Page 71 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
But hockey… that, he knew. When he was on the ice, confidence raced through him.
He expected Jesse to be the one to notice something was off with him, to notice how quiet he’d been, but when Charlotte dropped to the bench beside him, it surprised him. Practice ended five minutes before and most of the guys headed to the locker room to shower and change.
But Roman couldn’t bring himself to leave the ice.
Charlotte removed her helmet and sweaty hair stuck to the sides of her face. She brushed it back, still not speaking as they both watched the Zamboni clean the ice. Back and forth it went in a mesmerizing dance.
“You had a good practice today,” she finally said.
He grunted in response.
“Almost like you had some sort of hyper focus.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Jesse told me things are awkward at your house.”
“It’s not my house.”
“But you’re living in it.”
“For now.”
She pursed her lips. “Okay… That answers my question. You’re considering Hadley’s offer.”
“She told you?”
“She’s my best friend. She tells me everything.”
Roman sighed. “So, I guess Jesse knows?”
“Knows what?” Jesse appeared at the end of the bench. “Why you’ve been weird lately? No, I don’t know that. But apparently, my girlfriend does?”
“Jess—”
Roman cut her off. “It’s okay, Charlie. I should talk to him.” She said Hadley told her everything because they were best friends. Well, Jesse was his. He deserved to know.
Charlotte walked to the end of the bench, eyeing her boyfriend as she passed him.
Jesse joined Roman, sitting in Charlotte’s spot. “What’s going on, man? Is this about Cassie? I know my dad says you can’t date while you’re living with us, but it’s only for a few more months, right?”
Just rip off the Band-Aid. “I’m moving out.”
Jesse froze, his lips forming a frown.
Before he could offer an argument, Roman explained. “I’m in love with your sister.”
“Oh.”
“I need to be with her more than I need to live at your house. You’re my brother, Jess. You always will be, same as Will and Eli. I’m grateful for everything your dad—”
“Rome.” Jesse put a hand on his arm to stop him. “You don’t have to explain. I’m glad it’s you who loves my sister.”
Roman nodded, his gaze once more going to the Zamboni.
“Where will you live?”
“Hadley offered me a room.”
Jesse nodded. “Good. I… I don’t care if you live in my house, Rome. I just can’t stand the thought of you moving overseas where I won’t see you all the time.”
Roman knocked his shoulder into Jesse’s. “Getting mushy on me?”
