24. Perry

You'd think they'd make a more comfortable hospital chair after all these years. But nope. Still those shitty cracked pleather ones.

Roman paces and more than once expresses his displeasure at not being allowed to go into the room when his sister specifically asked if he could. But I understand his frustration. It's his family. They're extremely close.

The prickly man I met six months ago has almost faded away. Almost.

He still likes to argue and pick fights when he can, but mostly he's not like that. He's warm and funny and so fucking talented with his artistic visions. And he's so kind. Behind that icy stare and cut cheekbones is the biggest of hearts—one he lets no one but his closest circle see.

"Babe, come here."

He huffs and glares at me, but I chuckle. "Please?"

Once he's in reach, I fold him into my arms. Inhaling the vanilla-scented shampoo he likes. I hold him until his shoulders droop, and then I hold him some more.

"If anything was wrong, they'd have let us know by now."

"I know. I just…I want to fucking see my sister." He buries his head into my shoulder and I squeeze him closer.

"I know you do and—"

"Roman Auclair?"

He bolts at his name and runs to the nurse. "That's him. I mean I'm me. I'm Roman."

"Follow me."

He casts a glance over his shoulder at me, and I give him a thumbs-up to go. He mouths an ‘I love you' and I feel my heart leap out of my chest to follow him. Jesus.

I've had several relationships over the years. I was even engaged to a woman for a brief time. None of those relationships compare at all to how I feel for Roman. Now that someone has taken him back to see his sister, I step out into the late August afternoon for some fresh air. And to call my brother.

"Any baby yet?"

"No, but he just got to go back to see her. My gut says she's opting for a c-section and about to tell him that. The last update Vi gave us was that the baby wasn't turned, and with the contractions growing stronger, they'd have to make that choice soon."

"As long as baby and mom come out of it okay. How's he holding up?"

I huff a laugh. "He's a basket case. Pacing the floor like he's a dad from the 50s."

Leaf laughs along with me, but his tone softens. "And you? Are you okay?"

There's a tiny garden at the corner of the hospital and I plop my weary body onto a bench there. Butterflies dance from one flower to the next as I consider my words.

"I'm okay, but I…this…fuck…" I laugh at myself. I've never been at a loss for words before, but Roman seems to have that effect on me.

"Ah, yes. I know the feeling." Leaf chuckles. "It's how I feel about Sasha. I get it."

"I want to ask him to marry me."

Leaf hums and I can picture his sly smile as he does, knowing far sooner than I did that this is where I was heading.

"Do you think he'll say yes?"

"God. I hope so. But I don't want to keep waiting, Leaf. He's not like anyone I've ever been with, and I don't want him to ever leave my life."

"I think you should tell him that, then."

"Yeah. Maybe not while we celebrate the baby. But soon. Is Sasha with you?"

"No, he went to the studio and then he was going by your place for some packages or something. He said he'd check on Duke while he was there."

"Good. I'll give him a shout too. And I think we need to plan a party after the last guests are gone. Anybody booked in near the end of September?"

"I'll check and get back to you."

Before I call Sasha, I wander back into the waiting room in case Roman comes looking for me and my ass barely hits the chair before a nurse calls my name.

"Yeah, that's me."

She smiles at me and I can't help but return it.

"I've been asked to bring you back. It's quite the party this baby is having."

"Is the baby here!? Oh my god."

I can't help the goofy grin I know must be on my face. It's like bubbles cover my skin and I'm just plain giddy.

The nurse stops at a room and waves me inside and I'm only two steps in before my breath catches and I freeze.

Roman is standing beside his sister's bed holding a tiny bundle and the pure happiness on his face as he holds the baby is breathtaking.

"You must be Perry." A small woman on the other side of the bed holds out her hand. "I'm Violet, Josie's wife and Roman's sister-in-law." She gestures to her wife, whose gaze is locked on Roman just like mine. "We would've had him come in sooner, but just as we started prepping for the cesarean, the baby's heart rate dropped, so it became an emergency."

"Is Josie okay? And the baby?"

"Right as rain. Other than being scared for a bit, we're all okay."

"I'm sorry. I forgot my manners." Leaning down, I hug her. "Congratulations. Thank you for having me here on such an intimate day."

She cocks her head. "Why wouldn't we? You're Roman's boyfriend and by the way he talks about you, you'd think you've been married for a century."

My gaze finds Roman again, and this time I step closer. His eyes lift for a second to see me before going back to the tiny bundle.

"Babe. Meet my nephew. He's perfect."

Peering over his shoulder, I take in the little pink blob of baby. Chubby baby cheeks and a mass of dark hair with a squished button nose. And the cutest little pursed lips that remind me of Roman's. Now I know how some people get baby fever.

"Oh, Roman. He's gorgeous. Just like his uncle."

His body rocks gently as he stares at the tiny thing and my hand rests on his hip. Roman is in his element and he doesn't even know it.

"I'm Josie." His sister says with a laugh and I feel myself flush.

"I'm so sorry. I should have said hello first."

She raises her arms to invite me for a hug and I do awkwardly around all her monitors and IV lines.

"It's okay. My brother holding a baby is quite the sight. I'll allow you to be smitten with the image."

"Violet filled me in. He was pacing a hole in the floor."

"Probably best he didn't know ahead of time. He would've been a sobbing mess with worry."

"I'm right here, you know. I can hear you."

"Good. Because we didn't tell you his name. You just grabbed him like a baby snatcher."

Roman looks up at me. "Do you want to hold him?"

"Heck ya."

I make grabby hands and he chuckles before passing him off to me. The baby looks so tiny against my giant arm.

"We wanted to name him something with meaning." Josie reaches out her hand and Roman takes it. "His name is Alexander Roman. Two men who will forever mean the world to us. It's a big name to live up to, but you and Dad are two of the best men I've ever known."

Roman's shoulders shake, and I wrap my free arm around him. Instead of hugging his sister, he turns his face into me as he quietly sobs. Violet notices my dilemma and quietly takes baby Alexander from me so I can hold Roman properly.

"What can I do, Ro?"

He shakes his head before wiping at his tears and finally crushing his sister in a hug.

I've heard a lot about this family. First from Sasha, since he's known them for many years as he and Roman modelled and grew up together. Then from Roman, as he opened up more and more. After telling me about his parents' untimely death, he never lacked things to say about his sisters and Violet.

His other sister Camryn was away at a conference in Europe and would get here as soon as she could. Leaf and I had a great family life. Our parents were older when they had us and they died of natural things. They loved us, but there was no significance to our names. I'm pretty sure Mom named Leaf that because she read a book about Vikings before she went into labour. My name, I'm not sure of, but I'd be willing to bet it was a random name from a baby book.

But Roman's family has a rich story. A legacy they want to keep alive not just through genetics but with names. It says a lot about the importance of the family to them. I know how Josie raised Roman and how much he loves both of his sisters. It's a rare bond and I'm privileged to be here and maybe one day, even be a part of it.

Little Alexander fusses and when it's time for the whole breastfeeding thing to happen, I excuse myself and step into the hall. My heart thumps out of whack and I briefly wonder if I drank too much caffeine to make it go this crazy.

Then Roman shows up and I know it's not the caffeine.

His beautiful face glows with happiness, even with the puffy eyes from crying. His shirt has wrinkles, and he's not as fully put together as he usually is. But he's just so… pure. So fucking him and I can't help it when I reach for him and pull him closer.

"I love you." I press my lips to his in a gentle kiss and he stares up at me. "What?"

"Let's go to our hotel and rest up. We can come back tomorrow." He bites at his lip. "Are you…is everything okay?"

"More than okay, babe. Let's say goodbye and get some rest, like you suggested."

"Are you just freaked out with the breastfeeding stuff?"

I huff a laugh. "No. But Violet and Josie would probably like some time alone as parents, too."

"You're right. She's probably exhausted, and we'll be here for a week. We should all rest." He kisses me again, lingering there before pulling away. "I love you, too."

After a prolonged goodbye and a few more tears from Roman and Josie, we exit the hospital to his car.

As we pull out of the lot, Roman reaches over and leaves his hand, palm up, on my thigh.

I slide my fingers through his and squeeze tight.