Chapter Thirty-Five
Roman
I looked down at the spread. Suddenly, sandwiches seemed too easy. I hadn't made them, I had bought them. Sun dried tomato, pickle, and Swiss cheese. Her favorite. Was it enough? Was a picnic too casual? I thought I'd go with something thoughtful instead of direct, like asking her to dinner. We could be alone here, and this was our spot. It was lower stakes, too, in case she was nervous and didn't want to go on an actual dinner date.
I was a little sad, remembering the last time I had tried to get her to do this with me. It had worked in the end, after about a week of false starts. It wasn't noon yet. It was a few minutes to twelve, so she technically had time. All I wanted was for her to show up. If she didn't then I didn't know whether I could commit to waiting for her to come around like the last time. I was on a much tighter schedule these days.
I hadn't told her anything in the note, but she'd know what to expect. Right? She was a smart girl. I took the brownies out of the basket and looked out along the boundary of the trees. A couple dog walkers in the distance. Some people with kids. Nobody that looked like Veronica. Yet.
I was hopeful. I felt like, the way we left things, we both wanted to make it right. The next time I looked at my phone, it was officially 12:03. I'd give her... I didn't know how much time to give her before she was late. I stood, making sure everything looked okay, walking around the blanket.
Maybe I should have gotten wine? Would she have liked that? Why was I so nervous? This was Veronica. The girl I had been in love with for almost the last four years. I knew her, and what she liked. I knew what I felt about her and I was pretty sure about what she felt about me too. I just needed this to be perfect. We needed to talk about some things. If today went well, everything would change.
A sound behind me made me look over my shoulder. She was wearing shorts and a white tank top. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. Our eyes met and then I was moving. Then she was. And then, I was holding her. My arms were around her so tight I might have been crushing her, but I didn't want to let go.
I lifted her into my arms, feeling her legs wrap around my waist. It was like this rush of relief getting my arms back around her. I kissed her, and she opened up to me. I sucked her tongue into my mouth and tasted her. I groaned, squeezing her tighter. I couldn't have predicted what could have happened when I saw her, but this reaction was about as good as I could have asked for.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw the box last night," she said, pulling away.
"I was nervous that you wouldn't come," I confided, lowering her to the ground.
"This might be the only chance I have to come clean," she said. "I pushed you away and I shouldn't have done it, Roman. It was your choice to make and-"
"Babe, slow down," I told her. "Come sit." I took her hand and led her to the blanket. I sat and she sat next to me.
"I need to apologize to you," she said. "I shouldn't have said those things, pushed you away like that. Tiffany told me about your talks with the team and I couldn't... I didn't want you to lose the opportunity because of me."
"I know," I said gently.
"How?"
"Tiff talked to me." She shook her head.
"You need to tell that sister of yours to mind her own business," she said smiling.
"You let your meddling best friend know that, too," I shot back. "Honestly? I'm glad she told me. I'm glad she set us up on that blind date when I got back from Afghanistan."
"I am, too," she said. "I'm sorry, for breaking up with you. I didn't mean it. Any of it. I didn't miss what I had when you were gone. Being with you was better."
"I did the same thing. I shouldn't have dumped you the way I did. I only did it because I wanted to protect you."
"I did it so you'd be happy. I love you, and I didn't want you getting stuck trying to move your career forward when a chance was looking you in the face."
"I love you, too. I guess doing some things because you love the person doesn't change the fact that it'll hurt them."
"Aren't you supposed to let someone go if you love them? Something like that? And if they're yours, they'll come back?" she asked. I leaned back on my elbows.
"There wasn't a good enough reason for us to let each other go. Not the first time. Not the second one, either."
"We found each other again eventually, right?"
"Yeah. But we didn't need the time apart in the first place." She sighed. The food was sitting there, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I didn't think she was, either. She leaned on one of her arms, looking down at me, touching my face.
"I'm still happy to see you," she said. "God. I could hardly even sleep last night wondering what would happen today. How are you even here?"
"I took a plane, babe."
"No," she said, pushing me playfully. "I mean how. Did you get permission? Did you have to leave the team?"
"I didn't. Training camp doesn't start officially until Monday, so no, if you're worried, I'm not breaking any rules by being here."
"Monday? So you're just here for the weekend?" she asked. Her hand ran through my hair.
"Just a short trip this time."
"That's too bad," she said. She touched my hair again. "I feel like it's been such a long time since I saw you."
"You missed me?" I asked, smirking.
"Yes, I missed you. I know how much you love to hear me admit it. It's going to suck seeing you leave again."
"Then come with me." She scoffed.
"I can't do that."
"Why not. The semester just wrapped, right?"
"Right, but you're going to be training. When would I even see you?"
"I'd come home every night."
"Home? What do you want me to do? Come live with you?" she asked jokingly.
"Yeah," I said seriously. "You should."
"Roman. Stop."
"Stop what?"
"You know what. It's like three weeks before I have classes again."
"I do know that," I said, taking her hand. "That's why I've been making some calls. There's a college about fifteen minutes away from my place in Miami. I've been talking to them. Asking about admissions and transfers." She looked at me quizzically.
"You're going back to school?" she said carefully.
"No. It’s a little late in the admission cycle, but since you would be transferring with the bulk of your credits already fulfilled, they said there wouldn't be a problem with you joining the psychology program this fall." Her mouth fell open.
"What?" she croaked.
"I wasn't going to ask you to give up your degree to be with me. I'm serious about you moving in, Veronica. I want to be with you. Come to Miami with me tomorrow night."
She launched into my lap, kissing me. Her hands cupped my face. I held her by the waist, pulling her into me. She was laughing with tears streaming down her cheeks. I couldn't make out what she was saying through it all.
"I can't believe this is happening," she said, looking at me.
"Believe it, babe."
"I can't believe you'd do this for me."
"I did it for us. I love you, Veronica."
"I love you, Roman," she said. I wiped a tear that was making its way down her face.
"Will you come?" I asked. She nodded, smiling at me. Her arms went around my neck as we kissed. She was straddling my lap. I put my hands on her thighs, touching her for the first time in weeks. Her skin was so soft. I grabbed her hips and pulled her into me.
"I missed you so much," she whispered. I ran my hands over her shorts, up under her top so I was touching her bare skin. My body flared, feeling her on top of me. I was irritated there were clothes between us at all. I loved her, but I wouldn't lie and say all I wanted was to hug her and eat sandwiches together.
"I haven't been with anyone since our last time together," I said, looking at her.
"I haven't, either."
I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding onto her so I could lower her to the blanket. She squinted up at me, the sun in her eyes. I kissed her again, getting between her legs. I felt everything, and I felt it all at the same time.
There were a million more romantic ways I could have planned this. I had seen people wandering around earlier. We had never been found here before, but I wanted her to be comfortable. I broke the kiss, stroking her cheek. I pressed my erection into her thigh.
"I can't wait, Veronica," I said.
"Then don't."