“You don’t have to decide anything tonight. But if you want us, want her, want this… we want you too.” Noah’s voice is quiet, a soft murmur.
Juliet’s hand returns to my thigh.
Callum wiggles his brows.
Orion smirks.
Elliot looks like he already knows the answer.
I swallow hard. My mind is already made up. I think it was from the moment I walked in.
“Let me help clear the dishes,” I say.
Juliet’s smile is all teeth.
I stand, start gathering plates with shaking hands.
“Leave the dishes,” Callum says, stepping in. “We’re having Juliet for dessert.”
Orion appears behind him, heat at my back, voice low. “Plates don’t whimper. Juliet does. Priorities.”
Juliet appears in front of him, takes the last dish, sets it down, and fists my shirt. “Kitchen’s closed. Open invitation starts now.”
All eyes are on me.
“I… da.”
I look at each of them.
Elliot’s patient.
Orion’s hungry.
Callum’s grinning.
Noah’s soft.
Juliet’s waiting.
Five people. Five reasons to say yes. Five reasons to be terrified.
But I’ve already decided.
I decided the moment she walked into the bakery. I decided the moment they made sharlotka. I decided the moment I realized I wasn’t alone anymore.
“Da,” I say. Then again, stronger, “Yes. Please.”
Callum fist-pumps.
Noah laughs wetly.
Orion growls something filthy in Russian he probably learned from my security footage.
Juliet smiles like she just won and I’m the prize. “Welcome home, baby. Now let us show you what family really means.”
Chapter Twenty
Juliet
