Everleigh
Somehow Roman had not noticed how much Eliza looked like him and Everleigh sure wasn't going to tell him.
Not until she had a better feel for whether or not he wanted to be a father.
She was already sick of her brother's attitude, and she did not want to hear the same from Roman. She didn't want to hear a speech on how a little girl should be raised in a pack, or how she should be living in the woods, or how it was wrong to let Eliza pretend to be human. Her brother was a broken record and she would not allow the same from Roman.
"I know things ended badly between us, but would you like to go out again sometime?" Roman asked.
That was out of the fucking blue. Of all the things she’d anticipated, that was not one of them. "You want to go out again? Why?"
"I always regretted how I ended it last time. It was so abrupt and cruel. And I missed you."
She wasn’t falling for him again. He was hot, but he was a jerk. "What's different now? If you didn't want to be with me then, why would you want to try again?" She crossed her arms. "I was fine with casual back then, but things are different for me now. I can't live the same lifestyle anymore."
"I agree. And I'm five years older. I'd like to think that makes me a little bit wiser too. I had some hangups in the past, but I've spent a lot of time thinking about them. I can promise that this time I'll talk to you and let you know what I'm thinking."
Oh, wow. He’ll let me know what he’s thinking.She barely suppressed a big eye roll.
She wanted to say no, she really did.
But part of her was interested. She had also regretted the abrupt breakup. She spent many times fantasizing about what it would be like to raise Eliza with her father. But she was not going to get her hopes up. Just because he asked her on a date didn't mean he wanted to step in and be a parent or partner.
Remember how fickle he was last time you spent months grieving for him.
"Is tonight too soon?" he asked. "For the date?"
"Well, I don't have a babysitter. You know that it's difficult because I can only trust other shifters to watch Eliza at this stage. In a few years it will be easier. She does really well in kindergarten, but I hate to ask her to keep up the charade all night long too."
"What about during the day while she's at school?"
"I can do that." She was not willing to suggest that they hang out at her house yet. Even though Eliza liked him, it was far too soon.
Plus, a lunch date would be less formal. There would be less pressure on both of them. She finally agreed to a time, and he picked her up right at noon from her office and they walked down to the corner café.
He seemed genuinely interested in her life. He asked question after question and listened to the answers. He claimed not much had changed in his own life.
"I had a really good time," he said. "Would you be willing to go out with me again?”
"How much longer are you in town?" she asked. She wasn’t about to set herself up for another heartbreak.
"I really need to go back and check on the pack. But I can come back here. I can be gone longer from the pack if I've made arrangements."
God. Why was she going down this path again? It was so monumentally stupid. But she couldn't say no. She didn’t want to.
"Would you be willing to let me take you out?" he asked again. "If I come back?"
It probably was a terrible idea but she said yes. She wanted to see him spend more time with his daughter.
"If you would like to take both me and Eliza out, then we can do it tonight. Before you leave."
He grinned. "I’d love that." He brushed his lips over her cheek. "What time? I know cubs go to bed earlier than adults, but I don't know what time is best."
She appreciated him even considering Eliza's bedtime. So often people without children never gave it a second thought.
"Sometime around 5:30 would be best."
"That's when I'll pick you up then." He brushed a kiss over her lips, and then he was gone.