Page 80 of Beauty and the Beard

Jogging down the driveway, my heart now racing, I turn the corner to the back of the building. As I round the corner, a stunning young man holds a door open for me. His eyes are the bluest shade I’ve ever seen, like a clear sky on the sunniest day, and the corset is a giveaway.

“Are you Roman?”

He smiles a cocky smile and holds out his hand. “You must be Leaf.”

We shake and he motions me inside. A small staircase leads up to another door, and before I can race up them, he grabs my arm.

“Thank you for coming when he asked. I know he shared a lot of crap about today with you and he doesn’t tell many people about that.”

“I’d do anything he asked me to, Roman. When I care about someone, I move mountains to help them when they ask. There’s no in between with me.”

Roman’s eyes widen at my statement, and I squeeze his shoulder.

“I know you’re close to him. That offer goes for you too. If you’re Sasha’s support, then I’m yours too.”

Roman stands frozen in place. He blinks, disbelief clear at my words.

“Well, hell…” He sniffs and looks away. “Do you have a twin?”

He laughs, but I raise my eyebrow. “I have a younger brother.”

Roman snaps his mouth shut. “Get up there to see Sasha.”

Taking the stairs two at a time, I don’t even knock when I reach the top. I throw the door open and my gaze immediately finds Sasha. He’s at a small table in his kitchen, still in his suit with his tie hanging loose around his neck and the buttons of his shirt partly undone. A half empty glass sits in front of him.

“Sasha.”

His head snaps up with a gasp. Pushing his chair back, it clatters to the floor as he runs into my arms.

“You’re here.” He runs his fingers through my beard with a sigh.

“I am. I’ve missed you. Are you okay?”

He presses his lips together and nods. Firm and… confident.

“I stared that fucker down, Leaf. And I told a room full of strangers how he took advantage of my mother’s kind soul to steal from her son! Her underage son!” His lips tremble as he cups my face. “And I looked him in the eye and told him he may have stolen happy years of my life, but I still have a future ahead of me. That is something I won’t let him have.” His voice wavers only slightly. “He doesn’t get to take anything else from me.”

His newfound determination and confidence to move forward fills me with immense pride.

“I knew you could do it. You’re strong. Stronger than me in a lot of ways, and it’s just one thing that I love about you.”

There are so many things I love about him. How he chose himself, and us, instead of collapsing. His strength will always be something I admire.

“I was supposed to tell you I love you first.”

His hands slide down my arms and he puffs a breath.

“You’re in my apartment. And I love you.” A laugh bursts from his lips and I join him, my smile stretching across my face. My heart just about bursting from my chest.

“I am.” He twines our fingers together and we stare at each other with ridiculous smiles.

“Uh, sorry, but I’m just going to grab my things and leave you two alone.”

Roman gathers a messenger bag and folds his suit jacket over his arm. Sasha hugs him before he can leave and whispers in his ear. They hold each other for a long while and I’m so happy Sasha has him in his life. If Roman will follow him to Maple, they have a bond to be nurtured just as much as ours.

He nods as he passes by. “Be good to him, Leaf. He’s a treasure.”

The door clicks behind him, and Sasha chews on his lip before stepping back to me.

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