I smile slightly and lean against the fridge. Roman notices me and huffs, something sliding between his lips in Italian. He’s been switching between languages more often. Sophie gasps. “That’s rude!”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing nice.” She grumbles. “I can’t let my best friend be bored in a hotel. I’m inviting her, it’s my job to host her. She’ll be in my room with me.”
“Explains the frustration.” I tease.
She rolls her eyes but leans back against the counter for two seconds before shaking her head. “I need to fix that.”
“Baby,” I take her hand, “don’t you worry about him. He’ll come around. Something has him riled, but things will go back to normal, I promise.”
“I know.” She bites her lip and sighs. “I’m going to take a bath. Do you mind finishing dinner, I think I’ll burn the whole kitchen down if I’m left alone in here.”
“Go ahead, Sophie.” I kiss her temple. “You don’t ever need to apologize for being human. Never. Enjoy your bubble bath. I suggest meditation music too.”
“Thank you, Holden. I love you.” She stands on her toes to kiss me. “Including the you who stole your neighbor’s bike. I didn’t miss that part.”
“His was better than mine,” I smirk. “And he didn’t need it with the Camaro he got.”
“Then you’re even now.” She giggles.
SOPHIA
Isink into the hot bath, savoring the heat. I added a few flower petals for aesthetics and sink down to my nose. The steam swirling above me, the fact my whole body can fit in this tub, how perfect everything is in my life.
What’s a rumor or a million compared to how lucky I’ve gotten to be? I’ve met four men that set my heart on fire and don’t mind sharing. Hell, they love it. They love me. We have a good life together. We can travel. We can see the world and have everything in it with money to spare.
Roman wants to marry me. I can have kids, as many as I want, whenever I want. They leave everything to me. I have a good job and life and anyone would be tap dancing on a tight rope to have what I have.
I adjust in the tub, folding my arms along the lip and setting my chin on my arms. I exhale and close my eyes.
I never wanted to be the stay at home wife. I always wanted to prove myself to the world. Prove I’m more than just a pretty face. I have brains. I have skills. I can do more than whatever performance I put on in the bedroom.
“Bambina.” Roman knocks on the door and I sink back into the tub, all the way to my shoulders. “May I come in.”
“Depends on why.” I’m allowed to be bitchy too.
“To apologize.”
“Come in,” I grumble, rubbing my legs with the pink poof I have. I don’t even look up at him. “Look, we’re both dealing with stress and we don’t need to have another fight.”
“I agree.” He steals the poof from me and takes my wet ankle in his hand, rubbing my foot with the soapy poof. “I’m sorry for losing my temper when talking about your friend staying here. Of course, she’s welcome.”
“Why are you so frustrated? Because I saw the … thing? The secret? Or is it something else?”
“You’re not the only one having a crisis.” He murmurs, eyes focused solely on my feet. “I’ve spent my whole life working towards something. First it was graduating high school. Then working up military ranks. Now working for a company.”
“That’s normal.” I remind. “That’s what most people do.”
“But I don’t know. I feel like I’ve been missing out on things too. Especially having you around.”
“Is that the downside to dating someone younger?” I ask.
Roman finally meets my eyes and smiles slightly. “I think what we’re doing is more than dating.”
He walks behind me and rubs my shoulders with the poof. “I have more money than I can ever spend. And I want to make the most of that. I want to be able to travel, see family, take chances.”
“Are you talking retirement?”