“You might as well have.”
Ivan averts his gaze, apparently finding the island more interesting. Though I can see his interest in the argument waning, as if there isn’t an active problem he needs to address right now.
With a breath, he murmurs, “I’ll have some things brought for you…clothes, essentials, whatever you need.”
The sudden change catches me off guard, and I huff. “What, that’s it? You’re done talking?”
Those blue eyes meet mine again, making it exceptionally clear that he won’t expend more of his energy on the topic. “We’re going in circles.”
He isn’t wrong, but that doesn’t mean I want to accept that this is as far as we’re taking this discussion, especially since I’ve made zero progress here.
“And you bringing me clothes is supposed to make everything better?”
Standing up a bit straighter now, Ivan grabs his coffee again, gripping his phone precariously in the same hand. “We’re going somewhere in a few days, and you’ll need something to wear.”
Immediately, my pulse spikes, and alarms start going off in my head. “Where?”
“Relax,” he murmurs, far too casual about all of this. “It’s just a baby shower.”
At first, I assume I misheard him, but given how unfazed he looks, I know he means it. I stare at him in utter disbelief.
“What?”
“It’s a baby shower for my sister,” Ivan repeats. “A small, harmless get together.”
“Right…a baby shower,” I echo stupidly, not knowing what else to say. The whole thing doesn’t make any sense.
“Yes.”
Searching for any sign that he’s joking, I don’t find a single one. He’s being completely serious, which only brings me more questions.
“So after all of this, with you not letting me go, without telling me what you really want, you’re taking me to a baby shower for your sister…”
“Yes. I can say it again if you need me to.”
I glare at him then, irritated by his flippant attitude, while my stomach clenches at the idea of being around more Lukovs.
“Why?”
Ivan takes a deep, painstaking breath, like he wishes I’d talk about anything else right now. “Because it’s important and all of us are supposed to be there.”
“I’m not your family, so why do I have to be there?”
“You might not be, but since you’re with me, you’re going, and you’ll behave,” he says, making it sound like I’m just a dog that needs to obey.
I bristle before I can stop it. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’ll be polite, and you won’t try to run,” Ivan says, leaving no room for argument.
“And if I don’t listen?” I question, eyes narrowing, pushing more than I should now.
A shadow moves across his features, giving me all the warning I need. “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”
He’s right, I don’t. But that doesn’t mean any part of me wants to sit back and take it.
I swallow, silently hoping he doesn’t catch it.
“You’re my responsibility now,” Ivan says with a deliberate step closer, lowering his voice. “Try making this easier on both of us.”
