My sisters were only with the Blacks for maybe a week and a half at most, but they’re brought in like long-lost family, and the Black women appear enamored to have my sisters back.
There’s no awkwardness—except me standing here like a freak—while they talk and catch up with each other. Carina and Luisa are also picture-perfect with Ellie and Mae, and I almost feel inadequate with my knowledge of how to be a good sister.
I suck.
Right down to my constant recklessness and ongoing drama. They’d be better off without me, however, I’d never let them go.
“Quit comparing,” Levi grumbles through my thought, brushing his arm against my body as he settles in at my side. “You’re not the same.”
“No shit,” I deadpan, glimpsing around the enormous family room. It’s beautiful, with mauve walls and a giant fireplace Torin and Reeve are currently camped at. They’re sitting across from each other in two plush leather chairs next to a roaring fire. Candles are lit every which way to give it a homey feel as they move their hands around, signing their secret messages every which way.
“You’re not the same as in, they could neverbeyou,” Levi retorts, stepping in front of me to block my comparison of myself to everything. “Don’t start doing this shit.”
“Doing what shit?”
“You know exactly what shit,” he replies as I meet his scowl. “You’re much more interesting.”
“For now.”
Levi steps closer and the moment he does, Ozzy shows up at his side. Two strong men on different levels, with alternate personalities and a thousand tattoos.
Both openly stare at me, light green versus light blue eyes.
Levi’s taller and more bulked out—with his steroids and all—but Ozzy is faster and observant.
And my God, they’re both gorgeous as hell.
“What?” I press evenly, crossing my arms along my chest against their intense gazes.
“I think Oz is in support of this.”
I glance at said man and shrug off Levi’s words. “I’m fine. Stop making this weird. And stop hovering over me like I’m having a nervous breakdown, and I need one of you to hold my hand.”
“We talk to Lorenzo,” Levi states. “And then we’re out.”
“I bet she has a ten-course meal waiting for us.”
Ozzy bows his head, making my stomach drop a bit, but Levi comes in for the rescue. “We didn’t agree to dinner.”
“Levi Wallace.”
My best friend moves his body to look over, giving me enough space to find Carina moving toward us. She moves with grace and elegance, dressed in a simple black dress held up by thin straps and ruffles that start at her hips and go down to mid-thigh. It doesn’t appear she threw too much effort into her appearance, but she’s stunning anyway.
Her dark brown hair is long and slightly curled as it bounces off her slim shoulders. She smiles, big and bright, and it’s then I remember Luisa teasing Levi about her older sister and how they may haveknowneach other in some way.
“I never thought I’d see you so grown up,” she surmises lightly, closing the distance between us.
“Why?” I hear him rumble in that deep voice of his. “Did you think I was going to die?”
She stops at Ozzy’s side, and I notice he doesn’t flinch back or move. “Not at all. I just thought you would’ve run away from all this by now.”
“I never run away.”
“I see that.” Her light copper eyes gleam up at him. “Still…a girl could’ve dreamed.”
About what?
“It’s good to see you, Carina,” Levi emits, not sounding at all annoyed, however, I’m beginning to. “I never thought I’d seen you so grown up and still living at home with your parents.”
