From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 12

**Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 12**
**From Best Friend To Fiancé**

**Chapter 9: Casually Rubbing Parts.**

I spat out the cherry tomatoes that had just burst in my mouth, my mind racing to process what I had just heard. “What?” I exclaimed, bewildered.

Roman, ever the picture of confidence, remained unfazed, casually complimenting my mother’s hairdo as if the conversation had never taken a turn.

“That’s a great question actually,” Lizzie chimed in, her voice laced with curiosity.

Chloe, with her trademark nonchalance, shrugged her shoulders. “Not like it’s any of your business, Chloe, but I’m not,” she retorted, her tone dismissive.

A hint of mischief danced in Chloe’s eyes. “Oh well, we were just curious. You know, Roman’s way up there in the world, and you’re, well, barely scraping by. If he’s into you to the point of marrying you, then… I guess we’re right to wonder if you’re either trapping him with good sex or a baby.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Chloe!” My mother gasped, her expression a mix of shock and disapproval.

“Can’t a man be in love, blondie?” Roman drawled, his tone teasing yet serious.

“It’s possible. But with my sister? That’s difficult to believe,” Chloe shot back, her skepticism evident.

“Your sister’s perfect. Too perfect, in fact. There’s nothing hard to believe here. Unless you’ve got a really low IQ, which seems to be the case,” Roman asserted, his words dripping with sarcasm.

A laugh escaped me, the tension easing slightly.

“Excuse you?” Chloe snapped, her indignation flaring. She immediately turned to Dad, her eyes wide. “Dad, did you hear that? He just called me unintelligent!”

“You defending her, son?” Dad asked, a teasing glint in his eye.

“Always,” Roman replied without a moment’s hesitation. His voice was smooth, but the intensity in his gaze was undeniable. “That’s part of the job.”

Dad smirked, a hint of admiration creeping into his expression. “A man who stands up for his woman. I respect that.”

“Are you serious?” Chloe blinked, taken aback.

“I don’t need defending,” I muttered, my fork stabbing another piece of asparagus with unnecessary force.

“Of course not,” Roman said gently, his tone softening. “But I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. It offends my sense of taste to watch someone insult you.”

**Chapter 12**

Alyssa chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “Alright now, I see why she fell for you.”

My heart raced at her words, an undeniable warmth flooding through me. “How couldn’t I?” I replied, a grin spreading across my face.

Mom cleared her throat loudly, rising to her feet with an air of authority. “Does anybody want dessert?” she announced, her voice slicing through the lingering tension.

“I think I’ll pass,” Dean muttered, his disinterest evident.

“I’m on a no-sugar diet, sorry,” Chloe declared, her tone final.

“Maybe next time,” Roman politely declined, his smile unwavering.

Aunt Thelma, ever the life of the party, raised her glass high. “To the Harts, may we never be normal!”

Everyone paused, the room filled with a moment of uncertainty.

I clinked my glass against Roman’s, a spark of defiance in my voice. “To dysfunction,” I proclaimed, my heart lightening.

“To chaos,” he grinned, his expression dangerously playful.

I attempted to pass him, but he caught my wrist gently, his expression serious. “You’re really with him?”

I shot back, “You’re really marrying her?”

“I know what you’re doing. You don’t have to prove anything to me, Sav,” he replied, his tone softening.

“Oh, I’m not proving anything,” I said defiantly, yanking my hand back. “I’m making you wish you’d begged.”

Just as Dean opened his mouth to respond, Roman appeared behind me, placing a steady hand on the small of my back. Our eyes locked, his gaze piercing into Dean’s.

He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close, his protective stance radiating confidence. “You good, man?” Roman asked, his voice low and steady. “Need some help finding your fiancée?”

Dean stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. “She’s all yours, buddy. Just came to say hi to an old acquaintance.”

A wave of irritation washed over me at his words. Old acquaintance? Is that truly what we had become?

Roman pressed a soft kiss to my temple, igniting a warmth that spread through my body.

“You done here? Let’s go to bed,” he suggested, his voice a soothing balm.

We exchanged quick goodnights and sweet dreams with those around us before retreating for the night. Roman’s large hand enveloped mine as we walked to our bedroom, a gesture that made my heart flutter.

The bedroom door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the chaos of the evening and granting us the privacy we craved.

I leaned against the door, arms folded across my chest, watching Roman as he toed off his designer loafers with an air of ownership—

which, technically, he didn’t have yet.

“That was the most excruciating meal of my life,” I muttered, pushing off the door and shaking my head in disbelief. “Between Chloe’s fake laughter, Dad’s Roman-worship, and Alyssa’s nervous wine refills, I’m honestly considering poisoning dessert tomorrow.”