An extremely big step if we think about how we’ve technically only been dating for nearly three months. But everything between us three has been moving so quickly, and I know what Gabe and I feel for Veronica is real. So, why wait?
Holy shit, now I get why Silas was so quick to get settled down with Cecilia.
She begins to lather her hair with shampoo, eyes closed, and face angled toward the ceiling. “I do, but I think we’re at that stage. It’s either buying a house or having a baby, and I am not ready for that one just yet.”Good to know she wants this to keep moving forward as well.
She stops moving, opening her eyes and looking intensely at me. “Unless you think you’ll get tired of me at some point and move on.”
I furrow my brows, taking a quick step toward her and bringing her close by the hips. “Absolutely not. Never. You’ve made us yours, Veronica, and that’s forever. Just like we’ve made you ours. Forever.”
She gazes deep into my eyes, comprehension and devotion blazing through hers. “Forever.”
Forty-five minutes later, we’re finally heading down for breakfast, where Gabe waits for us. Veronica goes up to Gabe, throwing herself in his arms as he catches her with a laugh. Her legs circle his waist, arms going around his neck as she smacks her lips against his, then pulls away just as quickly.
“Good morning to you, Vixen.” He laughs at her enthusiasm.
“Good morning, Pretty Boy. We’re buying a house!” She beams at him.
His eyes widen with excitement. “We are?” He looks from Veronica to me as I nod. He laughs again, grabbing her by the nape and crushing his mouth to hers. “Fuck yeah, we are!”
Blubber pops out from behind Gabe’s legs and sits by his feet, meowing for attention. Gabe puts Veronica down, and she instantly drops to the floor to cuddle the hairless cat. “Good morning to you, too, Blubs.”
She peppers his head with kisses, and I swear he looks at us smugly every time she does that, as if he’s saying,“Ha-ha, see? She loves me more.”
She lifts him in her arms, cuddling him to her chest. “Did you have a good night’s sleep? I bet you did. You’re such a good boy keeping Daddy company. And did you hear the good news? We’re going to have a new home! Maybe even a big backyard where we’ll be able to let you play in the yard. I’m sure you’ll like that a lot.”
She stretches out her arms, holding him between her hands. “God, aren’t you just the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen? Look at this cute little outfit!” she gushes, looking over the knitted sweater he’s wearing that looks like a tuxedo. “My handsome little boy.”
Ever since the nice lady at the shelter told us all we needed to know about Sphynx cats and how they get cold easily and need to be kept warm, Gabe and Veronica have made it their mission to buy every single little outfit they can find that will keep his hairless body warm. He even has a heating pad under a blanket in his little kitty house. I swear, that thing is way too spoiled already.
“Green smoothie?” Gabe asks Veronica as she sets Blubber back on the ground.
“Please.” She grins and watches him get to work on their daily drink as well as breakfast.
Suddenly her phone chimes twice on the counter, and we all freeze. It’s pretty much become our usual reaction every time her phone goes off. We’re constantly waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Victor hasn’t made a single appearance since the night in the penthouse, and we’re all getting agitated. We have no idea what he’s planning next, and I refuse to believe he simply gave up. Whatever he’s plotting now is much bigger, I can feel it.
She tentatively picks it up and unlocks the screen. Within seconds, her shoulders drop, and she lets out a sigh, an indication that it’s not from him. “Just the girls asking if they should bring anything over later,” she informs us as another notification comes in, her brows furrowing as she reads the message.
“What is it?” I step forward, fearing the worst.
“It’s from Julian, he says he’s on his way…” She drops her phone on the counter and looks up with a worried expression. “Do you think he found something?”
“We’ll have to wait until he gets here to find out.” I play with her hair, hoping to soothe her as best as I can.
Just then, the elevator dings its arrival, and Julian strides into the penthouse, coming over to us with a laptop in his grasp like he owns the place. “Good morning, everyone.”
“Wow, that was quick.” Gabe blinks.
I frown when I realize this is the second time he’s entered the penthouse without even needing us to authorize him up. “How did you get in?”
“My brother is not the only smart hacker in the family. I know my way around a simple keycard scanner,” he says, clearly annoyed with us already.I wonder what bit this guy in the ass. Whatever it is, it’s constantly biting.“And I am fairly certain I announced my arrival before entering. I am not quite sure where this confusion iscoming from.” He turns to Gabe with a frown.
“He just meant we thought you were on your way from your home, or office, or whatever. Not that you were on your wayup,” Veronica clarifies for us.
“Ah.” He nods. “I can see where there may have been a miscommunication. Apologies.” He sits down at the kitchen island, without asking, I may add, and opens his laptop.Why the hell does he always talk like that? As if he’s so superior to us all. It grates my nerves.
He types at his keyboard for a few seconds, then slides the laptop over to the next stool. “Veronica, I’d like you to go over these images, please.” She quickly comes around the island and sits down in front of the computer, scrolling down through more pictures of people I don’t recognize.
