I shook my head. “That’s my Mr. Perfect.”
Devin laughed through his nose and looked out the window. He collected himself to say something and I waited, recognizing the shift. He said, “He’s good for you, Alex. Perfect, like you said. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone love someone else as much as he showed me last night.” He blinked. Looked away from the window. Our gaze connected. “He’d give up the World Series for you.” I started to speak but Devin held up his hand. “I know. You won’t let him. But he would. For you, Alex. That’s how much he loves you.” Another smile. He shook his head. “You guys are gonna get married. I can see it now. You’ll be the only fair-skinned person in that whole Sicilian clan.”
I reached out and grabbed my brother’s forearm. “Thank you. For telling me that. I didn’t realize I needed to hear it.”
“He’d do anything for you, Alex. I mean it. Anything.” He took in a breath and leaned back. “I approve.”
I barked out laughter then grunted in pain. “Oh, so I need your approval now?”
“Damn right. I’m still the eldest Edwards around here.”
“Well, speaking of approval,” I said. I wanted to reach for myphone but I had no idea where it was. “When Rome comes back in, remind me to tell you about Elena Moretti.”
Devin made a face. “Elena?”
“Mmhmm. Gorgeous. Very Sicilian. She’s a physical therapist.”
Devin scoffed. “You tryin’ to hook me up with someone?”
I held up my hands defensively. “Just looking to make an introduction is all. These Morettis are pretty damn amazing. They could use a double dose of Edwards is all I’m saying.”
My brother shook his head and drew lazy shapes on the bed. “Elena, huh. That’s a pretty name.”
“For a pretty lady.” I double raised my eyebrows.
Another scoff, this one powerful enough to eject spittle from his mouth. “You are so freaking corny. Can we sedate you again?Rome,” Devin called out as he started to leave, “your boyfriend got hit too hard in the head…”
I smiled as I watched my brother leave the room. My tall, masculine, knight-in-shining-scrubs lumbered inside while holding a phone to his ear. He pulled it away for a moment and looked at me. “Think you’re up for talking to a worried mother?”
Nope. Not gonna cry again. Not gonna do it. Hold it together you sissy.
“Nothing would make me happier.”
In the phone he said, “Si, si, metto Alex adesso.” He handed me his phone and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “She’s very concerned about you.”
I held the phone to my palm to quiet the microphone as I looked up at the man who became my world. “I love you, Rome.”
A beautiful smile. For a moment, I couldn’t see the cuts and bruises on his face. “Love you, too.”
“Ciao, Donna” I said into the phone. “It’s good to hear from you…”
Chapter Thirty
Rome
MYPHONEWASin my hand before I could think better of it. The press conference room sat just down the hall, ready and waiting, filled to the brim with reporters currently listening to Emma drone on about whatever. I just wanted to be sitting next to Alex on his mountain of cushions on our couch. Instead, we moved up the timetable of my big reveal. Emma’s team applied only a light amount of makeup to my face. Ricky had only put one hit on my face and the stitches across my eyebrow were obvious, but Emma’s team hid the bruising that occurred around it. I’d get questions about it and Emma insisted I stay away from any details.
I should have already been in the conference room. Should have been waltzing in like I always did, stoic, even-keeled, and answering questions with the calculated, cold eyes I typically gave those vipers.
Instead, I tucked myself into a corner of the locker room as I thumbed the most special number on my phone for words of encouragement.
Alex answered the microsecond I heard it ring. “Hey. You okay?” He sounded so concerned.
“Yeah. Um. No,” I said into the receiver. Bombastic laughscut through the silence as some teammates passed by. I slunk down the hall and found a utility closet that I slipped into. I stood there in the dark next to dank mops and dusty brooms.
“What’s going on? Where are you?”
I laughed at the circumstance. “In the closet.” Laughed a little louder. “In the friggen closet. Literally. Figuratively.”
