Page 122 of Along Came Amor
Her lips quirked. “I don’t think you know how.”
“That’s true. But for you, I’ll try.”
“Thank you. I think it’s that when we’re alone, anything seems possible. But the more people who are involved, the riskier it feels.”
“You said you trust me.”
“I know. And I do. I just want to make sure you’re not rushing things with us to distract you from what’s happening with your family.”
He gave her a direct stare. “You think I’ve fallen in lovewith you because my mother and sister are moving out. Do I have that right?”
She refused to look at him. “Something like that.”
He suspected it was exactly like that.
“What else?” he pressed. “Maybe I’m asking you to leave a toothbrush here because I’m afraid of being alone?”
She expelled a breath. “The thought did occur to me, yes.”
“I won’t be alone. I have Sinvergüenza.”
Her eyebrows pinched in confusion. “¿Quién?”
“That mangy beast.” He gestured to the robotic dog Camille had given him. It sat on his nightstand next to his reading glasses, looking deceptively innocent. “See? I told you I could make this weird.”
Ava sputtered out a laugh. “You named it Sinvergüenza?”
“It fits. Go touch it.”
Ava patted the dog’s head. With a grinding whine, it threw itself on its back.
“See?” Roman said. “Shameless. Rolls over for everyone except me.”
When Ava petted the dog’s tummy, it waved its legs in the air and let out a mechanical yip. “I see.”
“Ava.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Both things can be true. I love youandI’m worried about my family. Notbecause.”
It seemed to be the right thing to say. The stiffness in her shoulders eased, and she leaned into him. Her arms wound around his waist and he pulled them down into the mattress until she was lying beside him with her cheek resting on his chest.
“I should make you negotiate for every item I leave in your bathroom,” she mused. “It’s what you’d do to me.”
“Let’s start with a toothbrush,” he said. “What do you want? Diamond earrings?”
“Don’t you dare!” she said with a laugh. “If that’s what my toothbrush is worth, I can’t imagine what a pair of underwear would net me.”
“A new car,” he said solemnly.
She shook her head and tightened her hold on him. “You can talk to me about it, you know.”
“About what?”
She tilted her chin up to look at him. “Your family moving out.”
He sighed. “They’re going to be fine. My mother’s right. I know she is, but...”
“You’re going to miss them,” Ava said simply.
He opened his mouth to argue, to say that it had more to do with protecting them, or ensuring their needs were met, but... “Yeah,” he said. “I am.”
