Chapter Fifteen
ROME
Iwas excited when Will had agreed to come out and support Bec at the monthly board meeting. She needed all the people in her corner that I could find. What I wasn’t excited for was the Bly Family dinner I was now invited to.
I had tried to protest… well, weakly tried. I had wandered back into Bec’s office at the end of the day to escort her home, when I found her and Will… both in tears. Will was actually crying. I had known the man for years and didn’t think he had the ability to cry.
So when they invited me to dinner at their mom’s house, I couldn’t say no. Honestly, seeing Bec cry, she could convince me to do absolutely anything in that moment.
So here I was, standing on Winnifred Bly’s front porch with my mom’s homemade garlic bread, mentally preparing for what was bound to be the weirdest dinner I had ever attended.
Will wasn’t my biggest fan, and Bec and I were on better terms, but the foundation was new.
I wasn’t sure how stable our newfound friendship was.
I had never met Winnifred, and I had no idea what she knew or even thought about me.
There was one attendee who could be my saving grace…
The door flew open, and I was met with a blonde fury launching herself into my arms. “Rome!” Jackie yelled, and damn, was she trusting in me. Luckily, I had caught her in one arm and kept hold of the bread in the other arm… it was quite the balancing act.
I laughed and spun her in a circle before setting her down took a good look at her. She was my best friend's little sister, but I hadn’t met her until a few years back when I moved to her hometown. She was the definition of sunshine.
“Look at you,” I beamed.
She crinkled her nose as she smiled, “Are we gonna talk about how you’re pretending to date my sister-in-law? Because I have so many questions that I don’t think Bec will answer.”
“Hey,” Bec protested. I looked up to see her leaning in the doorway of the brownstone, a soft smile on her face.
Her hair fell in soft waves down her back, and she was clad in a black turtleneck and jeans.
It was the most casual I had ever seen her.
I couldn’t place why, but she seemed lighter after talking with Will.
Jackie laughed and pulled both Bec and me inside as she spoke. “You can’t blame me, you’re just like your brother. All broody and shit. It’s why you need people like me…” She paused and glanced at me with a mischievous look, “And Rome.”
Bec rolled her eyes as usual, but didn’t protest.
I was then led through what could only be described as the most extravagant home I had ever seen. “This place is…” my voice trailed off.
“Right?” Jackie agreed and led us into the kitchen, which was just as fancy but had more touches of home. “I felt the same way the first time I saw it.”
Will was standing at the stove next to an older woman whom I recognized as his and Bec’s mother. I had never met her, but had seen enough photos and heard enough descriptions to recognize her.
I set the bread down and took her hands in my own. “You must be the beautiful Winnifred,” I greeted, and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Winnifred blushed, “You flatter me. Call me Winnie, young man. You must be Rome, Bec’s new boyfriend?”
I laughed at the comment but didn’t correct her. I didn’t mind the term, despite it being fake. Truthfully, it was an honor to have people assume Bec would settle for the likes of me. What I didn’t notice was that Bec didn’t correct her mother either.
“The one and only! Thank you so much for inviting me tonight; I feel like a member of the family already,” I gushed.
Will rolled his eyes and pushed me away from his mom and stood by her side at the stove, where the two prepared dinner together. “First my wife, then my sister, and now my mom? Can you try and keep it in your pants for like ten minutes?”
I just shrugged and moved to Bec’s side, where she was leaning against the kitchen island. I bumped my shoulder into hers. “How am I doing?” I asked in a whispered voice.
Her brow furrowed in question, “Hmmm…”
“Am I winning over my future in-laws over there?” I asked, pointing towards Will, Jackie, and Winnie. All three of whom heard me based on Winnie’s laughs and Will’s rolled eyes. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be too bad.
Bec smiled widely. “You still have some work with my brother. Maybe buy him a drink or something?”
“Maybe stop flirting with my wife,” Will called over his shoulder.
“Oh come on,” I complained. “Look at Jackie, I can’t help myself.”
Jackie smiled and curtsied, “Why, thank you, I understand completely. You’re not so bad looking yourself,” she ended with a wink.
Which I, of course, reciprocated.
Winnie laughed as she watched the interaction. She sighed happily and wrapped her arms around Will’s waist in a maternal hug, “My kids needed people like you.”
“Hey!” Both Will and Bec protested.
Winnie laughed, “Oh come on, I’m your mother, and let me tell you both… you needed some light in your lives. These two,” she pointed between Jackie and me, “they have that light.”
Jackie flipped her hair over her shoulder, clearly proud of herself. “That we do, Winnie. And I agree, Rome is exactly what Bec needs.”
Will groaned and Winnie laughed, yet Bec still didn’t argue. Strange.
I smiled at myself and draped my arm over Bec’s shoulder, “Wanna give me a tour of this place? It’s about time I see how the richy poos of this city live.”
Bec rolled her eyes but pulled me along with her as she made her way out of the kitchen.
She directed me through more rooms than I could keep count of.
There were guest rooms, offices, and two libraries.
I couldn’t fathom how a brownstone could be so large.
Most New York City homes were cramped and overfilled–at least the houses I knew.
After working with Bec every day, there were moments when I forgot how wealthy she truly was. She probably didn’t bat an eye at the size of the home, assuming it was normal.
“My mom wanted a big family home,” Bec explained. “She convinced my dad to buy the neighboring units on each side and convert them into one massive house.”
“When did they do that?” I asked as I refrained from knocking into anything. I had a feeling that every piece of decor was more expensive than me.
“Ummm,” Bec racked her memories, “I think I was five, maybe six?”
“Do you remember it at all?” I asked with a smile.
She shook her head, “Nope. But I’ve heard about it from Will. We had to share a room for a few days, and it was apparently complete hell. That man really prefers his own company.”
I stuffed my hands in my pockets and rocked back on my heels. “He’s all but moved Jackie’s entire family onto his property. He must be somewhat over his aversion to people.”
Bec chuckled lightly, “Oh no. He hates it… but he loves Jackie more. And I think somewhere in his heart, he loves her family.”
I raised a brow, “Think he secretly loves me?”
This time, Bec laughed with her whole body. Rude. “Keep on dreaming.”
“Well,” I began, “I did win you over… eventually.”
A look of panic flashed across Bec’s eyes. It disappeared just as quickly, and she cleared her throat. She seemed… flustered.
“See this one?” She asked… her voice now strained as she pointed to a picture on the wall. “My mom found this artist in Paris…”
I nodded as I listened to Bec explain the history of the art piece. She seemed to be avoiding something, but it would be hypocritical of me to pry.
After the art history lesson, we came to a stop at the end of the hall. "So, you were raised here?" I asked curiously.
Bec nodded, “Born and raised… so was Will.”
“It feels so…” my voice trailed off.
“Cold,” she answered for me.
I nodded.
Bec sighed, understanding the feeling. “It’s always felt like this. My mom loves it here and I don’t think she’ll ever leave, but it never felt like a home to me.”
I leaned against the wall, closer to Bec than I had intended. “So where was home when you were growing up?”
“Would you believe me if I said I’ve never had a home?” Bec’s voice was quiet and vulnerable. She looked up at me, her steel blue eyes peeking through her lashes.Then, like it never happened, she shook her head and looked away, asking, "Want to see my favorite part of the house?”
I nodded, and Bec smiled widely. She took me by the hand, leading me down the hall and through a closed door that revealed a rickety spiral staircase. We climbed up two stories, and Bec opened a door to the roof.
The view was gorgeous. While you couldn’t see the stars due to the light pollution, it provided a once-in-a-lifetime view of the Queensboro Bridge in the distance.
Bec guided me to the edge of the roof and leaned against the wall.
Her hair blew softly in the cool night air, and her cheeks pinkened slightly due to the temperature.
“I used to come up here when things were bad,” she explained.
“When Will left and things got better, I would still sit out here, just dreaming of leaving this place behind.” She laughed softly to herself, “Yet here I still am.”
“Do you want to leave?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Not anymore. My life is in this city. The streets breathe life into me. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else now.”
I nodded in understanding, “I’ve traveled all over the world, but this city will always be home.”
“Did you want to come back, or did you just come back for your family?” Bec asked as she glanced at me.
“A bit of both. I wanted to be back with them, but I needed to get away from…” my voice trailed off.
“Will told me what happened,” Bec blurted. “I didn’t want to keep it a secret from you that I knew, but we also don’t have to talk about it. I just wanted you to know… I know what happened.”
I sighed and rested my elbows on the edge of the wall. “I wish you didn’t.” My voice was quiet and subdued.
“Why?” She asked.
I ran my hands through my hair, “Because now you’ll think less of me. Now you’ll see the failure I truly am. You’ll fire me and find someone more competent to be your bodyguard, and I’ll lose my chance at redemption.”
Bec looked hurt by my admission. “Is that all I am to you? A chance to redeem yourself from a perceived failure?”
“No,” I answered quickly. “I look at this job as my chance. Not you, you’re so much more… you’re you, you’re Bec.” I groaned, “I’m doing a shit job at explaining this.”
“It makes sense,” Bec began. “The act of being my bodyguard is your redemption… but I’m your…”
“Friend, boss, frenemy? And I’m your thorn in your side you can’t get rid of.” I supplied for her with a smirk.
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you are to me. Not anymore.”
“Are we not friends?” I asked.
“I think I want you to be more,” I could barely hear her… the words were spoken so softly. I wasn’t sure she even meant to share them aloud.
I looked at her in shock. I could have sworn my heart stopped for a moment before beginning to beat with a new purpose upon hearing those words.
“Me? More?” I couldn’t even form a solid sentence.
“Look, Bec, I’m not smart. I’ve been hit too many times in the head to pretend that I am.
” I took her hands in my own, forcing her to face me.
Her blue eyes were wide with fear and trepidation.
“What do you mean you want me to be more?”
The moment was interrupted as the door crashed open and a panting Jackie was on the other side, “There you two are!” She exclaimed. “Dinner’s ready.”
She looked between Bec and me, her eyes growing wide in realization. I prayed to whatever gods were out there that Jackie would leave, and I could still get an answer from Bec. Instead, Bec took the chance to book-it away from me and escape down the stairs.
“Shit…” Jackie mumbled, “how badly did I just fuck up?”
“I…” I looked around me. I felt lost, taken aback, and confused as shit. “I thought she hated me,” I finally spoke.
Jackie smiled, “Enemies to lovers, Rome. One of my favorite book tropes.” She wandered over to me, “The question is: how do you feel about her?”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.
She clapped my shoulder. “Well, figure it out. Now, come on. Will is bound to show up if we don’t make an appearance shortly. We both know how he feels about leaving the two of us alone.”
I laughed despite myself, grateful for the levity Jackie always brings. It helped to calm the hurricane of emotions swirling within my chest.
Bec wanted me to be more than a friend. But what was more to her?