Chapter 22
Rome
The appointment with the orthopedic surgeon was a good news/bad news kind of thing.
Good news that I won’t need surgery. Bad news that I’ll be out the rest of the regular season.
I could be back for the playoffs but I won’t know for sure until I start rehabbing, and that can’t begin for several weeks.
First, I have to heal. Then more X-rays and shit before they’ll clear me to even work out.
Short-term, I can’t even do upper body stuff, so the next two weeks are going to be a struggle.
Except for the part where I get to spend time with Billie.
And we have three more days before Bodi gets back.
She had class this morning and then is working what she called a mid-shift until around seven.
I told her I’d handle dinner and now I’m torn between ordering something good and coming up with the energy to actually cook.
I’m not terrible in the kitchen, but standing is painful at the moment so I opt for ordering.
I also picked up a nice bottle of wine on my way home from the doctor.
If we’re officially going to date, then I’m going to put some effort into it.
Something I didn’t do during either of my marriages.
It can’t just be expensive presents and sex, though if last night was any indication, there’s going to be a lot of sex.
The truth is, I can’t afford expensive presents, and my number one goal right now is to pay off my ex so I can be free and clear.
After that I want to pay off the cabin in New York.
At that point, if I’m forced to retire, I’ll have a place to live and no debt.
My credit cards and SUV are paid off, so all that’s left is the extraordinary amount of alimony I’m paying because I was too proud and stubborn to fight her, and the cabin’s relatively small mortgage.
That’s why I’m living in this two-bedroom townhouse with Bodi.
I’ve been able to send extra mortgage payments since I moved in, which has made a dent, and there are only seven payments left to Denise.
I’m trying to decide what to order for dinner when there’s a brisk knock on the door and I nearly groan when I hear my mother’s voice outside.
“Rome? Are you home? It’s Mom—I have a surprise for you!”
This is one of the reasons she drives me nuts.
I thought I set some boundaries, asking her to call before dropping by, especially now that I have a roommate. But she never listens.
“Hi, Mom.” I open the door and stare.
“Surprise!” My other sister, Catalina, is standing there with a big smile on her face—and what looks like a casserole.
“We brought dinner!” Mom announces.
“And your favorite sister is in town for a visit!” Catalina moves in for a hug and I wrap my arms around her for a quick one.
“Why didn’t you call?” I ask pointedly as we move inside.
Mom glances over her shoulder at me. “You got hurt. We were worried. And Cat wanted to see you. Are you mad that we came over and brought dinner?”
“Not mad,” I say pragmatically, “but I was just about to order dinner for Billie and me. She?—”
“There’s plenty,” Mom interrupts, continuing into the kitchen. “She can join us. And you should be off your feet.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes but limp into the kitchen to see what they’re up to.
“So you’re home.” Catalina smiles, though she appears to be studying me intently.
I arch my brows. “This hasn’t been home in a long time.”
“Home is where your family is.”
“You’re not here anymore,” I point out.
“But Mom and Athena are. The house we grew up in. All the memories of Dad.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something snarky about how she didn’t spend time with Dad when he was alive, so why is she suddenly nostalgic now that he’s dead… but I opt to keep the peace.
They brought dinner.
It was thoughtful.
Annoying, but thoughtful.
“Tell me about this Billie person who’s driving Dad’s car,” Catalina continues as she pulls plates out of the cupboard.
“There will be four of us,” I say when she only gets out three plates. “And I’d like to wait for Billie to get home before we eat.”
“But it’s hot now.” Catalina turns. “And it’s Mom’s vegetable lasagna. Your favorite.”
“It is. And it’ll still be my favorite in twenty minutes when Billie gets home.”
Catalina frowns. “Are you sleeping with this girl? Athena said she’s twenty-two. You really need to get over this thing you have for girls that age.”
And there it is.
Catalina and I have never been close, and this is one of the reasons why. The other reason is that she’s still best friends with Denise. She introduced us and essentially took her side when we divorced—believing every lie Denise told her instead of her own brother.
I look at my mother. “Seriously? This is your idea of a surprise? I think I’d rather just order food.” Without a word, I leave the kitchen and make my way to the couch.
“Rome, wait.” My mother and Catalina trail after me, and I hear my mother whisper something to her.
“I’m sorry. Really, I am.” Catalina sinks down next to me and puts her hand on my arm. Neither her expression nor her tone is particularly apologetic, and then she just digs in deeper. “But you do have a type. And look where it’s gotten you.”
“I don’t need my sister to remind me of the mistakes I’ve made,” I say calmly, even though I’m raging on the inside. “And if you recall, you’re the one who set me up with Denise.”
“You cheated on her.”
“She cheated first,” I grunt. “I told her I would find sex elsewhere if she continued to use it as a weapon to get me to buy her things. New diamond earrings for a blow job. A new car for anal?—”
“Rome!” My mother gasps, eyes wide.
“She started it,” I say. “I was no angel but neither was she. At least I can say I loved her at the beginning. Which is more than she can say.”
We all look up as the front door opens and Billie comes in. “Hey! What smells…” Her voice trails and she pauses. “Hi, Mrs. C.”
“Hi, Billie!” Mom smiles like they’re old friends. “This is my other daughter, Catalina. She’s in town for a long weekend. We brought dinner since Rome is under the weather. Are you hungry?”
“I am. Thank you. And nice to meet you, Catalina.” Billie extends her hand and Catalina frowns before quickly shaking it.
Billie cuts a glance at me, but I don’t dare look at her because I just want to shake my sister.
“Let’s eat while it’s hot,” Mom says quickly.
“I’m just going to wash up real quick,” Billie says, escaping up the stairs.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you’re not screwing her,” Catalina says under her breath.
Lucky for me, I have no problem lying when the occasion calls for it.
“I’m not screwing her,” I say without missing a beat.
I see a flicker of surprise in her eyes but then she shakes her head. “You’re lying.”
“Believe what you want. But if you say or do anything to embarrass Billie, I’ll throw your ass out.”
She sighs. “You haven’t changed at all. Mom said you’ve mellowed but?—”
“All right, enough.” Mom shakes her head.
“Stop it. Both of you. Can we just put the past behind us for one night and enjoy dinner? I know you’re in pain, Rome, so it stands to reason your temper is short.
And Cat, give it a rest.” She gives her one of those looks that mothers have been giving their children for millennia.
Normally, it works like a charm. Tonight, Cat just rolls her eyes.
“Whatever. When she takes what little you have left, I’m not going to hesitate to say I told you so.”
“Mom.” I give my mother a warning look, and she must realize I’ve had as much as I’m going to take of my sister, because I can’t hear what she whispers to Cat, but Cat actually flushes.
“Sit,” Mom says to me. “I’ll serve. Do you want something to drink?”
I’m not going to mention the wine. Or the red velvet cupcake I picked up on my way home. Billie mentioned they’re her favorite so I thought it might be fun to share one after dinner. Maybe lick some of the cream cheese frosting off of her?—
“It smells wonderful.” Billie comes in wearing yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt, her hair back in a ponytail.
“Do you eat vegetable lasagna?” Cat asks her.
Billie grins. “I sure do. I make one that my brother loves.”
“You cook?”
“Bodi and I have been on our own since we were fifteen and eighteen,” she replies. “So I didn’t have a choice.”
“What happened to your parents?”
I open my mouth just as my mother lets out a put-upon sigh but Billie beats us both to the punch.
“They died. In a car accident. I was in the car, unable to move because my femur was shattered. It was hours before the rescue team found us. My brother dropped out of college to take care of me and we figured out the whole living alone thing. Any other questions?”
Cat has the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” she says softly. “I didn’t know.”
“Then maybe you should think before you ask snarky questions,” I say.
“It’s all right.” Billie shrugs. “I’ve got plenty of snark if she wants to interrogate me some more.” She takes a bite of lasagna and smiles. “This is great, Mrs. C. It was so nice of you to bring dinner.”
My mother beams. “Well, I figured Rome wouldn’t want to cook, and something homemade has to be better than takeout.”
“Definitely.” Billie gives my mom a sweet smile and digs in.
Anyone who stands up to Catalina gets bonus points in my book. Not that Billie needed any—I’m already crazy about her. Watching her stand up to Catalina is hot, though.
I’m going to give her a very special reward for that later tonight.