As they walked around back where the party was, Thea grew more nervous. She could still hear people talking over the music.
She hoped Dean and her sister were already here; at least she would have someone she could talk to for now.
"Cousin," Nia said happily, walking over with her arms open wide.
Thea relaxed. She also knew she had Nia if she needed backup. Nia hugged her tightly before moving on to Roman.
"You look as beautiful as ever, T. See, you two were always meant to be." Nia said.
Roman smiled and looked at Thea. He could see a blush on her cheeks.
"So should I be expecting a wedding invite soon?", she asked.
"We just started dating, Nia. Give us a year at least," Roman replied.
That caught Thea by surprise. A year? Nia nudged and winked at him. Jimmy and Jey walked over as well, hugging them both.
"Damn, Uce, how did you manage to land her twice?", Jimmy joked.
"You can let us know now Thea, you feel bad for him", Jey added.
Thea replied, "You figured me out."
Roman squeezed her hip and smiled.
"Roman, you made it," his mom said, her smile leaving her face as she saw who Roman had his arm around.
Thea was tense now, and he could feel it.
Hello, Mrs. Reigns. It's nice to see you again," Thea said, a smile on her face even though she didn't seem to have one for her.
His mom looked back at him.
"Roman, come on; there are a few people we want to introduce you to," his mom said, ignoring Thea.
He took Thea's hand and pulled her along. His mom was going to reject the idea, but Roman left no room for argument.
"We are on our second date; she's sticking to me like glue," he said.
His mom nodded and led them toward the group of people she wanted him to meet.
"There he is," she heard her dad say, before she popped out from behind him.
His smile turned into a glare. She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, reassuring her.
"Dad," Roman said, bringing him back from his glare at Thea.
"Anyway, this is Booker," he said. "He works in L.A."
Roman extended his hand.
"I'm a divorce lawyer," Booker said. "It's big business down there and you'll always have a job – that's for sure. So many celebrities stop by my office."
His dad had been pushing him to find an office out of state; he was sure it was to get him away from Thea.
What his dad didn't know was that he would take both his girls no matter where he went.
"Its nice to meet you. I've actually been talking to a firm myself. Apparently I use to work for him before I lost my memory", Roman said.
His dad looked at Thea, as if she were the one who told him.
"I told him", Dean said, joining the group with Brie on his arm.
He knew where his father would place the blame.
"Mick Foley. Does pro bono work and environmental law", Roman said.
"I've heard of him," Booker said. "Used to be in L.A."
"And doesn't make any money to support himself or his daughter", his dad added.
"I apologize, Booker; this is my girlfriend, Thea. Thea, this is Booker," Roman said.
He shook her hand.
"Its nice to meet you", she said.
Booker asked, "How long have you two been together?"
"They aren't", Sika replied.
Booker looked confused; Thea looked down. Nia pulled her closer to her and Brie.
Roman nodded. "A word, Dad."
He looked at Thea.
"I'll be back, and don't worry that pretty head of yours", Roman said.
Thea smiled and nodded. Dean followed after his brother and dad. Booker looked at her.
"Sika's always been strict," Booker said. "I just didn't know how much. By the look on your face, you two have been dealing with that for a while."
She sighed.
She whispered, "You have no idea."
"They were married before my cousin lost his memory. My aunt brainwashed him into divorcing Thea instead of helping him remember their lives together."
"They never liked my sister; they didn't even give her a chance," Brie said.
Booker nodded in agreement.
"Well, I think he's a very lucky man. It was nice meeting you, Thea", Booker said, before excusing himself.
"How dare you bring that woman here, where Sasha could see her," his father yelled.
"I tried that and it didn't work. So what if she sees Thea?"
Did you know about this?", his dad asked Dean.
Dean nodded and shrugged his shoulders.
"Why can't you just be happy for me?" he asked. "She made me happy then, and she makes me happy now."
His dad chuckled.
"But she…", Roman cut his father off.
"She's good enough for me, hell, better for me. I should have never let you and Mom talk me into divorcing her, into leaving her house; it felt like a home to me the second I got there," Roman said.
"It did?", Dean asked, surprised.
Roman nodded and smiled at his brother.
"From the second I stepped through the door. It was warm and calm. Smelled of vanilla and sometimes…", Dean cut him off.
Dean asked, "Fresh cookies?"
Roman chuckled and nodded. Dean smiled back.
"I'm so glad I went back and she stayed," Roman said.
"Where did she stay?" his dad asked.
Roman looked at his father. Dwayne had assured him the house was his now, completely.
"I've been, I mean, we've been living with Thea and Brie.", Roman said proudly.
"What? How dare you! Why would you want to ruin your life all over again? You were drowning in debt. Barely getting by working for Mick," his dad shouted.
"I'm going to figure it out this time," he said. "I have a daughter now, and, I don't know, maybe more in the future if Thea will have me."
His dad grabbed his glass of whiskey and threw it against the wall. It shattered, and his mom ran in, followed by Brie and Thea.
"I'm okay baby," Roman assured.
Thea nodded.
"Sika, not tonight, we have company", his mom said.
"Did you know he had been living with that woman? He kept the house for her", his dad said.
She looked down at her feet.
"She's my family; you took their home away from them," he shouted.
"I didn't know about her, because she didn't tell us. Probably planning to use her later on for child support since she didn't have any money", his replied.
"She didn't tell us because she was afraid of you, of Mom, taking her. I didn't doubt you would have done it too. Just to see her hurt," he yelled.
"Roman," she said, but he cut her off.
"No, no more lies," he shouted.
Thea said, "Roman, maybe we should just go."
Sika glowered at her.
"Of course, trying to take him away from his family," Sika said.
"She is apart of my family. I should have never divorced her, but you all made me feel like you were looking out for her when you were just trying to get me away from her for you guys", Roman said.
Sika sighed and said, "It was for your own good."
"Was it? Really?", Roman asked.
Sika looked away from him.
"From the moment I walked out that door, I felt like something was missing; as if part of me needed someone or something."
Dean felt for his brother. He was the one who watched as his brother walked around like a zombie, finding him in places he knew somehow reminded him of Thea, but he just didn't know it.
"I was missing her, and getting to know her all over again, I realized why she was the one for me," he said. "She's amazing, dad. She's smart, funny, and supportive. She's the most amazing mom to our baby girl."
His dad sat down.
Roman said, "I wish you could see it for yourself".
Nia walked in and cleared her throat.
"Ric Flair is here and asking for you, Uncle Sika," she said.
Sika stood without saying a word and left the room. Roman looked at his mom.
"Mom," she held her hand up, stopping him.
She walked out, stopped by Thea before continuing after her husband.
"And now they hate me even more," Thea mumbled.
Brie squeezed her hand; Roman walked over to her.
"Come with me", Roman said, taking her other hand and pulling her away.
He took them upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Thea asked him, "Are you okay?"
"Are you? I'm sure that hurt you more than it did me", he replied.
She said, "I'm used to it, but thank you for defending me. I mean, you've always done it."
He gently touched her chin and smiled.
He said softly, "I should have stayed with you and not let them get to me."
She replied, "You didn't know."
He sat on the edge of his bed as someone knocked and Thea opened it. Nia smiled and had her hand covering her eyes.
"You two better be dressed and not making me another niece or maybe a nephew this time", Nia said.
She laughed.
"It took forever the first time; sorry to disappoint, but it won't happen that fast this time," Thea said.
"What did you need, Nia?", Roman asked.
Nia said, "Your parents want you both downstairs."
Roman signed.
"We'll be right down," Thea replied for him.
Nia nodded and left them alone. Thea held her hand out to him.
"Come on, just a few more hours then we can go home to our girl", Thea said.
Roman smiled and nodded before taking her hand.