"For Christ's sake, there's a child in here!" Mom shrieked,covering Emily's eyes and ears. "Put that thing away!"

"Oh boy." Alyssa cackled. "Why is it sticky,Sav?"

"It's cherry-flavored!" I said brightly, lifting the bottle like a trophy."You're welcome,Chlo."

Her nostrils flared, and her eyes narrowed into,slits."Are you for real?"

"Don't you like it. Chlo?" I pouted,"Ithought it was thoughtful."

Chloe's face was so red that she looked like she'd breathe fire anytime soon.

"You thought this was thoughtful?" she hissed, holding up the Bible,the lube, and the card like they were Exhibit A in my trial. "'A Bible and a fucking flavored lube wrapped together with a note that says 'For marriage and morals. Balance is key.' Savannah, are you high?!"

"Language, Chloe! There's a child present." Mom scolded her.

Chloe dropped the box like it was on fire.

"I don't fucking care, mom! She started it!"

"Don't use those words with me, young lady!" Mum scolded her.

Little Emily was so curious she was trying to peek through mom's fingers.

"So,what? Savannah's not gonna get scolded for this stupid box, is that it? Dad's going to hear about this, I swear."

"So what? There's nothing wrong with it." I insisted.

Roman let out a snort of laughter beside me. I elbowed him, but he was too far gone.

"Oh how I've missed you, Sav." Alyssa tossed her hair over her shoulder. "This takes me back to the chaotic old days."

Chloe's nostrils flared. "Can you respectfully shut up, Alyssa. You're driving me nuts!"

Mom groaned and collapsed into a chair, still covering Emily's ears and eyes like she'd been possessed. "You're going to hell,Savannah."

"Okay, but at least I'll be moisturized," I shot back.

Roman full-on cackled now. Alyssa raised her soda can in a mock toast. Chloe looked seconds away from committing sororicide.

And then like clockwork, the air changed.

"Wherever there's trouble," came a deep voice behind us,"there's Savannah Marjorie Hart."

The laughter died instantly, like someone had just cut the power.

My spine locked. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

Dad

Of course he had to show up now. Of course he had to ruin the one moment I was finally winning.

"Honey, you didn't let me know you were done with the meeting."

Mom's tone instantly softened.

"It wasn't finished, it was abruptly cut short. Courtesy of Savannah."Dad spoke through gritted teeth, voice barely controlled.

I slowly turned, heart thudding behind my ribs like it wanted to escape. There he stood at the base of the stairs, dressed in his pristine New Hope Golf Club polo and pressed khaki shorts.

Gray hair a little more silver, lines a little deeper. The same unreadable face. The same tight mouth that used to bark my name like it was a curse.

Chloe folded her arms with smug satisfaction, tapping her foot like she'd been waiting for this moment.

Her face said it all... 'get her, dad'

"Hi,dad."

"Savannah." He acknowledged with a curt nod.

I grabbed Roman's elbow like a human shield and stepped forward.

"Roman, meet my dad,Julius Hart. Dad, meet Roman, my fiancé."

Roman extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you,sir."

Dad acknowledged Roman with a proud, satisfied nod as if he passed some sort of test then shook his hand firmly.

"I was worried when Chloe said Savannah was bringing home a husband. Now I'm worried that Savannah's the one you're bringing home to your people."

My eyes snapped up to meet his immediately.

Chloe threw her head back and laughed.

Dean chuckled.

Roman's jaw tensed for a split second, but his tone remained smooth as honey.

"Savannah's a wonderful woman, sir. I feel like the lucky one here."

"If only that were true." Dad grumbled. "Unfortunately, I've known how much destruction she leaves behind everywhere she goes and on everything she touches for almost thirty years now. Convincing me otherwise is nearly impossible."

My jaw clenched so tight a vein pulsed in my temple.

"Savannah's a wonderful woman, sir," Roman said,smiling with concealed fury. "But don't worry. I can handle a little fire."

"Good luck with that. Hope you packed an extinguisher." Dean smirked.

I discreetly flipped him the bird.

"Ah, I take it you had a dozen of those and still ditched at the first sight of the smoke." Roman replied.

Dean attempted to emulate Roman's stance. It was actually quite funny.

"Yes. Because only a smart man would know to run at the smell of smoke. The fool waits for the fire to spread and they're ultimately engulfed in the flames."

A beat passed.

It was as if everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop.Alyssa's mimosa froze mid-bite. Chloe's eyes never strayed from Roman's face.Mom looked like she was praying for a miracle to survive this day. Aunt Janice whispered to Aunt Thelma who was secretly filming the scene.

Roman stepped forward, now standing right in front of Dean. Roman's face a mask of confusion and... pity? They were looking at each other without breaking eye contact.

"You're not scary nor tough. Not even remotely. You're just a nervous little man seeking attention." Roman stated as if he was reading out Dean's future.

Someone gasped. Probably Aunt Carol.

Dad wasn't smiling. Buat he didn't look angry either. He was just observing.

"Where's our bedroom, Sav? My neck hurts from looking down on this guy." Roman tilted his head in Dean's direction.

Alyssa nearly fell off the arm of the couch laughing. "Oh my God,Savannah-where did you find him? Give me the deets!"

"Can you shut up?"

Chloe's face was redder than a murder weapon. She blinked at the gift box on the floor like it personally offended her religion, morals, and wedding dreams in one breath.

Then she glared at Roman so bad that he'd be dead if looks could kill.

I was already leading Roman up the unending flight of stairs to where my old bedroom was.

Mom cleared her throat.

"Um,your bedroom is right up the stairs. The third door on the left."She announced.

I paused.

"Um, no? That's not my bedroom. That's Chloe's bedroom.Mine is down the hall, the first door by the right." I countered her, already sensing something amiss.

Mom glanced at Chloe.

"Chloe's staying in your room. It's much bigger and she needs all the space she can get for the wedding."

"What?"I blurted out.

Mom was quick to do a damage repair. "But it's not permanent,sweetie. After the wedding, Chloe's going to move back into her room."

"So why didn't anyone mention it?"

Chloe shrugged. "It's a bedroom. Don't make a drama out of this too."

"Savannah, if it not up to your taste then pick one from the spare rooms." Dad suggested.

"Why didn't Chloe pick from those?"

"Like hell I'm staying in a guest bedroom in my own home." She scoffed.

Of course. Savannah deserves to sleep in the spare room and Chloe gets to sleep on my fucking bed.

I slammed my hand against the wall, the crack echoing through the room.

"You did this intentionally, Chloe. This isn't even about the bedroom.You've always had your eyes on everything that's mine."