“My poor malyshka,” Nik whispered in my ear.
“We can have a family meeting about my demands later. I’m starving and really want to meet Bash’s sister.”
He finished drying me off, picked me up, walked out of Alek’s room, and headed toward his.
“I had all the things I like you to wear put away already. Let’s get you dressed so you can make a good first impression.”
He picked out a cute outfit and stepped back to watch me dress. I fidgeted with my hair overly much, and he finally had to pull me away.
“What if she doesn’t like me, Nikolai?” I put my hand on his arm.
“Personally, I think she’ll love you. Just give her time to acclimate.”
We made the familiar trip down the stairs and to the dining room. Everyone else was already gathered around the large table when we entered. I stayed close behind Nik, feeling shy. I stayed as long as I could before he pulled me around him.
“Kinsley, this is our Bellaruso. Isabella, this is Kinsley.”
I lifted my gaze to say hi, and time froze. My eyes locked on a face that was hauntingly familiar. The room blurred. A whirlwind of memories rushed back to me like a tidal wave crashing on the shore.
Steel your face. This is not happening, this cannot be happening. There is no way in hell this is happening.
I stared at her like an idiot. Every fiber of my being wanted to reach out, to run to her, but by the look on her face, she didn’t want that. We were both caught dancing on the line between recognition and pretending. The weight was suffocating, crushing me with each breath.
This is a dream. It has to be.
I closed my eyes and then opened them, as if my mind was playing tricks on me. The vision before me didn’t change, so I looked down at the ground. My heart beat frantically.
Black spots formed behind my eyes, echoing the relentless rhythm of memories that threatened to overwhelm me. I had dreamed of this moment, imagined how it might be if our paths ever crossed again, but now the reality was almost too much to bear.
No, no, no, you will not panic.
I dug my fingers into my palms, trying to draw the attention away from the attack that threatened to engulf me.
“Kinsley?” Marcel’s voice cut through my haze, and I could hear the concern in his tone.So much for keeping a straight face.
Isabella stood up abruptly, her eyes locked on Nikolai, who stood beside me. A flicker of recognition crossed her face, and her expression darkened with a mixture of emotions. Without uttering a single word, she threw her napkin down and fled.
A deafening hush descended over the room. It was as if the entire world held its breath, anticipating the inevitable storm that was about to break forth. I desperately tried to keep my composure. Blinking back the tears that threatened to spill forth, I glanced at Nik.
The intensity of his gaze as he tried to understand what was happening unnerved me to the point where I had to look away. It was like Isabella’s reaction setoff a chain of movement. Nik made eye contact with Sebastian, who cocked his head to the side. Without a word, Bash rose from his seat and left the room.
“Kitten, don’t take it personal. It looks like she’s going to need some time to adjust to our relationship,” Aleksandr said.
Tears fell as I met his eyes. I pulled away from Nik and ran back to his room. Throwing myself on his bed, I cried. How was this possible? What kind of cruel, cruel game was the universe throwing our way?
How was Autumn, kind and gentle Autumn, Isabella Caruso?
I sat up after several long minutes and pulled my knees up to my chest, rocking back and forth in shock. A knock sounded, and Marcel entered the room. He came over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll leave. Have Marcus take me back to Sophia and Christopher’s,” I mumbled, feeling small.
“No, Ms. Taylor,” he said immediately, letting me know I was listening to my counselor, not my friend.
“But—” I said frantically, feeling the panic come back in full force.
“Ms. Taylor, Bella experienced trauma as a child, not in the same way as you, but enough that it has a hold over her still. If anyone should understand, I think it’d be you? I think you and her could really relate in certain ways.”
“Dr. Marcel, you don’t understand…”
