Page 36 of Hale Yeah, It’s You

When I finally step out of Roman’s office, only Kate is left at her desk. She swivels in her chair, tapping her manicured nails against her lips.

“That seemed dramatic. Everything okay?”

I bite back the smartass remark bubbling on my tongue and nod. “Yep, everything’s fine.” And it is. But even if it weren’t, Kate Payton would be the last person I’d confide in. She’s the president of the rumor mill, and I’m not offering up headlines.

“I haven’t seen Clay Phillips in the flesh for a while. Man sure takes good care of himself.”

I think about telling her that if she likes him so much, she should say it to his face. But I wouldn’t do that to Clay. If he ever manages to move on from my sister and find someone to love, I have to believe it won’t be someone like Kate.

“That’s nice of you to say.” I give her my best fake smile. “Where’s Mrs. Brosnan?” It hits me—I haven’t seen her since the first week of school.

“Oh, you didn’t hear?” Kate makes a face like she’s sucking on a lemon. “Her hip was bothering her, and when the doctor suggested she take a break, Dr. Clarke told her he’d give her a sixty-day paid vacation.”

Roman’s racking up kindness points left and right today. “Wow. And she agreed to that?” I can’t hide my surprise. Mrs. Brosnan is the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.

“Yes,” Kate snaps. “Unfortunately, she did.”

“Unfortunately?”

Kate hits me with her iciest glare, like daring me to challenge her royal decree. “Do you know how much work she did around here? It’s like they expect me to do five jobs now—and smile while I do it.”

Maybe that’s her karma. But I keep that thought to myself. “Well, I hope she comes back feeling well-rested,” I say instead, glancing around the office. I half expect to see Roman pop back out, but there’s no sign of him. Kate notices my search, and that familiar smirk creeps back across her face.

“If you’re looking for Dr. Clarke, he’s not here.

He took the other family to an empty classroom—figured y’all might need a minute.

All this small-town drama, I bet he takes that job offer in London.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to go see Big Ben and the Queen, you know?

” She grins. “‘Course, it’d be a shame to lose him.”

“He’s headed to London?” My stomach tightens. Old fears flicker up before I can stop them. We’ve just started to figure things out again. We’re not even steady on our feet yet, and already the thought of him leaving twists something inside me.

But I shake it off. I can’t say I’ve forgiven him and still hold onto the hurt he caused when he left the first time. If we’re meant to have a future, it’ll happen. I have to believe that.

Besides, I’m not about to feed Kate’s gossip machine.

“If Roman has plans, he’ll tell me when he’s ready.” I smile, firm and final. “Anyway, I should get back to the theater. See you later, Kate. ”

She smirks again—meaning crystal clear—but I just roll my eyes and walk out. I’m not letting her sour my mood. Not today. Not when my girl is finally talking to me again, and I know she’s waiting.

Now that I’ve seen Clay and Alayna with my own eyes, my steps are lighter.

My mind drifts to Friday night with Roman.

For so long, I’ve held back—caught between uncertainty and the weight of everything else.

But now? I have my own place. A fresh start.

A shaky but hopeful fresh beginning with my family.

Space to dream about the shop, my future, and maybe, finally, what Roman and I could be.

I’m not obsessing anymore. I’m here, in this moment, and things with Roman are real. Honest. I want to say the words out loud—I love him. Not again, but still . It’s freeing. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll say it back.

By the time I reach the theater, it’s buzzing. I catch Alayna’s eye through the glass, and she rushes over, throwing her arms around me. Her eyes are still a little puffy, but she looks more herself.

“I really get my own room at your new place?” she asks, hopeful.

“Yep. You can decorate it however you want.”

“I’m sorry I ghosted you.”

I narrow my eyes, trying to look stern. “I think I can forgive you… on one condition.”

She chews her lip. “As long as it’s not doing your laundry for life or something.”

“Just don’t do it again.” I ruffle her messy bun. “And actually, you’re probably stuck doing your own laundry now. Have you ever seen your dad attempt it?”

Alayna groans. “What if we compromise and you help me on Sundays when you come over for dinner?”

“Points for creative thinking.” I laugh. “But nope. You can’t save it all for one day. I’ll help on Sundays, but you’ve gotta do at least one load every other day. Deal? ”

“Okay, Mom.”

She freezes, eyes wide as she realizes what she’s said. The way she’d compared me leaving to a divorce earlier… the way she talks about me. It hits me then—how deep this bond runs. How much we’ve always meant to each other.

A lump forms in my throat.

“You know, Layna-bug,” I say, softer now, “no matter what we call each other, I’ll always be your Keke. And you’ll always be like a daughter to me.”

She nods and hugs me tighter, then quickly pulls away to change the subject. “Um… you didn’t happen to see Derek when you left the office, did you?”

“Smooth redirection,” I tease. “No, Ms. Payton said he was meeting with Dr. Clarke and his parents.”

I don’t miss the way she flinches at that.

“I really hope he’s not in trouble. His parents seem cool, but… they’re still parents,” she says, then quickly adds, “No offense.”

“People only say that when they’re about to offend someone.”

She twists the front of her sneaker into the carpet, chewing her lip like she’s trying not to fall apart. “I really like him, Keke. I don’t want him to hate me if he gets in trouble because of me.”

My girl. She’s growing up right before my eyes. The way she talks about him, the light in her eyes—it’s all there. These moments will stay with her forever. And I get to be part of them. That’s a gift I’ll never take for granted.

“He’s a sweet boy, huh?”

“The sweetest,” she murmurs, blushing. “And Keke?”

“Yeah?” I meet those brown eyes that mirror mine.

“He’s an amazing kisser, too. You were right—it’s like magic.”

With that, she spins and bolts back to her friends, leaving me stunned and grinning. The little twerp knows that conversation isn’t over .

A knock at the door pulls my attention. Derek waves through the glass, his eyes bright—doesn’t look like a kid who just got in trouble. I open the door.

“You survived?” I ask.

He blushes. “I’m sorry if I got Alayna in trouble. She was crying and—”

I wave it off. “There’s nothing to forgive, kid.”

His lopsided grin is contagious. Floppy blonde hair, light blue eyes, easy charm—he’s adorable. My niece never stood a chance. He doesn’t have Roman’s dimples, but he’s got that same confident glimmer. Sweet, respectful, and clearly smitten. I almost want to hug him myself.

“Dr. Clarke is pretty cool,” he says.

“Yeah. I think so, too.”

I wish Roman had walked in behind him. I want to thank him properly—for the way he spoke to Alayna, for how he always leads with empathy. That’s what makes him great at this job. The kids respect him because he respects them. He listens. He shows up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Alayna watching us, nervous. I keep my face neutral—let her sweat a bit.

“Your parents weren’t too hard on you, I hope?”

“Nah.” He shrugs. “Dr. Clarke said I’m a good kid and he wasn’t worried about me. After that, my parents mostly talked about the play. As long as I keep my grades up, they’re chill.”

He flips his hair from his eyes. “Mind if I go check on Alayna?”

I grin. “She’s convinced you hate her for getting you in trouble.”

His face goes serious. “I could never hate her. That’s my Juliet.”

The cheese. My god. But it’s sweet, too.

“Then go get her, Romeo. ”

He gives me one last charming smile before sprinting for the stage. I watch Alayna’s face light up as he reaches her, and it sends me tumbling back to the memory of my first love.

And just like that, I know it again, deep in my bones—my heart is absolutely, irrevocably, still Roman Clarke’s.

By the time the school day ends, I’m itching to find Roman.

But first, I help Betty clear the stage—gathering tools and folding up tarps, moving everything into the back room where the set pieces will be finished.

The crew made solid progress on the flats and larger props, but the stage needs to be cleared before we can start spiking it—marking key positions with colored tape so the actors know their blocking.

With rehearsals shifting from table reads to staging, the actors need to get a feel for the space—where to stand, when to cross, how to move with purpose. The tape marks help them hit those spots on cue, and the tech crew is starting to plan transitions for set changes, too.

The assistant director is already calling students to the stage for a read-through, while the stage manager double-checks everything for a smooth rehearsal. I hear bits of lines drifting through the theater and spot students flipping through scripts, some mouthing cues under their breath.

And Alayna? She’s in her element. Watching her work is breathtaking.

Everything’s starting to take shape. The set’s still rough, costumes are in their early stages, but the energy in the room has shifted. Rehearsals aren’t simply lines on a page anymore. The show is beginning to breathe.

Once my duties are wrapped, I head back toward the front office. Relief washes over me when I spot Kate’s desk—her purse and collection of half-drunk beverages are gone. She probably bolted the second the bell rang, and I silently thank the universe for the small mercy.

Roman’s office door is ajar, and I catch a glimpse of him at his desk, typing away.

It’s quiet up here, the only sound coming from his keyboard, steady and focused.

His brow is furrowed in concentration. I wish I could smooth it with my fingers—ease the weight he’s always carrying.

I want to pull him back to Friday night at his place, where the world felt far away and uncomplicated.

“Hey, you,” I say, knocking gently before nudging the door open.

His head snaps up, a grin breaking across his face. “You’re still here?”

“Rehearsals,” I remind him, stepping into the office and sinking into the chair across from him. “I’m Alayna’s ride tonight.”

“Am I interrupting something important?” I ask, nodding toward his screen.

“Nothing that can’t wait.” He leans back. “I’ve been trying to catch up on emails. I had more meetings than expected today—the day got away from me.”

His smile falters, and I know exactly which meetings he means.

“I hope that wasn’t weird for you earlier,” he adds, voice softer now. “Me having to step in as principal… being part of your business like that.”

Funny thing is, it wasn’t weird at all.

I lean in closer, wanting him to hear me clearly. “You were wonderful with her. I was kind of in awe, honestly. The way you handled everything… I can see it now. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

His cheeks flush a little at the compliment. “They’re good kids. I just wanted to understand what was going on. Most of the time, if we stop to listen, they’ll tell us everything we need to know.”

I nod. “I heard Derek’s parents took it well?”

“They did,” he says. “And when you’re working with good kids, you usually get good parents. You’ll like them.”

“You think I’ll be meeting them soon, huh?” I lift a brow. Not really a question. I already know the answer.

Roman’s dimple appears, that familiar twinkle lighting up his eyes. “I think that kid’s going to be around as long as Alayna wants him. Those Hale girls? Not easy to forget.”

God, I hope he never forgets me.

“They’re lucky to have you,” I say, watching his face. “All of the kids are.”

Roman circles back, clearly not ready to drop the earlier thread. “I knew things between you and Clay were… undefined,” he says carefully. “But you never mentioned moving out. Why is that?”

“I was too busy kissing you Friday night to tell you,” I say, smirking. The half-truth slips out easily. The whole truth? I’d been scared. Saying it out loud—telling him I’d finally moved out, that Clay and I were officially a non-start—made it real. Only Sarah and Clay knew, and that felt safe.

Roman chuckles. “Friday was pretty great, but you still could’ve told me.”

“I would have. Eventually. I told you about the hardware store—that was a big deal. You’re still the only one who knows.”

“I’m honored,” he says, his smile softening. “I can’t wait to see it all come together. I’ll even take a class—especially if you teach one on wallpaper removal. As charming as that old house is, those creepy horses in the upstairs bathroom have to go.”

I laugh. “They really do. ”

He leans forward, a little more serious now. “But beyond the house and the store—how are you doing with everything?”

“It was time,” I say quietly. “Moving out… it was a long time coming. Alayna and Clay took it harder than I expected. I didn’t realize how much Alayna was struggling. I thought she was just mad. I didn’t know it was more than that.”

Even saying it makes my chest ache. The idea of her trying to process everything alone kills me.

“Kids are unpredictable,” Roman says. “But the good news? They’re resilient. Alayna’s smart. She’s kind. She’s grounded. She’s a lot like her aunt.” He winks. “She’ll be okay.”

The tenderness in his voice makes something warm bloom in my chest. I don’t want to leave. Not yet.

“When are we going on another date?” I blurt out, the words escaping before I can reel them back.

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Do you have dinner plans?”

“Tonight?” Butterflies flutter in my stomach. I love how ready he is—how we’re on the same page, wanting more. “As much as I wish I could say no, I promised Alayna I’d take her to see the new place after rehearsal.”

Roman crosses the space between us, pulling me gently to my feet. “The kid comes first,” he says, brushing a kiss against my lips. “But if you’re free tomorrow… I’d like to show you the best pizza in town. Besides, I still owe you a dessert for winning that bet.”

I smile against his mouth. “It’s a date.”