Sweet Home

by Tillie Cole

  I’d actually spent time with Romeo and it had been nothing short of perfect.

  Lots of things had happened of late. Romeo had practically moved into my room, still climbing up my balcony like my personal Romeo Montague, causing the sorority girls to turn green with envy. The Crimson Tide football team had won their final game against LSU to place them in the SEC Division Championship, and they were the firm favourites to head for the BCS National Championship. And even more amazing, Romeo Prince, the love of my life, had been recently ranked as number-one quarterback in the country. I was so unbelievably proud of him, although he still cringed when I told him so.

  Oh, and I was at peace now with being a mother.

  I was going to be a mum.

  I was shaking my head with an unbelieving smile, when Ally came crashing through my bedroom door, out of breath, and her brown eyes frantic.

  “Molly, Rome’s just had a fight at practice. He’s practically killed Chris Porter.”

  “Who the hell’s Chris Porter?”

  “A wide receiver for the Tide and Shelly’s new fuck buddy.”

  I pulled on my brown boots and snatched my black winter jacket off the coat stand. “Where is he?”

  Ally was practically prancing at my door, desperate to leave. “He’s lost his shit and is tearing the gym apart. You need to go see him. You’re the only one who can calm him down.”

  I ran out of the door and down the main set of stairs.

  “What happened? What caused him to go so mad?” I asked hurriedly as we burst through the doors into the crisp, cool breeze of Alabama winter.

  She threw her hands in the air. “I have no idea. Cass called me to get you. Your phone was going straight to voicemail.”

  “I switched it off so I could concentrate on my reading.”

  I took off running towards the gym, when Ally grabbed my arm and pulled me in the direction of her red Mustang. “I’ll drive. It’s quicker.”

  We jumped in and I anxiously bit my nails, wondering what the heck could upset him so much. He’d been better lately, less angry, less aggressive.

  I blanched.

  “Do you think someone’s said something about the baby? That it’s got out somehow?”

  Ally’s eyes crinkled in thought as she pulled out of the road. “No, who would tell? Anyone who knows wouldn’t say a damn thing to anyone. Cass hasn’t even told Jimmy-Don.”

  I sighed and rubbed my temples. “I know. Where are Cass and Lexi?”

  “At the gym. Cass was meeting Jimmy-Don there to go for food when Rome went psycho. Lexi was with her. Apparently, Austin and Jimmy-Don tried to calm him down, but he went for them too. The coach had already left the building, so they locked the door and left him to get it all out. He’s fuckin’ lost it if he’s going for his friends too!”

  I watched the clock tick around slowly on the dashboard, each second taking an eternity as we raced down the roads to the gym. When we arrived, a crowd had gathered outside, and all eyes fell on me as I jumped out of the car and sprinted over to Jimmy-Don, Lexi, and Cass.

  “Thank Christ you’re here!” Jimmy-Don cried, his usual smiley face stricken with panic.

  I grabbed Cass’s arms. “Where is he? What’s happened?”

  Her expression was dumfounded. “Hell if I know, girl. Austin said the coach said something to Rome in private and he started shoutin’, goin’ all crazy, and when Chris Porter made a stupid joke to him over somethin’, he lost it and started poundin’ on him. The team took Porter away to clean him up; he’s a mess.”

  I held my stomach, fighting back the nausea. “Jimmy-Don, where’s the gym?”

  Taking my hand, he led me through the crowd of gathered students who were whispering and staring at me as I passed.

  We went through the double-door entrance and raced down a corridor to find Austin with his thoroughly inked arms crossed over his chest, leaning against a shut door.

  When he heard our footsteps, he tilted his head back and sighed in relief. “Thank fuck, Molly.”

  “Is he in there?” I pointed to the door.

  Austin nodded. “He’s not in a good place, Molls. Be careful.”

  I tapped his arm in reassurance and opened the door to utter carnage. Mats, footballs, and weights were scattered on the floor, the high-tech workout equipment littered with debris. Romeo had trashed the gym and he sat, drenched with sweat, shirtless, wearing black gym shorts, slumped on a bench, head in his hands.

  The door clicked to a close and his head snapped up at the sound, glaring my way. When he saw it was me, he leaned back against the wall, letting out a long groan, arms on the back of his head, staring at the ceiling.

  I tentatively walked over.

  When I was only a few feet away, he snarled. “Guess who’s hosting the fuckin’ SEC Division Championship dinner two days after we get back from the game in Georgia?”

  My stomach plummeted. “Oh no, baby—”

  “It’s a fuckin’ joke! They’ve never given a shit about football my whole life and now they suddenly volunteer to host the biggest dinner of the year… at the plantation! It’s a fuckin’ trap to get us there, Mol!”

  I held out my hands, and he edged backwards off the bench, away from my embrace, as though he were scared to touch me. It cut me like a knife.

  I noted the blood on his knuckles, his burst lip, and yellowing left eye. “Romeo, you need to calm down! Half the college is out front, you’ve beat a teammate to a pulp—”

  “He fuckin’ deserved it. He started spoutin’ shit about you… to me! He had a fuckin’ death wish the minute he opened his stupid mouth!”

  “I don’t care what the hell he said about me. Look at the state of you! You’re acting insane!”

  He taunted me with a dark laugh. “My parents have staged this whole thing. Remember last time, the way they attacked us? This is just a more elaborate trap. They knew I’d never go back voluntarily. Coach has agreed to it. They’ve already invited the governor, mayor, and a million other boosters who’ve all eagerly accepted. They made sure the college couldn’t refuse! Fuck!” He kicked a gym ball that flew across the room, crashing loudly into a treadmill.

  I moved to sit on the bench, out of his destructive path, and watched as he paced furiously around the room.

  “We’re not goin’. There’s no fuckin’ way you’re goin’ to them in your condition.”

  I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “You have to go, Romeo. You and I both know that you’re getting MVP of the season. The Tide is probably going to the BCS Championship, and this dinner is to get your team ready for that. If it makes you feel better, I’ll stay at home.”

  “No!” he screamed. “No fuckin’ way! Why shouldn’t you be there with me? The college needs to change the venue, fuck my parents. I know them, Mol. Somethin’ is goin’ on, I just know it, and I won’t have them destroyin’ my family—I’m over their mind games.”

  His expression morphed from anger to hurt as he stormed towards me, dropping to his knees and laying his head on my lap, his arms wrapping like a harness around my waist. “If they find out about our little angel in there, fuck knows what they’ll do. I can’t lose you both.”

  He pressed a kiss to my slightly rounded stomach over my cream, flowing top. I massaged his head with my hands.

  “Romeo, I understand why you’re like this, but it’s one party, with hundreds of people around. They won’t do anything so publicly. They wouldn’t want the embarrassment. I’ll stay by your side the whole night. They won’t have a chance to get to me. You’ll protect me; I know you will.”

  As he showed his face, now slightly calmer, I took my old pink rose hankie from my pocket and dabbed at his eyebrow, stopping a small trickle of blood.

  Romeo caught my wrist, dusting a kiss on my pulse. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they hurt you or our little angel, baby.”

  I cupped his cheeks, my fingers splaying around his ears. “Nothing will happen.”

  W
ater misted his beautiful cocoa eyes. “Why do they always have to interfere? We’re doin’ so good. You’re healthy, our baby’s goin’ strong, and the Tide’s the clear winner of the SEC Western Division and heading to the National Championship. Then they come in with their plottin’ and schemin’, ruinin’ my life again. I’m tellin’ you, it’s all rigged. They’re plannin’ somethin’. Somethin’ big.”

  “They’re powerful people, Romeo. The party won’t be moved. We need to go and put on a united front. You need to be a leader for your team.” He nodded in agreement and glanced away.

  “You really lost it.”

  He licked a drop of blood from his lip. “Coach knows about our situation with my folks and came to give me a heads-up. He tried to change the venue, but the decision came from a higher suit. I fuckin’ freaked.”

  I lifted his knuckles, laying my hankie over the marked skin. “I don’t like it when you lose control. You need to be better than this, Romeo. I don’t want to have to worry about your temper, especially when the little one arrives.”

  His lip hooked into a cocky smirk.

  “What?”

  “I love you.”

  “That won’t get you out of my bad books! Look at the state of this place, of you!” I said with a firm prod of my finger on his washboard stomach, my insides instantly griping as I slowly trailed it down to his thin line of hair leading south.

  Romeo loomed closer, pressing his thick thighs against mine. “I want to fuck you right now, so bad.”

  I lifted my heavy golden gaze. “Not here. And not until you promise me that you’ll never act like this again.”

  His pupils dilated to almost cover his bright-brown irises. “I’m all riled up and need a release, the kind that only you can give me.”

  I dropped all playfulness. “I mean it, don’t ignore me. My child won’t grow up with a daddy who can’t control himself when things go wrong.”

  He nodded curtly and I knew that sentiment resonated with him.

  “You get that, don’t you?” I affirmed.

  “I get it. It stops now. I won’t be anythin’ like my daddy with our angel. I promise you that.”

  Romeo regained his lust-laden expression and leaned in towards me, kissing up my neck and around the outer shell of my ear. “We’re goin’ to the cabin. I’m gonna strip you down and you’re gonna do everythin’ I say, until neither of us can stand. You get me?”

  My head fell on his shoulder. “Ugh! Fine! I get you!” It was easier to do as he said, especially when he was going full-blown Romeo-alpha on me. His need for control was palpable and my traitorous body responded to every strict word from his plush and skilful mouth.

  He drew back with a smug grin and knew he had me where he wanted me. He lost his smile. “I’m gonna make sure you’re protected at the party, baby.”

  “I know you will.” I held out my hand. He took it and sat next to me on the bench, pulling me to his lap, calmly breathing in my scent as I wrapped his long dirty-blond locks around my fingers. “It’s déjà vu, you, cut up and bleeding and me, cleaning you up. But let’s not make this our ‘thing,’ okay?”

  Romeo managed a weak a laugh. “Last time, I promise. I’m gonna change. No more cleanin’ up my messes. Scouts’ honour.”

  “You were never a scout, Romeo.” I giggled.

  “I joined…”

  My head snapped up in shock. “Really, you did?”

  “Mm-hmm… but I was kicked out for fightin’.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Why am I not surprised?” He bit my earlobe and mock growled when the door cracked open.

  I lifted my head and Ally was there, peeking through a small gap. I waved her through. Cass, Lexi, Austin, and Jimmy-Don followed after, shutting the door, and moved to sit before us on the wooden gym floor.

  Romeo heard their heavy feet and saw that we had company. I laid my head on his shoulder, entwining his hand in mine, the touch relaxing us both.

  “You okay, Rome?” Ally asked softly, her hand touching his foot.

  He shook his head. “My momma and daddy have manipulated the university into hosting the dinner at their plantation a couple of days after the SEC Championship.”

  “Shit!” Ally hissed, and the others sighed. They all knew what his parents were like.

  Romeo brushed a kiss to the centre of my forehead and looked to Austin and Jimmy-Don. “I need you guys to help me keep them from Mol.”

  “You got it, Bullet.”

  “Don’t need to ask. It’s as good as done.”

  Romeo met my eyes, asking for permission to tell them about the baby. I relented. They were his friends; they should know why he took the news today so badly.

  Romeo placed his hand on my stomach. “Guys, I freaked out… ‘cause we’re pregnant.”

  I glanced nervously at Austin and Jimmy-Don and watched the shock register on their faces.

  “No one knows apart from us. She’s only a few months in, but my parents don’t know and I won’t have them anywhere near, causin’ her or the baby stress.”

  Austin stood, somewhat stunned, and slapped Romeo’s hand. “Congratulations, Bullet. And you know we got her back. You’re both important to us.”

  Jimmy-Don did the same and laughed. “Hot damn, Bullet! You go from not dating at all, gals throwing themselves in heaps at your feet, to making your first real girlfriend the envy of the entire female student body and you knocked her up too? You’re killin’ me, man! Killin’ me!” He then scooped me up in his arms and twirled me around.

  I held my stomach. “Jimmy-Don, I’m going to puke if you keep going! I’m still struggling with morning sickness—which just so happens to last all bloody day!”

  Grimacing, he set me on my feet. “Sorry, darlin’!”

  Bending, Jimmy-Don kissed my hand. “Congratulations on your lil’ baby. You’ll make one helluva sexy MILF!”

  “Thank you… I think…?”

  Romeo’s arms wrapped around me from behind. “She’s not only my first real girlfriend, man; she’s the reason I fuckin’ breathe.”

  Lexi and Ally aww-ed, watching Rome hold me close, as Cass pretended to stick her fingers down her throat.

  Jimmy-Don took off his Stetson and fanned himself, shouting, “You’re killin’ me, man! Killin’ me!”

  Rome slapped him on his back, laughing at his antics. “We’re headin’ out for the night. I need to get away from all this shit. We’ll catch y’all tomorrow.”

  Romeo clasped my hand and headed for the door.

  “Romeo, you’re shirtless,” I complained, almost tripping over as I stared at his lean figure.

  He simply shrugged. “I plan to be naked in about forty minutes for a minimum of twelve hours, so what does it matter?”

  “Great. Do you realise how many people are out there? How many girls are out there?”

  “So fuck. I’m yours. Let’s go.”

  22

  SEC Championship, Georgia Dome, Georgia

  “I can’t go out there into that!” I screeched as Cass and Ally tried to push me to our seats. The seventy thousand-seat stadium was packed to the rafters and the noise was ear splitting under the closed roof.

  Cass put her hands on my shoulders and gave me her reprimanding expression. “If you don’t kiss Bullet when he runs out, it’s not only his parents who’ll be gunnin’ for your blood. We wanna beat the Gators! You owe it to the fans!”

  I dragged my fingers down my face, and Ally yanked them away. “I spent hours on your look today. Don’t spoil it!”

  My hair was down, curled, full of product, and my makeup was flawless. I sported my “lucky” Prince number seven jersey and my cowboy boots, but I was pretty convinced that it was all a waste as pure fear rendered me motionless. The Tide was ranked number one but was playing the Florida Gators to decide who would be going to the National Championship against Notre Dame in California next month.

  I peeked around the corner and gulped at the wall of red-clad supporters and then to the Ju
mbotrons showing the Tide’s successful road to the championship. I couldn’t help but melt when Romeo—either moodily swearing at a mistake or happily jumping about in celebration—played across the screen.

  Then I looked up.

  “Ohmigod! There are flying cameras! I can’t do it. I’m going to be sick again.”

  With a determined nod to one another, Cass and Ally each linked an arm through one of mine and pulled. I saw the cheerleaders run to the respective team’s tunnels and knew the guys would be announced soon.

  I dug in my heels and Ally groaned, reaching in her pocket. She pulled out a small note.

  “Rome anticipated you’d do this, considering you’ve been almost mute since we got off the plane, and gave me this use this as a last resort.”

  Bugger. I loved his notes.

  I unfolded it and it read:

  Baby,

  Get your ass out in the stands and stop freakin’ out.

  I need my sweet lucky kiss to win.

  This isn’t a request.

  I love you.

  Your Romeo x

  I sighed, tucking the note in my pocket to take home and join all the others in my secret trinket box. Ally and Cass had huge grins on their faces.

  “Well played, Romeo, well played,” I muttered to myself.

  I threw out my hand just as the introductions came through the speakers. “Lead the way, you traitors!”

  They laughed at my reluctance, relinked their arms in mine, and we walked to the pitch side and towards our seats. As if the Tide fans weren’t loud enough already, one look at me walking past had them going positively insane.

  I sat down and tried to ignore the thunderous booms of shouts my way. The fans were euphoric and the cacophony of music from the band only added to the craziness. Pyrotechnics sounded and Alabama was announced, followed by the Florida Gators. The players flooded the pitch, a tapestry of crimson, white and blue, and I rubbed my hands together with nerves.

  I knew the focus would be on Romeo. He was first draft potential and that came with some serious hype. He’d had a stupid amount of publicity over the last few weeks—interviews, press, TV. I’d normally be hidden in the back somewhere, well out of sight.