Maybe I’m imagining things, but I swear Nik Sr. snorts.
Axel chokes on a laugh but covers it with a fake cough. “Right. Yes. So excited. For you and... Nikolai.”
He gives my waist a playful squeeze and releases me before walking off to hide his amusement.
I want to die.
Thankfully, the oven timer dings like a divineintervention.
“Food’s ready!” Maryanne announces. “Everyone find a seat.”
Sasha insists I sit next to her so we can get to know each other. Nik takes the seat on my other side and discreetly squeezes my hand under the table.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, eyes twinkling.
“No, you’re not,” I mutter, calling him out.
He grins. Wide and utterly unrepentant. “Yeah. I’m really not.”
I shake my head, trying not to match his smile, but it’s a losing battle.
The rest of dinner passes uneventfully. Sasha turns out to be warm, intelligent, and surprisingly easy to talk to. She's clearly curious about me, but she’s kind about it, not interrogative. And once I relax a little, it’s actually nice. Every time our fingers brush or Nik nudges my knee with his under the table, my heart stumbles a little.
I love being acknowledged as Nik’s girlfriend. But I want everyone to know I’m Axel’s, too. I know our dynamic may raise eyebrows. I get that it’s complicated. Maybe even controversial. But the thought of having to hide what I feel for one of them, of having to make Axel feel like a dirty little secret, makes my stomach twist. I won’t do that. Not to him. Not to either of them. But that’s a conversation for the future.
The food is incredible. We gorge ourselves on ham, roasted vegetables, a variety of casseroles, and warm, buttery bread that melts in my mouth. By the time we finish, I’m seriously considering undoing the top button on my skirt.
Chapter 34
After dinner, we settle into the living room to exchange gifts. Ben is over-the-top ecstatic about his new phone holder and Bluetooth speaker combo, immediately trying it out with a basketball highlight reel. Maryanne tears up when she opens the recipe binder. She runs her fingers over the strawberry-covered cover like it’s a long-lost heirloom. The matching photo box for the originals nearly pushes her over the edge.
I’m absolutely floored when they hand me a large wrapped box of my own. Inside is a brand-new laptop.
“It’s for college,” Ben explains. “A graduation-slash-Christmas combo gift.”
I stare down at the laptop, speechless. “Thank you,” I manage, but my voice cracks a little. “Seriously. Thank you both so much.”
“I’ll cry again if you cry,” Maryanne warns with a watery smile.
Once we’re excused, I rush upstairs to grab the gifts I’ve stashed for the guys. Axel and Nik follow me to my room while Johnny heads into his. The space between us still hurts, but it’s becoming more manageable.
As soon as the door clicks shut behind us, Axel sucker punches Nik in the gut.
“Axel!” I shriek as Nik doubles over and drops to his knees.
“What the fuck, man?” Nik wheezes, clutching his middle.
“That’s for claiming our girlfriend without a teamhuddle, asshole,” Axel mutters, entirely unfazed.
Nik coughs, still grimacing. “Could’ve just sent a text.”
“Wait… am I actually your girlfriend?” This feels like a major group decision I wasn’t looped in on.
“Yes,” they both answer in perfect unison.
The matching looks they give me are deadly serious.
Okay, then. Guess I’m a girlfriend.
