Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Gone
I attempt to serve again and fail miserably aiming for Roman's crotch. He twists out of the way.
"Stop staring at it!" he laughs. "Don't make me come get you!" he threatens spinning his racket like I do mine.
I let a smirk cover my face, biting my lips to suppress it. Gemma, Tish and Erika are sitting down just watching us. Roman unzips his jacket, it only makes things worse. His shirt is stretched over his chest so tight, I am salivating.
His parents have been calling all morning, the one picture of us is causing chaos. It's a picture of Roman and I standing outside between the tattoo shop and wedding chapel, I am fixing his bowtie, the white limo parked by the sidewalk.
I pull another ball from my skirt pocket, I bounce it three times and toss it up. My racket snaps the ball, he moves to hit it and we are off back and forth. We are able to mirror each move together. The sun is hot, not a wisp of wind making it beat on us that much hotter. I hit the ball hard and it hits Roman on his thigh, he tosses his racket on the ground, he jumps over the net and comes running toward me.
"Not fair, I can't run!!!" I complain as he lifts me up, smacking my ass.
"You brat!!!" he laughs as he continues to smack my ass while holding me one handed.
Tish and Erika take the court over, we take a seat next to Gemma. Roman takes a seat, I am in his lap. Alek and Grant stroll in our court and take a seat with us at the three level stands. My arms rest over Roman's shoulders, my nose brushes the side of his face, his hands grip my ass.
"When are you going to call your dad and tell him the truth?"
"I want to see him sweat, he deserves it. My mother and grandmother know. I sent them a picture of the tattoo!" he smiles and places a few soft kisses on my face next to my lips.
I look past Roman and my eyes meet Grant's, he is watching us closely. Illia Jr called me this morning asking if I need a plus one for my husband. I laughed it off for now no one knows the truth.
"I am going to post the rest of the prom pictures to the original post!"
"Ok Eris!!! I will call him."
I can't help but giggle at my new nickname, most days it fits perfect. Roman stands up with me in his arms, he lets me down and we split up. Roman walks out of the court and stands next to Christian. I walk to the corner of the court and lean on the fence. I select the pictures, dinner, dance floor with all my friends, tattoo shop and the professional pictures. I name the album "Prom". Then I hit post, I watch as everything loads and my phone rings.
"Hey Helena! Why are you up so late?"
My sister doesn't say anything for a split second then she unloads on me.
"You are trash, just like your mother. How could you? You are not good enough for Roman, he deserves someone not broken, someone who can give him a future." she continues to call me every filthy thing under the shining sun.
Pain forms in my chest, my eyes swell and the tears stream down silently. My own sister, the one I thought maybe just maybe loved me even a little bit. Sinkhole, her words feel like a sinkhole, swallowing me. I slide down on my butt, my hands shake as I hold the phone to my ear. My elbows brace on my knees.
She tells me no man wants to marry a girl that has been raped. No one wants a dirty woman and she asks how I tricked Roman into eloping. And then she drops the real bomb, how could I do that to Gabby? Helena says I made Roman filthy, I ruined him for Gabby, the King was going to announce their engagement this summer. The boulder on my chest weighs more than I can handle. Helena asks me to say something, my voice cracks, my whole body is shaking. She says she wishes I was dead, the knot in my throat chokes me.
"All you do is cause problems for our family" she says. My body shakes from shock, I drop my phone. I sit there looking at the blurry shapes of colors.
Something inside me snaps, I am seeing red. The fury rushes me. I wipe my face, Taylor moves across the court and toward me, mouthing out "Are you ok?". I pick my phone up.
"Fuck you!!! You dumb bitch!!! Don't ever call me again!" I hang up on my sister.
Roman comes walking around the corner, he stops in his tracks when he sees my face. I wipe my face again. Gemma asks what's wrong. They have paused their game.
"Fun call with my sister!" I give her a cold smile.
Roman closes the distance between us.
"How long have you know?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" he rubs the back of his neck, I caught him in a lie.
"How. Long. Have. You. Known. Roman???" I yell looking up at him.
"Since...ummm.." he continues to stall.
"How long?" I repeat.
"Since last summer!!!" he spits it out so fast my fucking head spins.
"You were spending time with her in Spain. Fucking dog!"
Roman laughs. "You kissed me first!" he pauses, his smile widens. "Empty box, beautiful wrapping, remember! I thought if you were worse than her, than I can let go. Fuck me, you are something else. Sleeping with her after you is like eating only oatmeal for the rest of my life."
I poke my finger into his chest. I want to slap him but I hold back. I laugh at myself everytime I think I have hit a low, I go even lower.
"Get out of my face! I love you but I don't like you right now!"
"I will see you at the wedding!"
"You won't!" I hand him my phone and play the phone call recording.
He sits there listening and tearing up while leaning on the fence. I snatch my phone back and shove it in my pocket.
"You were my first choice." he says wiping his face. "Your father said "No". It's going to be news to them but I got a vasectomy. If I can't have kids with you, I don't want them!"
"It's time for you to leave Roman. We are done!"
He turns but looks back at me. "We are connected forever, we will never be done."
Roman gets in my face. "It was my fault, that you got hurt. If I didn't make you stay with me, if you weren't so protective of me."
I turn to Gemma. "I found Dragon. I am feeling like a test drive!"
Gemma's hysterical laugh fills the space between Roman and I. He cocks an eyebrow before he turns and walks away.
Just like that, he's gone.