Page 1 of Loving Roman
1
–roman–
Zipping the suitcase closed,I blow out a long breath and run through everything I need to tell Kate when she arrives. Not that I need to tell her anything, because I always keep a detailed appointment list on the fridge and Kate’s as familiar with the kids as I am, thanks to her weekly visits as a volunteer. But it’s difficult to switch into vacation mode when my life revolves around caring for six kids day in and day out. Being the sole adult in their young lives after everything they’ve each endured is an enormous responsibility.
One I don’t take lightly.
Blake wanders into the room and tips up his chin. I swear this kid is eleven going on twenty-one. The oldest boy in the house, he often takes on responsibilities he doesn’t need to, but when you’re forced to care for a drug-addicted adult from a young age, it’s tough to return to being a kid. “You finished packing yet?”
I nod. “Yeah,” I say, then lift my suitcase from the bed to the floor.
He shoves his hands into his pockets and raises his chin. “You got condoms?”
I snap my head up to look at him.What the fuck?“Uh?”
He widens his eyes and holds out his hands. “You’re going on vacation, man. Everyone knows people fuck on vacation.”
“Watch your mouth, and don’t let me hear you speak like that in front of the others,” I say to him as I widen my eyes to make sure my message is clear. In return, he rolls his eyes at me. “Not everyone goes on vacation to have sex, Blake. Some people genuinely go away for a change of scenery and pace. To relax.” I raise my eyebrows at him.
Here I was thinking I’d need to have the safe-sex talk with him soon, but he’s already all over it.
Shit! Has he already had sex?
I shouldn’t be surprised. He witnessed his mother bringing home random men for sex in exchange for her next hit. She would often have sex in front of him from what we’ve learned, which means he was in a highly sexualized environment during his most formative years. Blowing out a long, frustrated breath, I mentally add talking to him about sex, safe sex, and particularly intimacy to my to-do list for when I return.
He shrugs. “Whatever, man. Don’t come at me for looking out for you.” Spinning on his heel, he heads for the door. “You don’t wanna get caught with your pants down and no protection. You’re too old to knock someone up.”
When he leaves, I drop my head and huff out a chuckle. Then his words register in my brain.Too old. A pang hits me square in the solar plexus; he may as well have hit me with his baseball bat. There have been moments over the last few years where I’ve felt I’ve given too much to this job, to the detriment of my personal life. I always wanted to have kids of my own, but never met the right woman. Years passed me by, and my focus stayed steady on the kids in my charge. It felt right. Itstillfeels right. But I know I’ve missed out, too.
“Kate’s here!” Pete, the youngest boy in the house, shouts from the front window.
As I stride toward the front door, I thank the kids for waiting for me to answer it. It’s taken consistency on my part to show them it’s my job to keep them safe … to be the responsible adult in the house. Which includes me answering the door every single time we have a visitor, even when it would be easier to let them do it. They’re so used to carrying the burden of being the responsible member of their previous households that it’s taken a while for them to slip back into the role of being a kid; to let their guard down and realize my role in this home is being their protector and they can relax.
To say the kids are excited to spend a week with Kate and Oliver would be a gross understatement. It’s a testament to the relationship Kate’s built with the kids over the last several years as a result of her weekly visits. A kindergarten teacher in her regular job, she brings a feminine softness to the house that I do my best to mimic, but it’s not the same as having her here.
I swing the door open and am surprised to find her billionaire husband, Oliver, standing on the front porch as well. I wasn’t expecting him, since he often works on Saturdays, but I shouldn’t be surprised. The man will do anything for his wife, including staying with six kids for a week in a group home so I can take a forced vacation.
After welcoming them inside, the kids gather around the pair, sharing their plans for the weekend and the week ahead.
My heart warms, and a grin touches my lips when I hear Ivy talking to Oliver. “I was thinking I could skip school on Monday and come to work with you.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Future successful CEOs don’t skip school, Ivy,” he says firmly.
“Aww, come on. It’s one day,” she whines.
He stands a little taller and pushes his suit jacket out of the way to rest his hands on his hips. “Successful CEOs don’t skip out onanything. As soon as you start cutting corners, you may as well resign yourself to mediocrity. Your effort and focus alwaysneed to be one hundred percent.” She huffs out a breath and drops her head, but Oliver gently guides her face up to his with his finger. “I’ll be happy to have you come in when you’re on vacation.”
Her grin is instant, and I swear I can see her eyes sparkling from across the room. “Okay.”
“All right, everyone. Scram for five minutes. I need to talk to Kate and Oliver.”
The kids return to what they were doing before their two favorite people arrived, and I lead Kate and Oliver to the kitchen, grabbing the list I’ve put together from the fridge. “Thanks for looking after the kids. Marcus was relentless about me taking this vacation.” I push my fingers through my hair, noting I probably should have cut it before I left, but it’s too late now. It’ll have to wait until I get back.
Kate flicks her wrist. “No problem.” She smiles up at Oliver. “We’re excited.”
He leans down and presses his lips to her forehead, causing her eyes to drop closed for a moment. Some days, I wish I had what they’ve found together, but my life revolves around the kids, leaving me little time to date. Mostly, I’m okay with the choices I’ve made. I’m happy with the way things are. I have a job I love, and I’m helping kids recover from their traumatic pasts in a safe environment. Scoring this counselor-slash-foster parent position twelve years ago was unheard of for a single guy of thirty-three; it’s been the best … the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.
What more could I possibly need?
