I am happy to see them. But also—fuck them.
Figuratively, of course. If I let them near my body again, I don’t think I’d survive if they walk away a second time.
“Malyshka, can we talk?” Kaz asks, his voice a low plea.
His hands twitch like it’s taking everything in him not to reach for me.
“You’re welcome to talk,” I say, folding my arms. “But I doubt there’s anything you can say that will make what you did any better.”
Kaz moves fast, climbing onto the bed and sitting directly across from me. He takes my hands, his ocean eyes locking onto mine, stealing the breath from my lungs.
My soul cries out for his.
I resist the urge to crawl into his lap—my favourite spot in the world. Used to be, I remind myself firmly.
Dario and Keir join him on either side. Thank God I convinced my father to buy me a California king. Even then, it’s a tight fit with all three of them on it.
They’re quiet. Watching me. Waiting.
Just as I’m about to speak, Keir beats me to it.
“We left for one reason,” he says, resting his hand on my knee. “To be able to come back to you.”
A bitter laugh escapes me, and I roll my eyes.
“He’s serious, pumpkin,” Dario adds, placing his hand on my other knee.
I bite back the shiver threatening to race through me. Their touch still undoes me, even now.
“We wanted to make sure everything was going smoothly back home,” Dario continues. “So we could come back to you without a worry.”
“Lily told us about the five-month mark,” Kaz says, squeezing my hands. “We thought we’d make it.”
“It just took longer for Kaz to take over the Bravata,” Keir chimes in.
“When we missed the deadline…” Dario trails off, guilt clouding his features. “We thought we lost you. No one reached out to us.”
“They wouldn’t have,” Kaz growls. “No one knew our plans.”
“Still,” Dario says, “it would’ve helped if someone asked. But to be fair, everyone was worried about you.”
“The lack of communication all around wasn’t our finest moment,” Keir admits.
“Then I got your letter,” Kaz murmurs, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Call me crazy, malyshka—but I fucking love you.”
My heart stutters. I search his eyes for a lie, but all I find is truth. Adoration. Love.
Dario touches my cheek. “I love you too, pumpkin.”
Tears burn in my eyes. I search his gaze as I did Kaz’s—more truth, more adoration.
I don’t even realize I’m biting my lip until Keir’s thumb gently frees it.
“I know our start—and the middle — of that week was a disaster,” he says, voice heavy. “To be honest, I think I was terrified.”
He looks away briefly. “I’m thirty-eight, and never in all those years have I felt what you made me feel.”
He exhales. “I’m a fucking idiot for not seeing what was right in front of me. You’re everything, princess. Everything.”
