Chapter 6
Roman
“It’s about time you assholes showed up. Am I the only one who works around here anymore?”
Kellan tossed his bag on the floor. “What the hell are you talking about? It’s four o’clock. Class doesn’t start until five-thirty.”
I spun around in the chair behind the desk. “I’ve been here since two waiting for you to show up.”
“Why? I’m never here early on Tuesdays.”
“How the hell am I supposed to know? I thought for sure you basically lived here. Plus, with Molly working during the day, you always seem to never be too far from her.”
“I had shit to take care of today. Her birthday is coming up.”
I grabbed the letter off the desk and held it up to Kellan. “While you were shopping, I got this.”
He grabbed it from me and leaned against the desk as he read it over. “Shit. This is fucking amazing, man. I’ve never seen a deal this sweet before. You still get to wear your Powerhouse uniform, which is great for us, but you also promote SKW.”
“That is the good part. The not so great part is I would have to go back on the circuit.”
He handed me back the letter. “So?”
“So, that means I won’t be around.”
“You don’t have to do it like we did before. You train here and leave the day before the tournaments. You leave Thursday and be back Sunday. Not a big deal.”
“I’m sure there are going to be promotion days I’ll need to be there for.”
Kellan shrugged. “You can do it.”
“Kellan, what about Sage and the baby?”
“What about them?”
I threw my hands up in the air. “I’m not going to be here if she needs me.”
“Molly and I will be here if she needs anything.”
“My selling point of us being together was going to be me promising to always be around. How is that possible, when I’m not around?”
“Dude, you need to chill out.”
That was easy for him to say. He had his whole life figured out. “How?”
He sighed and grabbed the letter. “Sage is a grown-ass woman with a kid of her own. She will understand you have a job to do.”
“I don’t believe that.”
He held up the letter and pointed to a large amount of money SKW was going to pay. “This number right here is going to be the thing that is going to make it okay. You’re going to do this for your family. To support the baby.”
“I know, but I’m still not going to be here.”
“You know what? Talk to Sage about.” Kellan picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder.
“Really? That’s all you have to fucking say?”
“I said everything I needed to say. You aren’t listening to me. You can make it work, dude. Just talk to Sage.”
Kellan disappeared into the bathroom, and I slowly spun around.
I had two hours to think about it, and the more I went over it in my head, the more I didn’t want to leave Sage.
There was still an hour before I had to run and pick up Sam. I wouldn’t have time to talk about it with her then, but once I brought him back home, I would tell her.
It was an amazing offer, but I didn’t think it was that great of an offer to leave Sage.
At least that was what I thought.
Lord knows what Sage was going to think about it.
*
Sage
“Mr. Roman!”
Sam swung open the door and flung himself at Roman.
“What’s up, little dude? You miss me that much?” he asked as he wrapped him up in a hug and swung him around.
“Yes! I can’t wait to do more ninja stuff tonight.”
Roman sat him down on the floor, and I stepped to the side to let him in. “Hey,” I mumbled lamely.
He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “How are you feeling?”
I stiffly stepped back from him and wrapped my arms around my middle. “Um, you know. Just a little tired from work.”
“Are you sure you should be on your feet all day?” he asked, concern written all over his face.
I cleared my throat and looked down at Sam who was looking between Roman and myself. “Why don’t you go get your shoes on and grab your coat, honey.” Sam raced down the hallway, and I took another step back from Roman. “What are you doing?” I hissed.
“What? I was just asking how you were.”
“And then you told me I shouldn’t be on my feet all day. As far as Sam is concerned, there isn’t a reason why I shouldn’t be on my feet.”
“Oh shit. I forgot he didn’t know. I just heard you were tired and tried to think of a way to make it better for you. Maybe you could just sit on the stool behind the counter all day?”
“So, then my ass can get as big as a house? No thank you. I’m fine working, Roman.”
“I’m ready!’ Sam yelled as he came running down the hallway. “Let’s go be ninjas, Mr. Roman!”
Roman took a step closer. “I need to talk to you about something when I drop Sam off.”
“What?”
Sam grabbed Roman’s hand and tugged him toward the door. “Momma, we need to go!”
“We’ll talk when we get back, okay?”
I nodded my head, not sure of what else to do. Roman closed the door shut behind them, and I was left all alone.
Left alone to wonder what the heck Roman had to talk to me about.
This was going to be a fun couple of hours torturing myself as I thought of everything possible that Roman could say to me.
Fun, fun.
*