I can live with what happened to me, accepting and moving on from my past.
I can’t live with the regret of losing Levi, though, and hiding this relationship when I should be shouting from the rooftops that an amazing man like him wants me.
A certain weight lifts from my chest, and I inhale air into my lungs, warmth and happiness spreading through me in spades as my mind finally settles.
“I won’t regret it. I’m happy to be here.”
In more ways than one.
Levi
I enter my family home, and one of the butlers greets me, beaming at me. “Mr. Scott, you’re home. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“We’ve been at this for a while now, Theodore. Call me Levi.”
The older man wrinkles his nose, the groove between his brows deepening, and he scowls at me like I suggested the highest offense. I grew up with the guy, but his love for rules has him acting as if I’m an entitled, spoiled brat who makes older people cater to their every whim. “I could never.” He comes closer and lowers his voice. “Between the two of us, young man, your parents were very upset with your absence.” He taps on the bucket of roses in my hand. “That’s a good idea.”
I barely hold back my laughter because my parents were never upset with us. In fact, I’m not sure such a word exists in their vocabulary.
To be upset, you need to be disappointed, and that’s another word I can’t imagine my parents using when it comes to us.
Maybe because we grew up with certain things drilled into us from a very young age, so we always knew what specific lines could never be crossed.
My father is not a man you ever want to go against, even if you’re his child.
Above all else, though, they raised us with love. That love was hard to understand for me but it saved me from spiraling into madness and becoming a blood-hungry demon ready to take out his frustration on anyone as long as it fed into my sadistic desires. “Don’t worry about it. I have my ways.”
A clicking of heels echoes, followed by someone slamming into me from behind, and Aileen’s familiar scent envelops me as she wraps her arms around my waist and presses her cheek to my shoulder. “He’s trying to imply he’s their favorite,” shegrumbles, and steals a cookie from the tray Theodor is holding. It must be afternoon teatime before the family dinner tonight.
“Imply? It’s a fact,” I tease her as we both know our parents don’t have favorites, and chuckle when she pinches me hard. “Don’t be jealous. It’s a sin.”
“I think the ship of me being a saint has sailed. And I’m not jealous!”
“Theodore, please bring the mirror. Someone is turning green.”
Among us all, Aileen has the biggest competitive streak, so it became a habit of mine to ruffle her feathers.
Helped her and her genius brain to loosen up too.
“By someone, do you mean you? I’m the firstborn, remember? That gives me a certain privilege over you, younger brother.”
“I’m older than you, princess.”
“Still doesn’t change my title,” she replies smugly, and snatches one more cookie that she polishes in record time. She’s addicted to those.
Back when she was still pursuing ballet professionally and before her injury that put a stop to her dream, I used to sneak cookies into rehearsals and give them to her so no one would know.
I’d do anything for my sister. All she has to do is ask.
“Theodore, where is the mirror?” She kicks me from behind, and I laugh. “Quick. Bring the chocolate. This will push the green monster back.”
The butler rolls his eyes at us, and then says sternly, “You two get yourself together and greet your parents properly instead of acting foolish. I’m going to bring them tea. They are in the living room.” With this, he dashes off, leaving us standing alone in the hallway, and Aileen moves around so she can stand in front of me.
She’s wearing a blue dress that matches her eyes, and I sigh dramatically. “Where is your beast, beauty?”
She’s so easy to tease and still blushes despite that fucker touching and claiming her left and right.
The reminder sours my mood.
