Concern, along with rage, flashes on his features as he cups my cheeks, rubbing the tear away with his thumb. “What is it,moy cvetochek? Who hurt you?”
“I did. I hurt you. I’m sorry.”
His mouth curves into a smile as his blue eyes melt. I wish for him to look at me like this forever, so that it would drive out all the cold within me. “Nothing hurts me,moy cvetochek.” He kisses me on the forehead. “Don’t cry. I become murderous when I see your tears.”
A laugh tickles my throat. “I thought everything made you murderous.”
“That’s true. But when my woman cries, it’s a whole different level of rage.”
A gasp, followed by glass hitting the floor, echoes through the space, bursting my self-created bubble, and I swing my head toward the sound, seeing Aileen and Emmaline blink rapidly at us.
While my brothers stand behind them, the tension emanating from them polluting the air so much that I can almost touch their anger.
To my surprise, Lachlan and Valencia stay calm and unfazed as they continue to eat the cake.
“You and Lavender?” Aileen asks, wiggling her finger between us. “Oh my God. I should have known that. You acted so weird when it came to her.” The girls squeal in excitement and run to me, ripping me away from Levi’s arms and hugging me. “This is so exciting.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
I barely listen to what they say, since my whole focus is on my brothers, who remain silent, so I free myself from the women. I clear my throat and find the bravery to do something I was unable to do at eighteen.
Claim my right to live a life and love whoever I choose.
“Levi and I are together. It’s serious, and I won’t change my mind.”
My brothers share a long look, probably once again communicating in their annoying twin way, and my heart plummets when Rush asks, “How long has this been going on?”
“For almost two months.”
“Two months,” Rafael repeats. “And in all this time, you hadn’t found a better way to break the news to us?”
Shame sinks into me, yet I refuse to give it any power. “I don’t remember you both breaking the news to me about your relationships. You just informed me about them.”
“That’s different.”
“Because I’m a crazy person?”
“We never once called you that, so stop. It’s disrespectful to you and us.” Rafael’s stern voice puts me in my place since he’s right. “Would you please leave us alone with Levi? We’d like to talk to him in private.”
Anger sweeps over me. “You have to be kidding me. It’s my life, and you want to discuss it with him?”
“Yes,” they reply in unison, and Rush continues, “It’s your life, but we have a right to speak to him.” Why does it sound like all they want to do is beat his ass for being with me?
My brothers would never take their anger out on me, but Levi is fair game.
I open my mouth to argue when Levi grabs my elbow and catches my chin, turning my head to him. “Let me talk to them. It was long overdue.” He presses his index finger to my lips. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“This makes me some kind of a trophy, then?”
“The best kind,moy cvetochek.” He kisses me on the nose. “Just wait for me outside. As soon as we’re done, I’ll take you home, and you can tell me all about your reunion night.” Another kiss, and he nudges me gently to the door, where the women join me, hot on my heels.
Before I know it, I’m in the hallway, and the living room door shuts behind us all as I’m still fuming, annoyed with Levi as well.
“Lavender.” I freeze at Valencia’s voice, and her vanilla scent fills my space when she grabs my shoulders. “Everything will be okay.”
My cheeks heat because this woman has been kind to us all despite the mayhem our family caused her, and we keep creating problems for her. One of my fears rears its head, so the question spills out before I can put a leash on it. “Are you mad? About Levi and me?” A nervous laughter escapes me. “You probably wished for someone else for him.”
“What nonsense. I wished for him to be happy with whoever he chooses. And since he chose you, it means you are the right person.” She lifts my chin and winks at me. “Loving Scott men is a whole journey, so welcome to the club.”
