Page 21 of Sexting my Bratva Daddies

Mom appeared in the frame, nudging Joey out of the way. “You look tired. Are you sleeping? What are you eating for dinner?”

I showed her my plate, doing my best not to roll my eyes when she huffed. “I’m sleeping fine. And there’s nothing wrong with my dinner.” Even though I also had to hide my disgust at the chicken salad sandwich I’d picked up from the local deli. It wasn’t great, but it would be fine.

“You look–”

“Maggie.” Dad walked up behind Mom, all six feet of him slow and unhurried, the same way he’d been my entire life. He gave me a quiet look and a quick wink while wrapping his arms around Mom’s waist and resting his chin on top of her head. “How’s work, Pumpkin?”

“Good.” An image of Misha’s arms banding around my waist slid through my mind. I drank some wine and banished the thought. “It’s busy, which is nice.”

Brandy, my oldest sister, claimed the chair beside Mom. At twenty-nine and perfectly proportioned, she moved through the world with an easy confidence I’d spent most of my life faking. “You’re distracted. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

She harrumphed and swatted at Joey when he tried to steal her wine. “Try saying that without wincing.” Brandy stood and chased Joey around the table, shooing him into his seat with a flap of her hands she’d learned while herding chickens.

I was surrounded by people who knew me too well, even if they were on the other side of a screen.

That was what happened when you grew up as the middle child in a house full of people who treated oversharing like a competitive sport.

Must be why I struggled now that I was on my own. “How are things there?”

The distraction worked, instantly launching everyone into a detailed explanation of everything that I’d missed.

Brandy had a new job she loved. Joey had won his latest track meet.

Mom and Dad were considering taking a vacation, though the location was up for debate.

“You could come to New York. I’d love to show you around.” I leaned forward, suddenly enamored with the idea. “Mom, you’d love some of the shops.”

I ached, sometimes, realizing how distance could make a place feel bigger and more lonely than ever. I wrapped both hands around my wine glass, ignoring my sandwich, and let the sounds of home wrap around me.

“Tell us something good.” Mom leaned forward, the question bringing the conversation toward a close.

She did this every time before we hung up.

My mind went straight to all the things I absolutely could not say. “I have plans tomorrow night, with some new friends.”

“Oh?” Mom lit up. “Who?”

“People from work.” I left it at that. She’d worried about my coming to the big city on my own. Work friends were better than no friends, and she accepted that… for now.

“About time.” Joey rocked back in his chair and waved both hands. “I have to go do homework. See you next week, P.”

“Bye, Rugrat.” I waved at him, then kissed my fingertips and pressed them to the edge of the screen. “Bye, Mom. Dad. Love you all. Give each other a hug for me.”

“Will do.” Dad ruffled Joey’s hair with his knuckles, making my younger brother yelp and take off at a sprint. “Take care of yourself, Pumpkin.”

“I will.” Tears threatened, but I pushed them back the way I always did. I loved New York too much to run back home. This was where I belonged. I ended the call and closed my eyes, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes and taking a deep breath in the sudden silence. My phone buzzed, and I lunged for it, my breath catching as I checked the address Misha sent me.

I could message them, let them know I was free tonight.

No.

I was not showing up in the middle of the night. I was not going to be the woman who came running the second they gave a signal. Whatever this was, whatever it might become, I refused to be a booty call. So I closed the app and went to bed.

The next day at work killed me slowly.

It started with Viktor. He passed my desk on his way from the elevators and paused long enough to set a folder in the wire rack I used as a physical inbox. “You look rested today.” His voice pitched low, despite it only being the two of us in the room. “I like that color on you.” He walked away, whistling.