Page 50 of Falling for You
“Are you going to be okay with what happened tonight?” I worry about how he’ll feel when this high is over. When he has to face the fact that his best friends aren’t speaking to him. G was quick to forgive him, but I know Willow had a lot to do with it.
“I’ll be fine. Pops told me it’ll be alright and I know that means if Hunter doesn’t get his head out of his ass then Pops will pull it for him. So it might suck for a minute but it will get better. I know it will, and if it doesn’t I still don’t regret it because I will have you by my side.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy, Sunshine. So fucking happy.”
I snuggle into his side, inhaling his scent. My heavy eyelids are taking over after the drama of the long night.
Rome’s beard tickles my neck, waking me up. “Good morning.”
“Why are you awake,” I grumble. “The sun is barely up. There is no sunshine.”
“Black out curtains, no sun ever remember?” He trails more kisses along my collarbone.
“Ugh, that means the sun isn’t up yet and we don’t have to be awake,” I grumble again.
“Well it’s almost time to go get Livvy girl. I figured I’d take you for some coffee and breakfast at Emerald Roasters before we start the drive.”
“Oh! Yes! Let’s go right now!” I lift my head from the pillow. I miss her so much.
“Oh, now you’re awake?” He chuckles.
I stretch out and roll into his embrace. “I just miss her. I want her home with us. It feels wrong that she isn’t here. I don’t like this overnight stuff.”
“I don’t either. But we’ll have her back soon.”
I roll back over to check my phone, to see if there is any drama brewing after last night. But when I roll over to the edge of the bed I’m met with a little pink nose. “Good morning, Fi. Would you like to snuggle this morning?”
Fiona won’t get into the bed unless she’s invited but she will stand at the edge near your pillow and stare until you invite her or you get up and go downstairs to snuggle with her.
I scooch back toward Rome and tap the bed next to me when she hops up instantly, burrowing between us.
We lay there in the quiet for a few moments giving Fi her snuggles. I spent that time really inspecting Rome’s face. His face that has a gash on his cheekbone and a black eye that has already swollen, his eye half-closed.
Reaching out to touch him, he stills as I get closer. “Does it hurt? I feel so bad that this happened because of me.”
“It didn’t. It was my own fault. I’m the idiot who pulled you off that table and dragged you into my office where I forgot to lock the door. But to be fair, locked or not, Hunt knew. I think he’s known since you got back and just didn’t want to admit it. He’s been making a lot of comments about dating you and you dating someone that he wants to kick their ass. Guess he got his wish. But I popped some more medicine before I woke you up and it doesn’t hurt as bad.”
“Well you definitely need an ice pack.” I scratch Fi’s head, “Come on, girl, let’s go have some snuggles on the couch before we go get our girl.”
I don’t miss the smile that spreads over Rome’s face when I call Olivia our girl.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and Fi jumps down to follow me.
“Fi, you’re a traitor. You used to be my dog!” Rome jokes. She is my shadow now ever since I’ve moved in, but I think it’s because she’s so attached to Olivia. She loves her baby more than she loves me or Rome.
We go downstairs to fill the ice pack for Rome and he plops on the couch, turning on the news. I notice that he took the time to get dressed, I take that as my cue to do the same.
“Here you go, Stud. You know, the black eye makes you look like a badass.” I wink at him as I saunter away up the stairs.
It takes me only fifteen minutes to shower and throw on a pair of leggings and baggy tee to match. We have an hour and a half in the car today, and those beers are doing their job on this mini hangover today. I can’t wait for a big old greasy biscuit with egg, sausage and cheese from Margaret. If Esther has already sold out, I will absolutely be walking next door to get one from Margaret. And maybe one of her donuts. Or five.
We’ve been driving for an hour, and the traffic is terrible today. The summer tourist season is in full swing. The highway is gridlocked. Rome asked me to text Diane about twenty minutes ago but she still hasn’t answered. I hope she isn’t waiting too long, or that she got our message before they left.
It takes us another hour to get to the park and ride that we agreed to meet the Ryans at. The park and ride is pretty empty given that it’s a Sunday, and I don’t see the Ryans’ car anywhere.
“I hope they aren’t stuck in the same traffic we are, but southbound didn’t look as backed up.”
