56. Lavinia #2
“By the way, today is our anniversary,” Roman says, when our breathing has slowed down and sweat begins to cool on our bodies.
“We got married on October 24,” I remind him. “It’s the end of February.”
“One year ago today, you asked to run away with me.”
I lift my head to look at him in surprise. There’s no way. I try to do some mental math and remember what day it is and he’s right. One year ago, Josh left me at the altar, and I asked Roman to help me leave the wedding venue.
“It’s been one year since the trash walked itself out of your life,” Roman says.
“When I ask to run away with you, I never thought this is where we’d end up.”
“Life has a funny way of working out.”
My mom is so worried about Roman as soon as we walk through the door of my parent’s house.
“Roman sweetheart, how are you feeling?” Much to Roman’s surprise, she gives him a hug after me.
“I’m fine, Melanie. Lavinia has been taking very good care of me,” he says. Over my mother’s shoulder, he winks at me, and I turn away to hide my blush.
“That’s good! I was so worried about the both of you,” Mom says. “This is the part about hockey I don’t miss. First, I was scared for my husband, now I have to be scared for my children.”
Roman startles, realizing that my mother has looped him in with her children. He deserves to have the best family and I’m more than happy to share mine.
“Good news,” Dad says, walking into the living room. “I just got off the phone with the Commissioner and Josh has been suspended for the rest of the season.” He sees Roman beside me and reaches out for a handshake. “Roman, how are you doing, son?”
Right now, my husband looks overwhelmed.
“I’m doing good, sir. Thank you.”
“That’s good to hear.” Dad pats his arm. “Injuries are expected, but they’re still scary. I’m sure you’ll be back on the ice in no time.” Dad wraps his arms around my shoulders and kisses my temple.
“Where’s everyone else?” I ask.
Jules arrived fifteen minutes ago and she’s nowhere to be found.
“They’re in the den watching videos,” Mom says, ushering us in that direction.
As Dad and Mom walk ahead, I grab Roman’s hand and pull him back. “Are you okay? You look a little freaked out.”
Roman blinks, shaking his head and looking in the direction Mom and Dad went. “I’ve never had this before. My parents have always been more interested in hating each other than loving me.”
I put my arms around his shoulders. “My family is your family. You are officially a Callahan now, and you never have to wonder if we love you because we do. But no one more than me.”
I arch up onto my toes to kiss him.
“Oh, gross. It’s bad enough I have to put up with him at work. I don’t want to see this.”
I pull away as Drew closes the front door behind him.
“It’s what people in relationships do,” I tell him. “You’d know if you’d ever been in one.”
“I’ve met your exes, you’re not exactly an expert because you got it right one time,” Drew says.
“Since I married him, it’s really the only time it counts.”
I smile up at Roman as Drew rolls his eyes. He slaps Roman on the back, and they give each other a man nod. The bell rings and I rush towards the door, opening it to reveal Kita on the other side carrying a glass tray of something that smells delicious.
“Kita, thank you for coming!” I gush.
“Thank you for inviting me. I don’t know anything about hockey, but I wasn’t missing the chance to celebrate Roman.”
I close the door behind her and take the glass dish, putting it on the foyer table.
“Kita?” Roman is very surprised to see her. I help Kita remove her coat and she walks over to Roman to give him a hug.
“Lavinia invited me. She said we were celebrating you making a very important assist or something,” Kita says. “How are you feeling? Did you eat the Kapusniak I made?”
“I did, and it was delicious,” Roman says. “Thank you.”
Kita pats his cheek. “You’re a good boy.”
Roman blushes at that as Drew coughs to cover up a laugh.
I introduce Kita to Drew and my family and just as I’m done, the rest of the team, Elena, Sage, and Coach arrive.
My parents love hosting, and they have catered this dinner so they’re not at all overwhelmed by the amount of people in their home.
Roman pulls me aside as everyone is talking.
“Do you think we need to buy a house?” He asks, watching our friends and family.
“I think the first step is for us to live together,” I say with a laugh. “If you recall, my legal address is still the apartment I share with Jules. It’s where all my things live.”
“We need to fix that as soon as possible. We’ll start packing up tomorrow,” Roman says.
“I can’t move into your apartment,” I protest.
“Why not?”
“Yeah, why not?” This comes from Jules, who’s walking in the room with a bottle of champagne in her hand. “You are married.”
“I can’t leave you,” I say.
“Jules can come as long as she doesn’t mind living with cats,” Roman says. I love him even more for offering that invitation.
Jules wrinkles her nose. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I don’t want to live with newlyweds in a small space. Especially the two of you, who make sexy eyes at each other in public places. Control yourselves.”
At dinner, there’s so much laughter and chatter it’s hard to hear everyone and get a word in. I sit next to Roman, one hand on his thigh and his hand resting over mine. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by everyone I love. People who’ve always shown up for me and supported me.
I look at Roman and my heart fills with so much love I can’t contain it. I spent so many years thinking about him. There would be days when I’d be doing something routine and suddenly remember him, wondering to myself if he ever thought of me.
It always filled me with an overwhelming sense of sadness that he probably didn’t remember me let alone think about me. I wish I can go back in time and tell that Lavinia to be patient because we’re going to get our man and he’s going to be as perfect as we knew it.
Roman glances at me, smiling when he sees me watching him.
“We’re definitely going to need a bigger house if we’re going to be hosting dinner parties,” I say.
“We’re hosting dinner parties now?” Roman asks.
“You signed your soul to the HoBros. You’ll be hosting dinner parties your whole life.”
Roman looks around at his teammates, his friends, and I swear he sees our future before him. A big house, friends coming over all the time, love and laughter and warmth. There will be cats, maybe a dog, maybe even children.
“I guess we can get a bigger place,” he says, looking back at me.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My stomach fills with butterflies at the thought that I get to spend my life with my best friend. And I can’t wait for that life to start.