Chapter 55 Rome

• Rome took the last bag and placed it carefully into the trunk of the car. He glanced over at Jess, who stood by the passenger door, her hand resting on her swollen belly. Despite her condition, she had insisted on helping with the packing. Her determination amazed him.
• "Careful," he said gently, moving to open the door for her. She smiled back, a mixture of gratitude and fatigue in her eyes, and eased herself into the seat with a sigh of relief.
• He sighed too, but for different reasons. As he turned back to grab the final bag, his thoughts drifted to Phoenix. The abrupt and painful end to their relationship still haunted him. He had genuinely liked her, maybe even loved her, but now he was engulfed in confusion and heartbreak, uncertain of what to believe or how to move on.