Surprised, I turn my attention away from the song Lyra is still pounding away at so I can look at Max. “Really?”
He grins back at me. “Really.” His grin turns to a soft laugh when Lyra hits an especially loud and abrasive note. “It’s going to break my heart a little bit if she’s tone deaf.”
When she does it again, Max grabs her, lifting her up so he can blow a raspberry on her stomach. She lets out a loud string of giggles that’s impossible to not smile at. I love seeing the pure joy that lights up her face, and I hope nothing in life ever dims it.
“Someone’s having fun,” Talia says, walking in and giving her husband and daughter a kiss before turning to me, obviously wanting details.
I fill her in as quickly as I can while they get ready to bring Lyra down for breakfast. She gives me a side hug when I say, “He looked really good on a surfboard.”
“Hang in there a little bit longer,” she tells me. “Then you’ll get to see him naked anytime you want.”
Max laughs from behind us. “It truly is one of the greatest perks of marriage.”
“It is,” Talia agrees.
We manage to get through breakfast without anyone noticing the looks that Damien and I keep sneaking to one another, but as soon as it’s over, Misha makes a point of telling me to go and pack my bags.
“Why?” I ask him. “I was going to stay with Allie again.”
“You’re coming with us,” Misha says, making it clear I don’t have a choice.
Yuri softens it by saying, “We want to show you the newest trail. Plus, Nyx misses you. She whined outside my door last night until I let her in so she could sleep next to Hex.”
I feel a sharp pang of guilt at my dog being so lonely and go to pack my bag. There’s no way for me to say no without it raising some serious suspicion. I have a feeling this is a test, like Misha is just waiting for me to put up a fight so he can pounce on it. Instead of giving him the satisfaction, I send Damien a quick textbefore I leave the room, letting him know I’ll figure out a way to get back here. Then I walk downstairs, acting like I don’t mind that I have to leave early.
I give Talia and Allie a hug and tell them to give Yulia my love when she finally wakes up and comes down. Then, I wave to the others and shout a quick bye. My eyes briefly catch Damien’s before I run out after my brothers like I don’t have a care in the world, like I didn’t just leave my heart behind me with him.
As much fun as it is to see my dog again and go racing through the woods with Misha and Yuri, my thoughts are with Damien, and the longer we’re apart, the more antsy I grow. When the sun sets, my brothers decide to go into the city, whether it’s to have fun or work, I don’t know. All I know is my babysitters have left, and I plan on taking full advantage of it.
Nyx follows me into the large media room my mom is in. I plop down onto the comfy leather couch next to her and rest my head on her shoulder.
“Hey, honey. How are you?” She wraps her arm around me and pulls the afghan over my legs so we’re both covered and cozy. My fingers run over the soft yarn. My grandma made it, just like the one on my bed, and every time I use them I think of her.
“I’m fine, Mom,” I tell her, but she hears something in my voice and ignores the show she’s watching so she can look over at me.
“What’s going on? I thought you were still staying at Allie’s. What made you come home early?”
“Misha and Yuri,” I say, trying not to sound as irritated by it as I feel.
She gives a soft laugh at my tone and kisses my forehead. “Uh-oh, are they getting a little too protective?”
“When aren’t they?” I mutter.
“They love you,” she reminds me. “I wish I’d had two brothers to look out for me when I was young.”
“I love them too, and I know I’m lucky to have them. I just really wanted to stay with Allie. I hate feeling like I’m left out of the fun.”
“What fun?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, just hanging out with everyone, I guess.”
“Does this maybe have something to do with the two very good-looking Melnikov visitors? Maybe one in particular?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I tell her, but she just laughs at my tone and runs her fingers through my hair.
“I used to be young too, you know,” she says. “I haven’t forgotten what it feels like.”
“You had freedom,” I remind her.
