Page 6 of Through the Fire
“Yes, you can. And soon enough you’ll be doing it often.”
“Baby,” he chokes out. “Don’t say that. I can’t live without you. I swear toGod, I didn’t do anything with Leilani. It was all her. I love you.”
“It’s not just about that, Roman. There’s so much—“ I hear a jingle as something smacks hard against something else. “Where are you?”
“I’m here. For you,” he slurs.
I bolt upright and squeeze the phone in my fist.
“Where’s here, Rome?”
Before I get an answer, I hear a knock at Dani’s front door.
I fling off the covers and jump out of bed. I’m out of the bedroom and rushing down the hall when another knock comes.
Dani’s door creaks open just as I pass it. Her head pops out and she asks with a groggy voice, “who the fuck-“
“It’s Roman,” I whisper. “Go back to bed. I’ll take care of it.”
She shakes her head but turns and heads back to bed, closing the door behind her.
I rush to the front door and disarm the alarm before opening it.
Roman stands there with one arm braced on the door frame and the other hanging limply at his side, keys grasped in his grip.
“What are you doing here?” I grit through my teeth.
“I came to get you.” His eyes are glazed over as he stares at me.
“You’re blitzed. I can’t believe you drove here like that.” I step out onto the porch and close the door behind me. “What the fuck, Rome?”
He stumbles back and I reach out to steady him before he tips over. He sways like an old pine tree in a windstorm.
“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I had to tell you now and then bring you home where you’re supposed to be.” He drops his hands on my shoulders, giving me his full weight.
I struggle a little and shuffle my feet until I feel solid. I let my hold on his waist go and wait for him to do the same. Instead, he squeezes my shoulders harder and then tugs me to his body.
I collide with an “oompf” and I’m forced to wrap my arms around him. He nuzzles his face into my neck and the smell of whiskey invades my nostrils.
“I never meant to hurt you. You’re my life, Luna. I’ll never do it again.”
“Do what?” I ask, dread swirling in my belly.
“It was…” his body trembles and I hear his voice break. “It was one time but it meant nothing.”
I step out of his hold and push him back. My body shivers and I can barely hold back the tears building.
“What are you talking about?”
He takes a few stuttering steps and plops down on the stoop. He drops his head into his hands and I hear him sniffle.
“I kissed her, but that's all. Well notall, but I didn’t sleep with her. I swear.” The way his voice wobbles tells me he’s crying and I struggle with wanting to comfort this broken man and desperately needing to choke him.
“Who, Roman? Who did you kiss? Leilani?” I ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of disparity and anger.
“Fuck no,” he sneers and lifts his face to meet mine. “That bitch drives me crazy. I’d never touch her.”
“Then who?” I try to control my volume so as not to wake Dani’s neighbors.