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I paused a moment, and Mina listened intently. “I would’ve given anything to be normal. And around you, I feel normal.” I laid my hand against her cheek and ran my thumb over her jawline. “I’ve never had ordinary. You gave me that. I plan on repaying you what I owe you for the rest of my life.”
She leaned into my hand and closed her eyes. “We saved each other.” She opened her eyes and glanced at me lovingly. “I think we can call it even, sweetie.”
Perhaps she was right. Perhaps we were destined to find each other. Either way, I would do everything in my power to make sure Mina had a full and happy life. Just as she’d given to me.
***
My phone chirped and I pulled it out of my pocket to read the message.
Nas: Get over here. We need to talk. PRIVATELY.
I turned to look over at Mina and Lidi, who sat on the floor watching a children’s movie on the television. They were apart but holding hands.
My throat constricted.
I didn’t want to leave, but Nastasia was my sister. She was important to me and when she called on me, I would be there.
Standing, I stilled when Mina turned to look back at me. “Be back soon. Nas needs me.”
Mina blew me a kiss and I took it with me as I walked out the front door and made the short journey to my sister’s house.
She was waiting for me at the front door, holding it open. With a wave of her arm, she said, “Get in here.”
It sounded serious. Nas was rarely short with me and right now, she seemed annoyed. I made my way up the steps and as I crossed the threshold of her home, I stated, “Something’s wrong.”
She puffed out a long breath, walking through to her dining room and taking a seat. “Yeah, something’s wrong, Lev.” She jerked her chin, motioning for me to take a seat, so I did.
“What is it?” I asked carefully.
Nas sat back in her chair and uttered softly, “Do you love Mina?”
My face turned hard. What an idiotic question. “Of course I love Mina.”
What was this about?
My heart pounded. When things came to Mina, I didn’t mess around. “What’s going on, Nas?”
Then she said something I wasn’t expecting. Here eyes sad, she muttered, “I’m a little disappointed in you.”
The pounding in my chest increased. “Why?”
My sister shook her head. “The public proposal was cute, Lev. It was you down to a T.” She shook her head. “But I was hoping you’d step outside your box, get down on one knee and ask Mina in a way that would make her feel special.”
I lowered my face, momentarily lost in thought and when I raised my head to look at her again, I asked, “Do you think Mina would like that? A proposal?”
Nas smiled gently and told me, “Every woman wants a proposal she can tell her kids about.”
Children? With Mina?
I liked that idea.
Yes. A proposal.
I could do that.
My mind made up, I leaned forward slightly and queried, “What do I need to do?”
Nas grinned then. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Mina
Something was up.
I wasn’t sure what exactly but Lev was acting distracted and kind of off, even for him.
When I asked him what was wrong, he shook his head and muttered something about having too much on his mind. I told him he could talk to me and when he turned to me and smiled, he stated that he would talk when it was needed.
I trusted Lev with every piece of me and if he told me not to worry, I would try my hardest not to. But I loved him, which meant I would go ahead and worry anyways.
It was Sunday and after having a predictably late Saturday night at the club, Lev woke to get his workout in and although part of me wanted to be the early bird, the other part of me didn’t give a flipping flip if I got the worm or not.
I was tired and because of that, I slept my way through to eleven thirty, and Lev would be arriving back from his run at anytime now.
Walking my sleepy ass down the stairs, I shuffled into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee. I’d taken the first sip when Lidiya came into the kitchen, an empty Sippy cup hanging from her hang while the other one rubbed her tired little eyes, and she whined. “No nap. No nap.” Then she stomped one little foot.
Mirella followed her in. “Lidi, sweetheart, you’re tired. And when you’re tired, you need a nap.” Mirella rolled her eyes slightly and smiled in a way that read ‘kids, huh?’
Lidi was already at my side, holding up her arms and without hesitation, I picked her up, rocking her from side-to-side and kissing her forehead lovingly. Her eyes were already starting to close when Lev walked in from the back door. And when he spotted me, holding Lidi, rocking her grumpy self to sleep, his eyes went warm.
