Page 69 of Beauty and the Beard

Beauty:*laugh emoji*

And I still don’t know how to get the text to not be in capitals, but it’s another thing to add to my list for Sasha.

I don’t care how long the list gets either.

Chapter 20

Sasha

“Sasha! Open up! My hands are full and I don’t want to set the food on the floor.”

Roman’s voice booms through my apartment door, and I bolt up from my bed. I slept for fourteen hours. How is that possible?

“Just a minute!”

Still in my boxers, I throw the blankets off and pad to the door. Roman stands in the hall with a tray of coffee and greasy breakfast food from the diner down the street.

“You look like shit, Sasha.”

He brushes past me, his hair perfectly styled and eyeliner in place. Another impeccable outfit with dress pants that accentuate every desirable curve of my friend and his trademark business casual corset.

“Thanks, Ro. I’d love to say the same, but you look fucking incredible, as always.”

He sets the food on the tiny table in my studio apartment and walks back to me.

“I’m not perfect and you know it. I also didn’t spend a day on a plane travelling with a heavy heart. I’ll look better than you without trying in that situation.”

He laughs before hugging me and I hold on extra tight, relaxing into the familiar comfort of my best friend.

“I missed you, friend.” He whispers against my cheek before releasing me.

“I missed you, too. And thank you for bringing food.”

My belly rumbles in agreement, and we seat ourselves at the table. Roman unpacks my favourites from the diner. A toasted western sandwich on brown bread, tater tots, and bacon… extra soggy.

Four take out cups mean he brought me a plain old coffee and a mocha latté because he wasn’t sure if I needed both. I’m not sure either, but I’ll lean toward yes.

“So, what do you want to talk about first? The shit with Moe or the shit with your lumberjack?”

Roman grabs the apron hanging on the wall and puts it on before eating, and I raise an eyebrow.

He shrugs a shoulder. “I got a breakfast poutine. I don’t want to spill. This is my favourite corset.”

“Smart.”

“I can be. So… talk to me.”

Shovelling some of my favourite food into my mouth first, I watch as Roman carefully scoops a forkful of his messy breakfast into his mouth.

“Tell me about Moe first. When’s the meeting?”

“Friday afternoon. We’ll finish with his mess and go get wasted to celebrate. We’ll be done with him, Sasha. This is the last time, and he won’t get to hurt anyone else.”

I release a huge breath. “Thank god. It would crush me to know he was still going around abusing kids like that. He should rot in hell.”

I’m still pissed they said there wasn’t enough evidence from me to press charges for abuse. At least I had enough evidence to get him for theft and removed from any position of authority with minors.

Roman shrugs and sips his coffee. “I’m sure hell is better than where he’s going. Child abusers, even amongst criminals, have zero acceptance, you know. I’m happy he’s finally off to where he belongs.”

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