “I didn’t appreciate the metaphor, darling.”
“It was a bad choice of words. Can you please just act natural, as a favor to me? If Iris looks over here, she’s gonna know something’s up.”
“Something’s up?” Mom asks, her dark eyebrow slanted up. “What’s up, Roman?”
I touch the ring box in my pocket to make sure it’s still there and exhale in relief when it is. “Nothing. Never mind. Another bad choice of words.”
Mom’s not buying it. “Hmm,” she says, while sipping her wine.
Jesus, I’m a wreck. Fuck.
When I pulled my mother over here to chat, it was because I was foolishly feeling the urge to spill my guts to her about the diamond ring that’s been burning a hole in my pocket since yesterday.
But now that she’s being so brazenly pushy and enthusiastic about Iris, I’m realizing she’s the last person to trust with my secret.
Mom’s normally got a fantastic poker face.
She’s where I got mine, actually, since God knows I didn’t get it from Dad.
But for some reason, when it comes to Iris, Mom can’t keep a straight face to save her life.
“You still haven’t answered me,” Mom says. “Have you told Iris you love her or not?”
I roll my eyes. “You think I’d invite a woman to live with me, in my home, with my child, without first saying those words to her?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re right. I did. Like an idiot.”
We both snort-laugh.
“But then, I figured out my mistake and said it to her during our first night here.” I can’t believe that was only five weeks ago. My relationship with Iris has deepened and flourished so much since then, that magical night feels like a lifetime ago.
“Did Iris say it back to you?”
I give Mom a look that says, “What do you think?”
She giggles. “I figured, but I didn’t want to assume. Iris isn’t a puppet, you know. That girl most definitely has a mind of her own.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
We both chuckle again.
I found out about Iris’s “mind of her own” for the first time in Hawaii, of course.
And then again in Orchard Blossom, when she stood over Brandon and told him off in the most perfect way.
But over the past month, I’ve become acquainted with Iris’s quiet strength and independent spirit in a whole new way.
Once she started feeling safe and secure in her new home, and with me and our relationship, she relaxed into her new life and slowly started showing me all her glorious colors—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
And that’s when my love for Iris catapulted to a whole new level, because I felt safe enough to do the same.
I notice my cousin Marco walking across the room and decide he’s the one I should tell about the ring in my pocket, rather than my mother. In fact, what was I thinking to even consider telling my loose-lipped, excitable mom, when Marco’s the only person in this room who’s recently proposed?
My gaze darts to where Iris and Nicola were chatting a moment ago.
They’re both still there, chatting away, but now, they’ve now been joined by Iris’s two friends from college, Kaylee and Tatiana.
Perfect. Whenever those two ladies come over, which they’ve done several times over the past month, Iris gets pulled into a marathon gab session.
“I should mingle,” I say to my mother, interrupting her mid-sentence. What was she talking about? I have no idea, thanks to the ring in my pocket turning my brain to frazzled mush.
I walk toward Marco with purpose, but I’m intercepted by a couple of my new teammates along the way, so I stop to chat with them.
Finally, when I make it to Marco, he’s gotten pulled into conversation with my twin brothers, Happy Levi and Evil Luca, along with Cameron.
It’s not an ideal situation, since Luca has always been able to read my mind, for some reason, and I don’t want to put this decision up to a group vote.
It shouldn’t be too big a stumbling block, however, if I handle pulling Marco away with finesse.
I greet the group and try to play it cool as they continue talking about Luca’s new team.
He doesn’t have a firm spot on their roster yet.
He got invited to training camp, and he’s now hoping to get some good playing time in at the next couple preseason games, which he’s then hoping will lead to a spot on their roster—or at least their practice squad.
But however it goes for him this time, I couldn’t be prouder of my little brother’s tenacity and persistence.
The NFL is a tough gig, man. My brother Luca, with all the ups and downs he’s endured, knows that better than anyone.
During a lull in the conversation, I nudge Marco to get his attention. “Hey, cuz,” I whisper. “Can I talk to you for a minute on the deck?”
“Sure thing.”
Shit. As we turn to walk away, Luca grips my bicep and deadpans, “Whatever you have to say to Marco, you can say it in front of the whole class, Roman Maguire.”
Fucking hell. How does he always read my mind? He’s been able to do it since he was a toddler. “Sorry, Teacher,” I shoot back playfully, trying to throw Luca off the scent. “Mrs. Teetlebaum from the office told me to come get Marco out of class. His mom is here to take him to the dentist.”
Luca raises a suspicious eyebrow. Obviously, he’s not buying my attempt at deflection. “Seriously, what’s going on, Rome? You’re sweating bullets.”
I scoff a bit too loudly. “No, I’m not.” I am, though.
Which is crazy, since I’m known for being graceful under pressure.
Even when three-hundred-pound linemen come at me with murder in their eyes, I’m unflappable.
An assassin. A sniper. But slide a goddamned diamond ring into my pocket—one I’m bursting to give to the love of my life—and I fall the fuck apart.
I take a sip of my beer to emphasize what a relaxed, chill dude I am, but Luca’s still not buying it. Probably because my hand is shaking while I drink.
Luca nudges his grumpy counterpart next to him, Levi. “Back me up, brother. Rome’s acting super weird, right?”
Levi shrugs. “Rome always acts weird to me. I honestly don’t understand him at all.”
We all laugh, even me.
“It’s not a big deal,” I say, realizing I’ve got to give Luca something, or he’s never going to let it go. “I’ve got a business-related question for Marco. He did a deal that’s similar to something I’m contemplating.”
“What deal?” Cameron says, his brow furrowed.
Fuck. In this context, I forgot to think of Cameron as my agent, rather than my longtime best friend. My God, having that ring in my pocket is doing dastardly things to my brain.
“That was a lie,” I confess on an exhale. “I need some relationship advice from Marco, and I didn’t want to say that and have everyone think—”
“You’re already thinking about breaking up with Iris?” Levi whisper-shouts, thereby proving the truth of his earlier statement. He doesn’t understand me at all.
“No, dummy,” Luca interjects, taking the words right out of my mouth. “He wants to propose to her, and he wants Marco’s advice about how to do it.”
Fucking Luca. I look around frantically. “Not so loud, Luc. Jesus.”
Luca gasps. “Oh my God. I’m right?”
I nod. “But don’t tell anyone, especially Mom.” My heart thrumming, I grab Marco’s arm and drag him away, but not before throwing over my shoulder to Luca and the rest, “Nobody follow us. I don’t want anyone else’s opinion about this but Marco’s.”