Page 100 of By the Letter

I chuffed. “Did you think giving me the cold shoulder for three days straight wouldn’t make me react?” Feeling my heart ramp up again, I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then I started again, calmly. “Maybe you did. If you were someone less important to Roman and Beanie, I would have let it go like I have most of my life. But things have changed, and I can’t allow that anymore. What would my son think if he saw his mother allowing herself to be treated that way? What if he internalizes it and allows it to happen to him? I’m sorry, Adrian, but I can’t let this slide.”

He grunted, almost falling back on his ass before catching himself on the table. “You’re right. I was trying to follow Roman’s orders, but I screwed up, and I’m sorry for that.”

“Roman’s orders?”

He turned his head and reached up to scratch the side of it. “He…uh, told me not to talk to you while I was here.”

“What?” I cried. “He told you not to talk to me? Why would he do that?”

Before he could respond, his phone rang. He didn’t even look at it before he said, “That’s him calling for a report.”

“Answer it.”

Adrian slipped his phone out of his pocket and sat in the chair next to mine. Roman was requesting a video call, so Adrian answered, holding the phone close to his face so Roman wouldn’t see his surroundings.

Roman skipped a greeting and any pleasantries, getting straight to the point. “How is she?”

Adrian glanced at me, the corner of his mouth hitching. “She seems well.”

Roman groaned. “Give me more than that. Was she dressed? Still sleeping? Did she look in the bakery bag?”

“Dressed, yeah, but as far as I know, she hasn’t looked in the bag yet. Remind me again why I’m not allowed to talk to her? It feels off to be in her house and not have a conversation with her.”

“You know why,” Roman intoned. “You can talk to her when I’m there. I don’t trust you not to be an asshole on your own.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow as if to say,“See? Told ya.”And he had. I hadn’t quite believed it. Now that it was confirmed, I didn’t know what to think.

I leaned closer to Adrian so Roman would see me too. “Don’t you think it’s rude for Adrian to barely even say good morning to me? I have to say, it’s given me a major complex.”

Roman’s face disappeared from the screen, and all we could see was the ceiling. The silence that descended went on so long it seemed the call had been dropped.

“Roman? You there?” Adrian asked.

Movement, then Roman’s flushed face came into focus. “You’re with her and still at her house.”

“Yes,” we replied in unison.

“Fuck.” He yanked at the side of his hair, and I could practically hear the strands screaming for mercy. “What the hell, Ade? Couldn’t you have told me she was there? And, Shira, never thought you had it in you to team up with my brother against me.”

“We were having a conversation when you called,” I informed him. “Do you know how crappy it’s made me feel having Adrian ignore me every day?”

His sigh was so heavy, his head bowed. “I messed up.Shit, Shira. I thought he’d be in and out without interacting with you, and on the off chance you ran into each other, I didn’t want him to hurt your feelings.”

Adrian’s throat rumbled. “You think very little of me.”

“No, I just know you can be a dick, and you have a history of not being very fucking kind to the woman next to you. This was my misguided attempt at protecting you both so your relationship didn’t get further sullied.” Roman’s gaze latched onto me, steady and intense. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through. My mind has gone in several different directions lately when all I want is to be there, focused on you and the baby.”

A wicked grin spread across Adrian’s face. “Speaking of the baby, he just kicked the hell out of Shira. Your kid is going to be a brute. I’m pretty sure he bruised my hand.”

“Your hand?” Roman’s gaze darted between us. “He touched you?”

I had to laugh. “I put his hand on my belly when your son started going wild.”

He nodded. “As long as it was your choice.”

“Of course it was. Adrian might’ve hurt my feelings, but he wouldn’thurtme,” I assured him.

Adrian had gone stiff beside me. “I hope that goes without saying.”

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