I shrug, remember she can’t see it, and say, “I guess. He’s trying to get me to agree to a road trip with him soon.”
Her brows furrow. “A road trip? You two?”
I hum confirmation, pressing my lips together.
“You’re… balanced enough for that?” she asks. “Because last time we talked, he was being an obnoxious, if well-intentioned, idiot, and you were wearing yourI hate Roman forever and everT-shirt.”
“I’m still wearing that T-shirt,” I assure her, scratching my nose. “But. You know. He apologized. With hair care. And then he gave me a massage. So. I am, maybe, slightly, a little bit considering going on this road trip. He evenaskedme instead of doing his whole bossy Roman thing.”
Ruby blinks. “He…asked? As in permission? Asked?”
“Mmhm,” I say. “Asked.”
“Wow,” she mutters, red waves shifting as her head tilts. “You guys must bereallybalanced.”
I snort. “I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s… trying. And honestly doing a pretty good job of it, all things considered.”
“He’s a good guy,” Ruby says for the one millionth time since I met her.
“He’s just aguy,” I finish for her, rolling my eyes. “I know.”
“Are you going to go on the trip then?” she asks. “Where wouldRomaneven want to go, anyway?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. He’s suggested we go to Bandera to visit Lyra and Sol so that I can have a little break. He found me passed out on top of my covers last night and apparently that translatestoElodie’s exhausted and needs a big, strong man to take care of things.” I wince. “Sorry, no. He’s trying and I should, too. He’s not being any type of way about this. I’m just…”
“Unsure how to handle a man being serious about taking care of you?” she suggests. “Unsure how to handleRomanbeing serious about taking care of you to the point of setting aside his protection instincts—which scream at him to do what he needs to do to protect his loved ones, regardless of what they want? Unsure how to handle a Roman who is asking you nicely to please let him care for and protect you, because he’s finally learned that bulldozing his way into it is never gonna work?”
Ah. “Yes, all of that. Thank you.”
She snorts. “I’m proud of him, honestly. I know sometimes it might not seem like it to you, but he’s grown so much since you moved in. He’s listening better—not just to you, but to everyone. I mean, he even asked Will and me about the wedding menu. A year ago, he would’ve just gone ahead, doing whatever he wanted to, and we would have enjoyed what he chose to give to us, but it wouldn’t have been our choice to make. Roman would have done what Roman’s always done—unilaterally decided what he believed was best for the people he loves, regardless of what they want or their opinions about it. Since you’ve been with him though, he’s… softer? I guess. More patient. He’s got a looser grip on the reins he uses to control himself and everything around him.” Her lip tilts in an itty Ruby smile. “He’s much less insufferable. It’s like he’s Roman, butbetter, you know?”
Hmph. “No,” I answer, sticking my nose in the air. “Outside of this week, I’m pretty sure he’s been the same level of insufferable as ever.”
She grunts. “El, come on.”
Ugh. “Fine,” I pout. “He’s been a little better. I guess.”
“Better enough that you’re actually considering taking this trip with him,” she points out. What a traitor. “Better enoughthat he’saskingto take a trip withyou.”
“I hear your logic, and I hate it. Have you considered that actually you should never make sense again? It’s not good for my hair. It gets all tangled up when you’re grabbing me by it to drag me into being a mature, reasonable adult with you.”
Her face transforms as she laughs, a beauty so rarely bestowed upon me, and I beam at the sight of such a gift. I can seeallof her teeth right now! It’s like seeing Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster or gas under three dollars a gallon. Rare and precious.
“For what it’s worth,” she says, when her laughter dies down. “I think you should go. Even I can tell you need a break, and I don’t have the privilege of seeing the giant bags you have under your eyes. Will’s told me about them, though, and I’ve been concerned. If Roman’s willing to drive you out to see some of your favorite people? Then I say let him. Take a break from the wedding and work and your five trillion hobbies and wander around small town West Virginia for a weekend. Breathe in fresh, unpolluted air. Walk among the butterflies at your cousin’s greenhouse. Light something on fire with her husband. Have a little bit of fun away from your real life.”
“I thought you were allergic to fun,” I comment. “Did Will infect you or something?”
“Maybe,” she says. “Or maybe, I just know what you need, and I’m not so grown as Roman as to not boss you into taking it.”
“You’re a lot cuter of a boss,” I say. “Much better than Roman.”
“Much more convincing than Roman, too, I hope,” she replies. “Promise me you’ll at leastactuallyconsider the break? Don’t say no just because it’s Roman or because you think I need you here to help with the wedding or work needs you oranyoneneeds you for anything. Because right now?Elodieneeds you.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and I clear my throat. “I promise,” Iwhisper.
My sweet, loves-me-so-much friend nods, then breaks the moment with a wiggle of her popcorn bowl. “Good,” she says. “Now, how much did you put in this? Is there room for M&Ms?”
“Don’t offend me,” I huff.
