“Ha,” Tripp said, turning to go back the way he’d come.“She likes to think.”
The three men departed, deeper into the suite.
“The party in your pants doesn’t count,” she called after him.Once they were gone, she spun to Bambi and rushed over to sit at her side.“Good, now we can talk properly.”
“Talk… about what?”
“How are things going with Struan?”
“Oh, you know what he’s like.He doesn’t say much.”
“About Roman?”
“He made the right choice, he’s never shown any hesitation about us…”
“But?”
“No but, just…” Bambi swallowed.“It’s all so much.”
“Being with him?”
Excitement burst from her friend.“I love him so much.So, so much.Everything’s just… right, you know?”The ease of Bambi’s laugh was familiar.“It wasn’t so great at first, not him, not Struan, he’s amazing, but—”
“The press.”
“Yeah, they didn’t go easy.”Except they had.No two guesses as to why.Thank you, Collier Family… again.“I couldn’t stand the things they said about him, and Roman…”
“Lapped it up,” Roxie said.“Yeah, I saw his smug face online too many times.Always said he sucked as an actor, but he’s got martyr down pat.”
“We’ve been staying at my apartment,ourapartment,” Bambi said.“All the drama’s died down and it just works.I love being with him.Who would’ve thought domestic bliss could be so… blissful.I didn’t know that…”
“Love was so easy?”Zairn’s words were apt.“It’s not all roses; it can be work.Don’t take it for granted.”
“We are working.Together.We talk.We communicate.It’s been… we have Magnus on our case sometimes.I think he still wants Struan to go back.”
“With you?”
Bambi shrugged.“Struan said a little space will make a difference.We’re building a life together.Now we have LoKys and will be staying in New York… space will be good for us.”
She frowned.“What are you not telling me?”
Biting her lip, Bambi took a second to answer.“Sometimes the way he speaks of his brother… Roman took so much of his life from him.”
“Like we didn’t resent him in the first place.I can understand Struan being kind of tense about it.All the things that were said about him…” Roxie gathered their hands together on Bambi’s lap.“Being with you, loving you, liberated Struan.He loves you.His family is still his family.These things go up and down.Family relationships are like that.”
“They wouldn’t have fallen apart if it wasn’t for me.They’ve been such an intrinsic part of each other’s lives.”
“Whatever Struan feels toward his brother now is not on you.Just support him.Listen to him.Do whatever Struan needs… except move back to that house.Don’t do that.Never do that.Under any circumstances.Brothers don’t have to live together to be blood.Does he see Logan every day?”
“No.”
“No,” Roxie confirmed.“This is Struan’s chance to be happy.With you, LoKys, the freedom that gives you… Honestly, honey, he’s so lucky to have you.Do you think he’d prefer to be back there?How would he ever have got out if you didn’t light the path for him?”
“With the sympathy dying down, Roman’s lost his latitude.”
“People aren’t so forgiving when you’re a douchebag.”
And the simple smile on her friend’s face reminded her of one Hatfield wore not long ago.
