Page 75 of By the Letter

“She won it at the auction, and she’s taking me and Bea with her. It’s my babymoon.”

“Isn’t that something couples do?” he asked.

Clara shifted beside me so she could face Roman. “Are you implying Shira shouldn’t have a babymoon because she’s not in a relationship? Bea and I love her and want to treat her. That’s a babymoon in my eyes.”

Roman hesitated before nodding. “She should have whatever she wants, but I’m not certain Shira should be traveling.”

I rolled my eyes, and he lasered in on the action, his mouth tightening.

“It’s not far, and I’ll still be fine to travel next month.” To ease his worries, I reached up and brushed my hand over his clenched jaw. “But I’ll double-check with Dr. Sharma to be sure.”

His gaze stayed pinned on me for three rapid beats of my heart. “Thanks for humoring me, Goldie. Fair warning, I’m pretty sure I’m going to become more protective as the weeks go by.”

I groaned. “I hope you know I’m fully capable of taking care of myself.”

“I do know.” He dipped down and kissed the top of my head. “But why should you have to when I’m here?”

With that, he strolled away to speak with Nate, Jake, and Adrian, and I picked up my breadstick but couldn’t take a bite with Clara staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

Both brows popped. “He kissed you.”

“Oh. Just my hair.”

“Just your hair? Does he do that often?”

I could have told her everything, but I knew she would think it more than it was. I’d had this conversation enough times in my head; I didn’t have the energy to have it out loud. We were friends, there was a mutual attraction and care, but it was all situational. If I weren’t pregnant with his baby, Roman wouldn’t be interested in me. If I explained that to Clara, she’d try to convince me how wrong I was, and it would be a waste of everyone’s time and energy.

“Lately, yes. He’s sweet, and we’re friends.”

She blew out a puff of air. “I don’t kiss your hair.”

The corner of my mouth hitched. “Maybe you’re not that sweet.”

Her elbow gently connected with my side. “That’s Beatrice.I’myour sweet friend.”

“Then I guess you should show it and start kissing my hair more.”

She did just that, sending us both into a fit of laughter. A hush fell over the box, and I sat up straight, my eyes wide as I looked around. A few people were at the glass, but Roman and his brothers were crowded around the screen. Chills ran down my spine.

“He’s not moving,” Nate muttered.

“Goddammit, Benny. Get up,” Adrian gritted out.

Roman was stiff as a board, his hands opening and closing at his sides.

“Shit, is Ben injured?” Clara whispered.

“Get the fuck up!” Adrian barked, startling me.

Clara jumped to her feet and held her hand out to me, pulling me off the couch. She slipped her arm around my back as we watched, neither of us breathing. It was impossible to tell what was going on with so many people crowded around Ben’s prone form.

Minutes passed that felt like hours, no one knowing what was happening when a team finally ran onto the field with a stretcher. Roman’s fist flew to his mouth as his twin was loaded onto the stretcher and wheeled off the field.

After that, things moved fast. Roman made some calls to find out where Ben was being taken, then he and his brothers gathered their things to head out. He stopped by me, cupping my face with a hand that was undeniably shaky.

“We need to get to the hospital,” he rasped. Seeing this huge, steady man trembling, his eyes glassy, tore me apart.

---