Lavender missed out on all these experiences, so we will date for as long as she wants and then have a grandiose wedding so my woman would feel like the fucking princess she is.
I’ve already requested Isabella to design an engagement ring for her.
A sapphire, of course.
“Can you honestly tell me that your relationship has nothing to do with what I’ve done to your family?”
Since my brother-in-law wishes to be so fucking honest… “Truthfully, whenever I think about what you did and plannedto do…a part of me urges me to kill you. Then I remind myself that my sister loves you, and you had your reasons.” A humorless chuckle rumbles from my throat. “I loved the idea of hurting you with Lavender. Our current relationship has nothing to do with it.”
Something akin to amusement flashes in his gaze. “Still, the idea brings you joy, doesn’t it?”
I grin. “Oh, yes.”
“Our sister is a grown woman who fought for her right to live her life as she wants. If you are what she wants, we have no say in it.” I look at Rafael, and he lifts his glass to me. “I would have preferred someone older and mature. Something tells me you’re all those things despite the numbers on your birth certificate though.”
“You can’t argue the age gap.” Wyatt points out, and Rush throws an apple at him. He catches it before it can smack him in the nose. “It’s the truth. The Wright siblings seem to have a thing for younger people.” He huffs when I shove him hard in the side. “The hell?”
“My woman doesn’t have a thing for anyone but me.”
“And we don’t have a thing for anyone but our women,” Rafael adds, pouring another glass and giving it to Rush. “Wrights are very loyal.”
“Possessive, are we?”
Well, since Wyatt wants to go there…
“I don’t know, you tell me. I’ve heard the object of your hate went on a date the other day.”
His relaxed demeanor changes at once, viciousness replacing it, and a certain coldness coats his voice as he says, “Interesting.”
You see, the thing about my friend?
He’s possessive of everything to do with Aurelia, and I sometimes wonder if the girl’s greatest sin was meeting Ian first.
And that’s what Wyatt cannot forgive her for.
“He’s her partner in some biology project. Nice guy.” His hold on the bottle tightens. If he puts any more pressure on it, he’s going to break the glass, and still I push. “Adored by women for being a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, he sounds like a saint.”
“I don’t care about whatever that is.” Rush interrupts our stare-off, and we turn our heads toward him. “Knowing my woman, she’s probably pacing outside, ridden with anxiety, about how this is playing out, and I despise anything that brings her discomfort.”
Rafael continues. “As long as we have an understanding, Levi, we will not interfere.”
I like how they word it as if it’s their choice, and for the first time tonight, I decide not to object.
I respect the men, so there is no need to enter into competitions of whose dicks are bigger.
“We do. If Lavender is unhappy, do whatever the fuck you want to me.”
Another long pause, and my brother-in-law finally extends his hand to me. I shake it, holding back a smile at his tight grip, which serves as a warning for the future but, for now, settles the brewing storm in their veins.
They love her. I can’t fault them for protecting her even if it’s no longer their job.
It’s solely mine.
“That’s it?” Wyatt clicks his tongue. “I have to admit all this is very anticlimactic. These two were sneaking around all over New York to keep this forbidden romance a secret, getting us all involved, and this is the reaction? Complete acceptance?” He sighs. “Disappointed doesn’t begin to cover it.”
Rafael finishes his drink. “What did you expect?”
