Page 103 of By the Letter

“I’m kidding. As one of the sexual deviants who’s visited your club, I would never cast true aspersions on the other members.”

If Adrian was curious about what Shira and I had partaken in that night in room ten, he’d never ask. Discretion was his middle name, and he was very much a firm believer in “live and let live.” My brothers and I chided him on his chosen profession, but he took it seriously, and I was proud of him for what he’d built.

“The point stands,” Adrian stated. “You made mistakes, but that doesn’t disqualify you from being good enough to be with Shira. Remove that from your thoughts and concentrate on moving forward. You have a lot of good coming to you. Why focus on the bad?”

I dragged my fingers through my hair, exhausted and homesick. “A lifetime of feeling like nothing I do is enough is hard to shake.”

“That might be so, but it also isn’t true. Look at Nate, Ben, and me. We’re where we are because of you. You were a kid yourself, but you basically raised us. I can speak for myself, but probably Nate and Ben too, when I say we still look to you as an example. Our parents were trash humans. That shaped how you see yourself, but it’s a lie, Rome. The truth is how the people who know you best see you. You just have to make yourself believe that.”

Me:I’ll be home tomorrow, baby.

Shira:Really?! It’s been a week. I was convinced you’d moved to Chicago.

Me:You’re not getting rid of me so easily.

Shira:I don’t want to. Did you make a deal?

Me:It’s not done yet. Nate’s staying on. I’ll sit in on meetings via video conference. I’ve been gone long enough. It’s time for me to come home.

Shira:I’m looking forward to seeing you. Mary and Beanie are too. I’m working tomorrow, but I can cook dinner when I get home if your flight lands on time.

Me:I’ll see you after work. And I’ll do the cooking, baby.

Chapter Thirty-six

Shira

I wouldn’t allow myselfto feel giddy about Roman coming home today. Relieved, yes. My due date was swiftly approaching and having him so far away had been a constant point of worry in the back of my mind. I needed him to be here when Beanie came.

I’d missed him too, of course. We’d become close friends on top of being lovers, and I liked knowing he was right next door—though, lately, we’d ended up sleeping in the same bed more often than not.

Kit knocked on my open office door. She was still on maternity leave but had popped in to get a few things done. She’d brought Brooke with her, who was currently hanging out with Elliot in his office down the hall.

“I’m going to head home. Joey has a recital in her preschool dance class, so I have to tame her mop into a bun. I wish I could take you home with me. You always have the best buns.”

That made me smile. Joey was absolutely adorable, but she really did have a whole lot of hair for being such a tiny little girl. “I would volunteer, but Roman’s coming home today.”

“Ah.” She slinked into my office and perched on the chair across from mine. “How are things with Roman? I feel so out of the loop these days.”

“I talk to you almost every day.”

“I know, but we don’t gossip. Chatting in the break room is the best part of having a job.”

I tilted my head. “I thought it was the fulfillment of providing a permanent home to families?”

“That too. It’s, like, fifty-fifty.”

I laughed. “You know, I have to agree. When I left GoldMed, the thing I missed most was my lunch meetings that were really just scheduled socializing.”

She waved me off. “You’re avoiding my question. How’s it going with Roman?”

“Great, actually. I think we’ll work well as co-parents.”

Her brow pinched. “Co-parents? I thought you were…I mean, from what I saw in Breckinridge, I assumed it was more. You’re not together?”

“We’re not. I’m sorry if that destroys some romantic notion you had. We’re friends.”

She cast a dubious glance at me. “You and I are friends. You and Roman are more than that. But if that’s your story, stick to it for as long as you need to.”

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