Page 61 of Romania
Christ, I couldn’t deny that they were stunning.
“Hey, I’m grabbin’ some food. You two need anythin’?”
Eve’s smile turned soft. “I’m good, thanks.”
“I’ll take one of Dusty’s raspberry and white-chocolate muffins,” Rommy said, rubbing her belly.
Snorting, I tipped my chin up. “You got it.”
It didn’t take me long to grab a plate of food and Rommy’s request, and I was soon back out at the table, sliding in on Eve’s other side, just as Dodge said, “Kid.”
Rommy had a mouthful, and bits sprayed when she said, “Yeah…? Oops,” she added and picked a bit of chewed muffin off Eve’s arm.
Eve stared down at her arm and then up at Rommy with her nose wrinkled up. “You’re lucky I like you.”
Rommy laughed. “I know.” She faced her father again. “What’s up, old man?”
“We’re gonna start the plan to head home.”
Rommy stilled.
Eve tensed.
Rommy put the muffin down, swallowed thickly, and asked, “Yeah? Um, when?”
“We’ve been here a month, so we’re thinking at the end of next week.”
We’d had only a month with them, yet it felt like a hell of a lot longer.
Low leaned forward. “Girl, no stress on us if you want to stay longer.” Her gaze flicked to Eve and then me before swinging back to her daughter. “It’s completely up to you.”
Shit.
The thought of Rommy leaving put a foul taste in my mouth. It wasn’t just because I knew Eve would miss her, but I’d grown used to having Rommy around, being the bright spark in everyone’s lives in the club.
It’d be weird not hearing her voice or seeing her… seeing her smile or listening to her laugh or chatter.
Eve wasn’t liking the idea either. She’d dropped her gaze to her lap, and she thinned her lips in a tight frown.
Reaching out, I took her hand under the table and squeezed it. When she looked up at me, I released her hand to curl an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.
I wanted her to know that I understood this would knock the wind out of her. Rommy had become such an important part in her life. A connection so strong that Rommy leaving would deeply upset her.
Hell, it upset me too.
Rommy picked at her muffin and then glanced at Eve and me. The look in her eyes had me thinking she was whimpering on the inside.
Like a wounded puppy.
But then she pushed it down, and for the first time, I watched as Rommy forced a smile as she said, “I can’t stay away from work forever.” She faced me and Eve. “One day you’ll both have to come to Australia. There’s so much I want to show you. Besides where I work, I can take you to the bar Pick and Billy own. The library that I love. Our home. I still live with Mum and Dad. I’d been saving to travel first, though. I’ve done enough of that for a while.” She let out a little laugh. “At some point I’ll buy myself a home where….” She shook her head. “Anyway, I could take you both to Ballarat where you’ll meet Talon and see my brother’s tattoo shop and go to Channa’s bakery. I’d love for you two to meet everyone.”
“You don’t have to rush back, Rom,” Dodge said.
Shaking her head, she shrugged and picked at the muffin. “We’ve probably outstayed our welcome anyway.”
“So, you want us to grab you a ticket?” Low asked.
“Sure.” She nodded.
