My phone buzzes on the desk with a text from the group chat with my brothers.
–Silas: So you’re dating Max?
–Me: Who told you?
–Silas: Frederich.
Fucking Frederich.
–Silas: He said you shared your dinner with a certain someone named Max.
–Finn: Picture me nodding. I saw them get out of the Cullinan together.
–Liam: I’m heartbroken I’m finding this out after Silas and Finn. And Frederich. Oh, and Angelo.
–Gideon: Don’t be too sad, because I don’t rank that high either.
–Me: Don’t be ridiculous. I’m a big believer in equality.
–Xavier: Equal hating.
–Me: :eye-roll-emoji: :shrug-emoji:
–Finn: Does Czarina know?
–Me: Not unless a certain busybody whose name starts with Fr told her.
–Xavier: Good. Max seems like a nice girl, and she doesn’t need any weird flak from Czarina.
–Gideon: Frederich could’ve betrayed you. He isn’t like us.
–Silas: Don’t worry. I told him he better shut it if he wants any of my French tarragon for his garden. His just died when his neighbor’s puppy dug his up.
I wince. That old man probably cried his heart out. He loves fresh French tarragon.
–Me: Thanks for watching my back. Anyway, yes, I’m with Max. After Czarina’s visit and pressure, I had no choice. And Dad’s shenanigans, too.
I give them a succinct summary of what she asked of me, then what Dad did with that threesome stripper.
–Liam: I have no words.
–Xavier: I’m sorry…but also glad he didn’t use my name.
–Me: Taking one for the bros.
–Liam: You always do.
A corner of my mouth lifts. It’s my pleasure, shielding my baby brothers.
–Me: By the way, Finn, could you take over my afternoon meetings?
–Finn: What’s up?
–Me: Just things to do.
–Gideon: Don’t go to Czarina unless she summons you. Nothing good will come from it. She wants nothing less than a virgin who bleeds blue for your wife.
–Me: She can wish until the sky turns green. I want to spend some quality time with Max.
