Roman stands. “What do you mean, I was more important?”
Hunter’s shaking, so I hold him tighter, and he pulls me close to his chest and rocks me. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he turns to Roman. “I made a deal with my father. He said he would sign off to have you live with us for as long as you need, but only if I go to Lakeview. He never liked the fact I went to Ridgecrest. All his colleagues’ kids go to Lakeview Prep or Royale Academy.
“It wasn’t even something I had to think twice about. I would do it again in a heartbeat. You’re my brother, Roman. I don’t care about blood and all that DNA shit. You’re more my family than he is. I will always choose you.”
My throat is thick and tight with that declaration. Roman comes to us. I can see he’s struggling with hiding his emotions too, and I reach out to him. I want him to come closer. I want to hug him and Hunter together.
Roman takes a step closer and does just that, and even I’m surprised. His arms go around the two of us. I can hear him whispering encouraging words to Hunter, thanking him and calling him his brother, as I get choked up with tears.
Hunter’s not going far. A different school is nothing. It’s not like being dragged away to New York. Yes, this is going to make things a little different, and I’ll miss him at lunch every day. But I don’t care what school he goes to. As long as Roman’s safe and Hunter’s mine, that’s all that matters.
The front door slams shut, and we all turn to see my dad standing there in his navy polo shirt that says, “Lakeview Prep, Assistant coach.” The look on his face has me straightening up.
“Dad?” What’s he doing here?
I thought we were going to have dinner at Kate’s place.Shit,I was a little—okay, a lot—distracted, and it must be later than I thought. Where’s my phone? I bet he’s mad at me because I’m late. He could have called Jace’s parents, and they would have come to tell me.
Dad stands there looking at where I’m wedged between Hunter and Roman, and his eyes lower to where they’re both touching me. Uh-oh. He’s another person I need to have a talk with. He doesn’t know about my relationships.
He grits out between his teeth, “Mila, we need to talk. Alone.”
FIVE
MILA
“Ididn’t do anything wrong,” I sulk into the new pillow of my new house in my new bedroom. Yes, that’s right, a new house, as in Kate’s house, and a new bedroom, as in the guest room I’ve used when I stayed the night here. Now, it’s filled with boxes of my stuff.
“Mila, I understand you’re upset,” Kate says. “I think your dad’s just a little shocked. It’s startling news to hear your daughter’s not only dating, but dating two boys. I think it took him by surprise when Daniel called him and told him that the police were questioning students at school about it. Would have been better coming from you, I think.”
I groan. I still don’t get why would it matter to the cops if I’m with two guys. Doesn’t make sense at all. There’s a heap of different relationships out there. Why is mine so interesting suddenly? I should’ve told Dad, I justdidn’t know how. He was just starting to be okay with me and Hunter. I didn’t want to push him. Now, I’ve fucked it all up.
I grumble, “so unfair,” into the pillow.
“He wanted to move you to Lakeview with Asher and Madison, but I talked him down from that. I told him I know what teenage girls are like, and he doesn’t want to see that side of you.”
I roll over to look at her. She did that for me?
Kate gives me another sympathetic smile. “I know how well females can hold a grudge.”
I grin. That’s very true. But I can’t believe Dad freaked out so much he wanted me to move schools. It wouldn’t get me away from Hunter, but he doesn’t know that. I can’t leave Roman.
“Thank you.” I sniffle. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions with everything before Dad and after.
“He will come around. You won’t be grounded forever; he was just taken by surprise. And he worries for you,” Kate adds.
I moan back into the pillow. “Can’t you talk to him again? You said you would’ve dated two guys if you were my age. Now I am, and I’m being punished for it. Being grounded forever is a bit harsh. I love them. They love me. It’s just…”
It’s just that they need me right now. With everything going on with Roman and the Amato family, he needs me. And I need them both.
Kate pats my back and sits on the bed beside me. The mattress doesn’t even dip under her weight. It’s a king-size, heaps of room for three, and I want to say I hate this bed because I don’t want to be here, but it’s so soft and the perfect size for snuggling with my boys. It’s been a dream to sleep in when I’ve stayed here. Now it’s mine to keep. If I could only get two sexy guys here to share it with me, that would be the best.
“I’ll see what I can do. Your father’s just worried. After everything that’s happened since you’ve been back, he feels guilty that he hasn’t been there for you as much as he should have, and he’s punishing himself for that.”
I snort. More like punishing me. But I sigh. It’s true. All this shit happened when Dad wasn’t around. I was the one telling him I was fine, knowing that everything wasn’t fine. Then bad shit just seems to follow those statements.
“Mila, your father’s the most amazing man. I love him very much. There’s something that he didn’t want to tell you when you came back home.
“I’d asked him to move in with me just before you returned. He’s here almost every day, and I’m so in love with him, so it made sense for him to be here. But when he found out you were coming home, he wanted it to be the same house, same room for you.
