Page 30 of Falling for You
I never did figure out what happened between them. They were never best friends like Hunt and I, but they didn’t hate each other. “I wish you’d just tell me what happened so I could kick his ass and the three of us could move on. You’re my sister and he’s my best friend. It kills me that you two can’t be in the same room. And knowing him, he probably said some stupid shit he didn’t mean.”
“Nothing happened, Rome. I just see him for the asshole he is and choose to not point it out for your sake. Because for some reason he is a good friend to you.”
She leans over the car seat to kiss a sleeping Livvy’s head.
“Text me when you have a free weekend, you can come up and spend the weekend with us.” I pull her in for a hug.
Once I’ve gathered all the equipment that babies need, or don’t need, I still haven’t figured it out, I leave Evelyn behind in the dragon’s lair that is my parents’ business.
Pulling back in my garage, I see Emma’s car sitting in the other bay. This is real now. Something I never thought I’d have is really happening, only it’s not in any way how I imagined it would be.
I want Emma to be mine. I want to shout it from the rooftops without her brother threatening to kill me. I want him to see that I’m the one for her. But I’m doing a shit job of showing that to him, or her for that matter. The baby sound asleep in the back seat is proof of that.
I quietly put the truck in park and try to open my door without making a sound. I manage to succeed in getting Olivia out of the car and into the house without waking her up.
Emma comes over from the kitchen and opens her mouth to talk when I put my finger up to my lips to let her know to be quiet. She tiptoes backwards into the kitchen without making a sound.
I carry the car seat further into the house and put it on the counter. Then I think twice about it. What if she rocks the car seat and it falls off the counter? Nope. Not happening on my watch. I pick it back up and place it on the kitchen table where Ican watch her and she has more room to rock if she miraculously learns how to do that.
“Hey, how did moving in go?” I say barely above a whisper.
“Good. Fi is still snoozing under the blanket I gave her on my bed.” Ems giggles at the thought of her.
“Of course she is.” I walk over to where she stands at the counter, my hand grazing her lower back out of habit. “What smells so good?”
“Oh I’m just making a quick potato salad and some roasted brussel sprouts. I figured we could grill some burgers for the Ryans tonight.”
I groan. I had let myself forget for a minute. “Right. I forgot about them, honestly.”
“Rome…” she starts but doesn’t finish whatever thought she had because Olivia wakes up at that moment.
Emma beats me over to her and pulls her from the car seat, snuggling her close to her chest and whispering to her.
“She’s probably hungry.” I walk to the fridge to grab one of the bottles I made last night according to the Ryans’ directions and toss it in some hot water from the sink to warm up.
Emma is pacing the kitchen and bouncing Olivia and peppering her head with small kisses. I hear her whisper, “Missed you today, Livvy girl.”
All at the same time, the doorbell rings. Wayne and Diane are here. Emma and I both freeze and look at each other. She gives me a weak smile as I trudge over to open the front door. This is the last thing I want to do.
I pull open the door to reveal the Ryans on the other side. “Hi, welcome. Come on in.” I stand off to the side, gesturing for them to come in.
“Thank you, Roman. We’re happy to be here, to get to know you better.” Diane leans in unexpectedly for a hug.
I show them to the living room where Emma has magically set up a vegetable tray with a pitcher of fresh lemonade, all while holding a fussy baby. How the hell does she have a handle on all this baby stuff already?
Olivia reacts giddily when she sees her grandparents. Reaching and kicking for them at the same time.
“Would you like to feed her? We just heated up a bottle.” Emma walks back into the living room with the bottle in hand.
“Of course!” Diane rises from the couch, and holds out her arms for Olivia. “Hi my sweet girl!” She kisses her head and I see the tears in her eyes.
Emma goes back to the kitchen and I excuse myself to follow her.
“Hey, where are you going?” I lean my hip on the counter in the kitchen.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me in there. I mean I’m just her nanny.” She shrugs and goes back to the oven, pulling out the vegetables.
“Ems. Stop. That’s not what you are.” I reach out for her when she spins around to face me.
