She woke by the sound of her phone ringing. She stumbled out of bed and found her pants on the floor. She got the phone out of one of the pockets. She had her back against Roman. She hadn't noticed he was awake too. He was watching her from bed. She looked at the name and number on her phone and let out a sigh before answering it.
"Hey Andy, what's up?" She asked while she walked out of the room to talk with whoever Andy was.
He quietly left the bed and followed after. He didn't mean to pry in on her private conversation but something about that sigh she let out before answering made him think she would need him to be near. He followed her voice through the house until he found her in the bathroom. She had left the door ajar so he stayed outside just listening.
"I don't know, Andy. Work and all, you know. I'm not sure I can do that," she said.
He could only hear her side of the conversation but it sounded to him like she was trying to make up an excuse for something.
"Yeah yeah, I'll look into it. I said I'd try, alright? Just... let it be for now. I'll call you back when I know. Bye Andy," she said.
He pushed the door open and looked at her. Her eyes were sad.
"Who's Andy?" He asked.
"My brother," she answered as she put her phone down on the sink.
"What did he want?" He asked.
"He wants me to come home for his birthday. He's turning 30 so it's gonna be a big party," she answered.
He walked over to her and took her hands.
"You should go. You should see your family again," he said.
"I don't want to. He's gonna be there for sure," she said.
"Who?" He asked, immetiately regretting that he even had to ask as he saw her eyes. "I'm sorry, I forgot for a second."
He pulled her in to hold her. They stood for a while just holding each other, not saying a word. She released herself from his grib.
"Anyway, it's morning. How about a shower?" She asked and looked at him seductive.
He smiled and gently pushed her backwards into the shower. He turned on the water and leaned in to kiss her.
After the shower he went to make them breakfast. Nothing fancy, just some scrambled eggs and toast. He watched her eat while thinking. She could see he was thinking about something.
"What's on your mind?" She asked.
"I was just thinking. What if I go with you to your brother's birthday?" He asked back.
She stopped eating.
"I could never ask you to do that," she said silently.
"You're not asking. I'm offering. Besides, I want to. I want to meet the family who made the girl I'm in love with," he said and smiled.
She blushed. It was the first time he had said he was in love with her. He reached over the table and grabbed her hand. He looked her deep in the eyes.
"I'm in love with you, Abigail," he said, never taking his eyes off her.
She smiled.
"I'm in love with you too," she said.
He got to his feet, walked around the table and kissed her.
"So what do you say?" He asked.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know," she answered.
"Okay, I'm gonna take you shopping. We're gonna buy something to wear to your brother's birthday. Not saying you're gonna go yet but at least you will have something to wear. How does that sound?" He asked.
"I can deal with that," she said and nodded.
An hour later they were looking through clothes in a store.
"I'd like to see you in this one," he said, holding up a short, silver dress with straps.
"Hmm, silver? Not sure it's my colour," she said.
"Just try it on for me, will you?" He asked.
"Okay okay," she answered and took the dress.
They went to the changing room together. He waited outside while she got changed. His jaw dropped as she walked out in the dress.
"Oh my god, you look stunning," he said while smiling wide.
"Yeah, I like it too. Maybe with some black leggings and a cardigan," she said while looking in the mirror.
"No," he said and walked over to her.
He reached around her from behind and met her eyes in the mirror.
"Look at yourself. You're beautiful. You don't need to cover up," he said.
She looked down on the scars on her arm, feeling ashamed.
"Yes, I do," she whispered.
He walked around and grabbed her arm.
"These are part of you. It might be in your past but they were part of making you. I accept everything about you and I wanna see you accept yourself too," he said and kissed her scars.
She felt tears in her eyes.
"But my thigh..." She started.
"Is almost healed," he finished her sentence.
He smiled at her again.
"Set yourself the goal of not cutting yourself up to the birthday so you can show off those legs with pride," he said.
"It's easy for you to say," she said.
"I know. I also know it's gonna be hard for you but I'm here for you every step of the way. Whatever you need, whenever you need it," he said.
She looked up into his eyes.
"I don't deserve you," she said as she reached up to kiss him.
She went to change back to her regular clothes. Roman took the dress and bought it for her. As they walked out of the store, she grabbed her phone.
"Who are you calling?" He asked.
She just smiled at him as she put the phone to her ear.
"Hey Andy. I haven't talked with work yet but I just wanna know if it's okay I bring my boyfriend to your birthday. Yes, boyfriend, you dumbass. Someone actually likes me here," she said.
She was laughing and he couldn't help but laugh with her.
"Okay, sounds great. I'll call when I've talked with work about getting time off. Bye."
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in to kiss her.