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"You've ordered all the equipment already haven't you?" I guessed.
Neither of them flinched or even batted an eye.
"Not all of it," Mannix said. "We need to get a builder in here to fit everything out and do the measurements before we finalise everything. We haven't even agreed on the right shade of blue to paint the inside yet."
"Maybe I don't want blue," I said.
"You don't like blue?" Mannix asked.
"I like blue, I just haven't had a chance to think about anything like that."
He slipped his arm around me. "That's what we're for. To take the stress off your shoulders."
The stress they put there.
"Maybe I should leave the setting up of that side of the business to you," I said. I might as well surrender it now, I had no hope of them stepping back from this. Did I?
"We're happy to help." Ice smiled. "What do you think about an indoor swimming pool?"
"I don't think the space is big enough." I couldn't say he wasn't ambitious. "But before you say it, this space is fine. Don't go running off finding me something bigger. Okay?"
They both looked as cagey as fuck and didn't answer.
Wonderful.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kennedy
"Leo and I are thinking about bringing the wedding forward," Mum declared at dinner.
I stopped with my fork halfway to my mouth.
Mannix looked vaguely interested, but Ice and Ares didn't even pause in their eating.
I supposed it wasn't their family, not exactly. Them living here was only supposed to be temporary. No one mentioned when they were moving out again, that I knew of. They both seemed very much at home. Honestly, I was used to having them both around. I was in no hurry for them to go.
I lowered my fork. "I thought you had most of the plans made already?"
"We do, but a lot of them are flexible and those that aren't…" She turned out her hand, unconcerned.
It was only money, after all.
"Can't wait any longer huh?" Mannix asked. He glanced at me like being his step sister sooner would make our relationship spicier.
"We thought we'd waited long enough, so why wait any longer?" Mum said.
"It's only a few months," I pointed out.
"I know," she said lightly. "But look at this man. How could any woman wait any longer?" She gave him a long, loving look. It was adorable, in a sickening kind of way. I mean, she was my mother. I wanted her to be happy, but I didn't want to witness too many PDAs.
Leo, in a dark blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a chunky watch on his wrist, looked like an older version of Mannix. The hair at his temples showed a hint of grey, and his eyes were lined in a way that suggested he smiled often. He'd be attractive if he wasn't my boyfriend's father and my mother's fiancé. If Mannix looked half as good as him at his age, we'd all be winning.
"I know I wouldn't wait," Ice said. "Life is way too short to wait for things."
"That's deep, bro," Ares said.
Ice cocked his head at him. "Isn't it? It's true though."
