Roman couldn't stop smiling. The date had been perfect. He didn't care where they went, but he was happy to see she was a down to earth person who took him to an Asian buffet. He had tried holding back but it was hard when there was so much good food.
After dinner they had taken a walk downtown until they found an ice cream shop that was open. That was where they were now. They were walking out of the shop with an ice cream cone each.
"This has been the perfect date," he said. "I don't want it to end."
"Any suggestions?" She asked.
He looked into her eyes and couldn't stop himself. He leaned down and kissed her. A soft, short kiss while both of them tried not to drop their ice creams. He felt cold ice cream run down his fingers and broke the kiss with a chuckle.
"I'm a mess," he said.
"I forgot to take some napkins," she said.
"I'll get some," he said.
He walked back into the ice cream shop. She watched his ass while smirking. A voice she hadn't heard in three months brought her back to reality.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lita asked.
Shelbie got so scared that she dropped her ice cream. Her mother stepped in front of her, and she was clearly angry. Behind Lita stood her sister with her sons. Of all nights possible, they had to run into them tonight. Apparently they were going for ice cream as well.
"Who the hell is that man?" Lita asked.
"No one," Shelbie answered lowly.
"Damn straight, he's no one," Lita grabbed Shelbie's jaw. "This madness stops right now. Get in the fucking car. You're coming home with us."
"No," Shelbie said.
"No?" Lita questioned. "I did not just hear you talk back to me, did I?"
"I said no!" Shelbie said firmly.
Shelbie stared Lita down. She didn't know what else to do. Lita smirked and let out a mocking laugh.
"Shiny, new spine, eh? I'll pull that right back out of you," Lita said. "You're fucking useless, you know that?"
"And you're a sorry excuse of a mother," Shelbie bit back. "Blaming me for ruining your life when you were the one who chose to have me. Take some fucking responsibility for your own choice. You could have aborted me. You should have aborted me. I know you had the option. Grandma told me how she tried making you do that but you refused. You chose to have me just to have someone to blame for everything gone wrong in your life. You're a fucking bitch!"
Lita raised her hand to punch Shelbie but was stopped by someone grabbing her wrist. She turned her head and looked into the eyes of a very angry man.
"If you lay a finger on her," Roman warned.
"Then what?" Lita asked.
"You'll be the first woman I hurt, but I'll make sure to hurt you real bad," Roman said.
"I'd listen to him if I was you. He usually sticks by his word," Shelbie said.
"This is ridiculous!" Lita hissed. "He's gonna grow tired of you real soon, and you'll come crawling back where you belong."
"She doesn't belong anywhere near you, and I won't get tired of her," Roman looked at Shelbie. "How the hell can anyone get tired of someone as wonderful as her?"
"Let go of me!" Lita growled.
Lita yanked her hand back and walked over to her other daughter and nephews. She pushed them all inside the ice cream shop and looked back with anger in her eyes.
"She's doesn't look happy," Roman chuckled. "Well, so much for ice cream. Raincheck?"
"Get me out of here," Shelbie said.
He took her hand and walked her over to the car. They got inside and he turned on the engine.
"Where do you wanna go?" He asked.
"Can we go to your place? I always feel safe there," she said.
"Of course," he said.
He drove them back to his house. They both got out of their shoes and jackets before any of them spoke.
"So," he prolonged the word. "Should I make coffee or something?"
"Or something," she said.
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. It was aggresive and passionate at the same time. She started pulling him towards the bedroom. He had to stop her when they entered the room before she threw him on the bed.
"Shelbie," he could hardly breathe. "You know I want this more than anything but I don't want you to do it out of anger. I want you to want it too."
"I've never wanted anything more in my entire life," she said. "I know how it looks but it's the opposite. I'm not angry. I'm actually happy. Tonight I finally realized that I got choices. I can choose where to go, where to live, and who to be with. And I wanna be with you."
He broke out in a wide smile. That was all he needed to hear. He kissed her again and guided her down on the bed.
"I'm gonna make you feel so fucking good that you never want to leave this bed again," he said.
"Promise?" She whimpered.
"That's a fucking promise, Shelbie," he said. "If you want, we can move you in here tomorrow to make sure this bed is yours forever."
"I want to, Roman," she moaned.
He lifted his head and grinned at her. In a weird twist of events, they had suddenly agreed on her moving in with him. He wouldn't have it any other way. He kissed her again and moved his mouth down to her neck.
"I'm gonna take my sweet time with you. I'll have you a mess on this bed when I'm finally done with you," he said. "And since tomorrow is your day off, I'm gonna make sure to ruin you even further then. I'll make you see stars over and over until you're out of breath and begging me to stop."