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I prop my hand against the wall and make eye contact with the camera. “Face to face.”
“I might punch yours.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
The intercom goes silent, and a handful of seconds later, Roman opens the door. He crosses his arms and leans against the jamb. “You have two minutes. I suggest you use them wisely.”
“I messed up, and I betrayed our friendship.”
He blinks at me.
“I’m sorry. I should have gotten over myself and been honest from the start. But more than that, I should never have backed down, and I should never have let Aurora walk away in the first place. You can hate what I’ve done—and me if you need to—but I won’t let her go without a fight. I’m in love with your daughter, Roman. She is it for me. I’ve made the mistake of not putting her ahead of everyone and everything else once. It won’t happen again. You should know I’m pursuing Aurora. I would love to have your blessing, but I won’t wait for it. And I understand that might make this relationship impossible to repair.” I take a breath. “But she is absolutely worth that risk.”
He cocks a brow. “And if she doesn’t want anything to do with you?”
“Then I’ll back off, but I have to try, Roman. I’ve asked her to go on a date with me tomorrow night, and she said yes. I don’t want to come between you. But I can’t let the love of my life go without making a fucking effort, and I hope you respect that.” I wait for him to punch me.
He stares me down for a few long seconds. “It’s about fucking time.” He rubs his bottom lip. “I’m still really pissed at you.”
“I know.”
“Just keep showing up for her, and I’ll get over it, eventually,” he grumbles.
“I won’t walk away again unless she asks me to,” I promise.
CHAPTER 44
HAMMER
“My stomach feels like an army of butterflies is marching in it.” The Badass Babe Brigade is here for moral support. It’s like Groundhog Day, except it’s me getting ready for a date instead of Rix this time.
“Deep breaths. You look amazing,” Rix assures me.
“He was right about this dress,” Hemi says grudgingly.
“I can’t believe you took him shopping. He hates shopping,” I muse. The only time Hollis willingly goes clothing shopping is when he needs a new suit. And he makes an appointment for that, and he and my dad go together. I tagged along, because Hollis getting fitted for a suit is freaking magnificent. I was always jealous of whoever got to measure his inseam. I want my dad and Hollis to get back to a place where they can do that again.
I told my dad I was going on a date tonight. Apparently, Hollis had already spoken with him about it. I’m not sure what that conversation looked like, but my dad seems to want me to be happy more than anything else, and that’s progress, since last week he wanted to beat the shit out of him.
Hemi shrugs. “He asked for my help, but I’ll be honest, he picked everything himself—from the dress to the shoes. It was all Hollis. I just gave input, and apparently it wasn’t always the best input since he called it on this dress.”
“It’s stupid expensive, which is why I didn’t try it on,” I admit.
“That’s what he said. The man pays attention. I’ll give him that,” Hemi says.
“He really does. That banana cake was amazing,” Rix agrees.
“Banana cake?” Dred perks up. “My granny used to make a kickass banana nut loaf. RIP, Gran.” She makes the sign of the cross.
“There should be some left. Everyone except me should have a piece. I’ve eaten it for every meal since yesterday.” I burst into a fit of giggles that quickly dissolved into tears when I found it in the fridge. It was sweet, and cheesy, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
“I’m on it,” Rix declares.
“He must be taking you somewhere really nice,” Tally says. “You’re so pretty, Hammer.”
“You’re so pretty, Tally,” we say in unison.
She blushes, as usual.
