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By midnight, everyone was asleep but Mila and me. My sister cuddled up with me on the couch as we munched on the pan of brownies Mom made us before going to bed because I’d been craving them like crazy. The others had already been passed out for an hour or more by that time.
The front door opened, and Maverick walked in, smelling like booze and perfume. I lifted my head, frowning at my brother. “Were you at Hannigans’?”
“Yeah.” He walked over and sat down between Mila and me. Taking Mila’s fork, he scooped up a large bite of brownie and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Why do you smell like cheap hookers?” Mila demanded, eyeing our brother suspiciously.
Maverick clenched his jaw and glanced at River, who was sound asleep in front of the TV beside Nova. “Some of the sheep showed up. They were all over your future brother-in-law, and since I was standing beside him and Lyric, they rubbed against me. I swear I didn’t touch anyone. And neither did Lyric or Gian.”
“I didn’t think G did,” I said, taking another bite of the best brownies in the world.
“I wasn’t worried about Lyric,” Mila grumbled. “Just wondering if I needed to put you in the witness protection program or something so River doesn’t murder your dumb ass.”
“Ha-fucking-ha. I would cut off my own cock if I ever did something like that to River.” He kissed my cheek and stood. “I need a shower. Don’t stay up too late. You don’t want to be zombies for your own wedding.”
We sat there quietly until we heard his bedroom door shut, then I felt my chin begin to tremble. “I’m really going to miss him.”
“Ah, Mon.” Mila wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You said you and Gian agreed to split your time between Italy and Creswell Springs. You’ll see him—and me—plenty.”
“I know, but I’m still going to miss you both so much.” I leaned into her, fighting the tears. If I started crying, I knew my eyes would be all bloodshot and swollen come morning, and I couldn’t marry Gian looking like that. Thanks to the makeup artist Aunt Emmie had coming in the next morning, the faint black eye I still had would be completely covered.
“We’re going to miss you too,” she murmured. “The whole point in you going to Rome for the summer was so you wouldn’t be so far away for college. Now you’re going to be halfway around the world for six months out of the year. What am I supposed to do without you, baby sis?”
I swallowed the lump clogging my throat and held on to her tightly without answering. The idea of living in Tuscany had been great until reality set in and I realized I was going to be without the rest of the people I loved so much. With everyone not making me choose between them and Gian, it made moving away more bitter than sweet. I got them both without having to sacrifice anyone, but I wasn’t so sure I wanted to live so far away.
“Come on,” Mila said a short time later. “Let’s go.”
I didn’t even question her as she linked our fingers, and we walked upstairs. Instead of going into either of our rooms, she walked into Maverick’s. He was already sprawled on the bed, his hair wet, dressed in nothing but a pair of boxers.
He lifted his head, already half asleep. “What’s wrong?”
“One last group cuddle,” Mila told him as she climbed into his bed on the left, and I took the right side.
He rolled onto his back, opening his arms for us, and we pillowed our heads on his shoulders. Maverick kissed each of our foreheads and then promptly fell asleep.
Laughing softly, we linked hands over our brother’s stomach and closed our eyes.
That was where Mom found us the next morning when she came to wake us up for breakfast. “I’m framing this picture and putting it on the wall in the living room,” she said in a voice that quivered as she snapped picture after picture of the three of us sleeping in Maverick’s bed.
“Ah, look at this cuteness,” River teased as she came into the room with a glass of orange juice in hand. “But I’m seriously pissed at you two. I have a stiff back and sore neck from sleeping on the floor, and you had a nice soft bed to rest in all night.”
“Sorry, not sorry,” Mila said with a grin as she sat up. Then she saw the clock and screamed. “Holy shit, I’m getting married in like four hours. I have to get ready. Shit, shit, shit.”
“Be careful,” Mom cautioned when Mila started to jump to her feet. “You have plenty of time. The makeup artist and the hairstylist Emmie hired for the day aren’t even supposed to be here for another two hours.”
“I feel so fat today,” Mila moaned as she touched her slightly distended stomach. She was two weeks further along than I was, but she was showing a hell of a lot more than I was already. “I’m never going to fit into that dress.”
“Yes, you will,” Mom soothed. “Come on. You just need some breakfast. Monroe, I want you to let Mav help you up. Okay? I don’t want you to fall.”
Downstairs, Nova, River, and Tavia were already gorging on homemade cinnamon rolls. Or at least, Nova was. Tavia was only picking at hers, looking at the delicious goodness with a green tinge to her face.
“You’re pregnant!” I exclaimed, and her cheeks turned pink as she nodded.
“We just found out last week,” she confessed with a smile. “I told Raven yesterday, and she was so happy.”
“Damn, all these chicks are preggos,” Maverick complained as he stole Tavia’s roll and destroyed it in two bites. His gray eyes went to River, and he shook his head. “These three better be the only ones.”
She rolled her eyes. “Forget to glove up again, and you’re going to be more than just Uncle Mav, dummy.”
