Page 83 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
With a family ice cream session at a diner her mom used to love. When she stepped through the door, her legs tried to stiffen, but she shoved down the nerves into the deepest, darkest part of her and strode confidently to where her dad and younger brothers sat in the back.
Will grinned when he saw her. “We chose a booth where you wouldn’t have to be around people.”
She brushed a hand over his head, realizing just how great her family was. This illness of hers sometimes prevented her from seeing what was right in front of her.
They were finished with their ice cream by the time Jesse arrived with Charlotte.
Cassie once thought her family would never be whole again, that her mom’s absence was this void in the middle of their bond.
She looked to her brothers. Maybe her mom had never been absent at all.
When the last member of their family stepped through the front door, he looked so unsure of himself, like he didn’t know where he belonged.
“I’ll be right back.” Cassie slid from the booth and approached Roman.
When he noticed her, his face softened, and she didn’t know how she hadn’t seen it before. “Hey, Cass.”
She didn’t stop until only a foot separated them. “You love me.”
“I do.”
“It wasn’t some weird brain meltdown?”
He grinned. “No. My brain is fully intact.”
“Then I need to introduce you to my dad.”
His smile froze like he hadn’t been expecting that. Neither had she. “I already know your dad.”
“Don’t be difficult.” She threaded her fingers through his.
“I will never stop being difficult because where’s the fun in that?”
She tugged him toward the table, nerves curling in her gut. Clearing her throat, she got the attention of the entire table. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Roman Sullivan.”
Her dad crossed his arms, a bemused smile on his face. “And who exactly is this Roman Sullivan?”
“My boyfriend. If you don’t like that, too bad. Because I plan on falling even deeper in love with him than I already am. He does not live in the room next to mine, so you can’t send him to his parents.” She paused. “Oh, and I lied to you about my feelings. I’m sorry.”
Her dad tried and failed not to laugh. “Well, Roman, take a seat. Welcome to the family.”
“Dad.” Jesse looked from their dad to Cassie. “He was already part of the family.”
“Shh.” Charlotte nudged him with a grin. “I’m enjoying the show.”
The entire table burst out laughing as Roman slid into the booth next to Cassie. He wrapped an arm around her and leaned in. “Deeper in love?”
The waitress appeared with another round of sundaes.
“Hush, Romeo. Eat your ice cream.”
“Romeo, huh?”
“You climbed a balcony for me.”
He laughed. “That wasn’t a balcony, but okay.” He pecked her on the cheek.
“My eyes.” Jesse covered his eyes. “They burn.”
“My eyes,” Will repeated.
“You’re scarring the children.” Jesse peeked through his fingers. “Are you done kissing now?”
Roman threw a maraschino cherry at him and laughed. “Might want to just bleach them now, dude.” He leaned over and captured Cassie’s lips.
He tasted of chocolate fudge and hope.
Because that was what Roman had always represented for her.
If there was one thing she knew, it was that Cade, the loyal book boyfriend, didn’t compare to the very real boy sitting beside her.
