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Relief that I can hug them once again.
Pain to acknowledge all the time lost in between.
But now they’re here.
My mother pushes me back. “Let’s look at you, shall we.”
“Don’t think we’re not mad at you for not calling while in Russia or letting us know you’re back in town,” my father lectures.
Tears well and spill over my cheeks, and they look between themselves, concerned. I wipe my eyes as I smile, trying not to alarm them. That’s when Dmitri comes up behind me and wraps his hand around my mid-section, pulling me into him. My safe space. A reminder that everything will be okay.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out and then try to calm my erratic heartbeat. “I’m really embarrassed for not calling sooner, and then time went on...”
“That’s not a good enough excuse,” My father says sternly.
“Patrick,” my mother reprimands and elbows him in the stomach.
“But at least we have her now,” Layla butts in.
Dmitri remains behind me, a solid foundation for my raging emotions. He presses a kiss to the top of my head. and my mother looks between us.
“I can’t say I’m surprised about you two, though.”
My eyebrows shoot up.
She rolls her eyes. “As if you two weren’t eye-fucking each other all throughout college.”
Layla and I snort on a mixed laugh. “Mom, did you just say eye-fucking?” Layla demands.
My father, however, seems unimpressed. In time, he’ll realize that Dmitri is my anchor. And although I will take this secret to the grave with me, they’ll see in due time how there is no other place for me to be other than Dmitri’s side.
“Would you like to come in for coffee?” I ask, gesturing for them to step inside. Because of all of this… this was the final piece I needed to try my best to heal and move on.
I look up at Dmitri, who seems awfully smug and impressed with himself, as my family walks into the entertainment room, and I close the door behind them.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” he grits, and I can’t help but notice my mother side glancing at him. He’s not wearing a shirt and is covered with bandages. An attempted alleyway robbery was the final verdict. But it doesn’t make it any less unsettling, I suppose. “I’m not overly fond of sharing you.”
I smile as I lean up on tippy toes in my slippers. The moment I do, he catches me by the elbow, taking the majority of my weight and any strain on my toes. Now that he knows, he instinctually helps me with ease. I press a kiss to his lips, falling harder than ever for this man.
My missing piece.
Even if I am a little broken.
Even if he is a little possessive.
Even when we have more obstacles to face.
We were in this together.
“Maybe you’ll get rewarded for this kind gesture afterward,” I whisper into his ear. His eyes darken, and I know exactly what he’s thinking. Parents or not, he wants to throw me over his shoulder and take me straight to the bedroom.
“You’re playing with fire, Cricket,” he warns.
“I’m not wearing any panties either.” I smile and try to hide the obvious arousal as I saunter away.
His gaze is hooded and dips straight to my ass, and I laugh. A belly laugh that I haven’t heard for the longest of times as I walk toward my family in the living room.
I would piece together these broken little pieces over time caused by a monster.
