She couldn’t speak, but the tears in her eyes were probably communicating everything.
“I knew I liked you,” he continued. “How could I not? But when I talked to my mother this morning, she said I’ve never talked about any girl like this and that scared her.”
“Yeah, well, it terrifies me,” she said, only half joking.
“Probably not for the same reasons,” he said with a wry smile. “You think you have a crush on me and I’m going to disappear, go back to the NFL, and date…whoever you think I date.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
He blew out a breath. “I’ll go back, obviously, and play ball. But…Lacey, I don’t want this to end. And if Tessa gives you some kind of ultimatum like ‘it’s me or him,’ I know you. You’ll pick Tessa.”
Oh. She never consideredthat.
“Tell me I’m wrong, Lace. You love that woman. And you don’t love me.”
“I don’t…” She pressed her hands over her chest. “I don’t want to make that choice.”
“But you love her,” he said. “As you should. I’m just a guy who likes the hell out of you. But we could be more, I have no doubt. It might take work and time and long distance, but I think you and I could be the real deal.”
Her heart slammed her ribs so loudly she thought he might hear it. “I think we could, too,” she whispered.
“But not if Tessa blows a stack or insists I go away or demands we not tell anyone. I couldn’t continue a relationshipwith you if she wanted to act like I’m just…another guy you’re dating. I’m herson.”
For a moment, neither one of them spoke, but just held hands and looked into each other’s eyes.
“You’re right,” Lacey finally admitted as she let her brain play out all the possibilities.
“You’d pick Tessa over me?”
Very slowly, she nodded. “She’s like family now and she’s been so, so good to me.” She felt her face crumple with tears. “And I lied to her. Your mother’s right. That was wrong, Roman. That was so, so wrong.”
The realization punched and she folded with a sob.
“Hey, hey.” Instantly, he wrapped her in a tight, loving embrace. “We don’t know how she’ll react yet.”
Didn’t they? Hadn’t Laceyalwaysknown Tessa would flip out? But she’d gone along with this charade because Roman was fun and persuasive and cute and better than any guy she’d ever met. And now…she could lose him forever because she hadn’t been honest.
And Tessa deserved so much more than that.
“Let’s go talk to her,” Roman said gently.
“Right now?”
“Absolutely. Is she at the Summer House?”
Lacey shook her head. “She’s at the marina getting her boat ready for tomorrow’s Celebration of Life party.”
He grunted. “She’s so excited about that and we’re going to…”
“Wreck it,” Lacey finished, wiping a tear. “I don’t know what to do, Roman.”
“We do what’s right.” He stood, taking her hand. “We go together, tell her the truth in private, and ask for her forgiveness.”
“And if she doesn’t forgive us?”
“I’ll be out of your life, then, Lacey. And hers.”
She closed her eyes. “I don’t like that.”
