AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Not even as Maximoff joins us.
“Daddy!” Ripley bounds for my older brother on unbalanced little legs. My nephew hoists his arms up at his dad.
Moffy lifts his son high against his chest, perching him up so he’s eye-level. “I missed you, little guy.”
“Me tooph, Daddy,” Ripley tries to enunciate slowly.
“You hungry?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head, still bashful at the full room. “I-I ate stwabewwies.” He nestles into the crook of Moffy’s neck.
I’d think it’s super cute, but I’m in an internal panic. Time to go. “Farewell, all earthly dwellers.” I flash a Vulcan salute, about to make a quick exit to my room.
“Wait,” Donnelly catches my wrist, stopping me.
My heart flip-flops, and the warmth of his hand tingles my flesh. His touch still sparks electric currents through my body. It still overwhelms me, and I’m so glad that hasn’t changed with our relationship status.
“I came here to talk to you,” he breathes.
Oh right. I stay put.
He checks the time on his black wristwatch. More in a hurry. “Xander hasn’t really left the house.”
A sad fact. He’s been majorly avoiding Donnelly…and me, to an extent. Since my brother hasn’t needed a bodyguard, Donnelly hasn’t had much of a chance to even speak to him.Give him spaceseems to be our motto, but I’m not sure how much it’s helping.
Donnelly continues, “He’s planning on working out at home with Thatcher and Banks, so I’m being shifted to Jane’s detail, and Thatch said she’s in wedding planner mode. She’s supposedly checking out a venue for a bride.” Why does he seem nervous? He stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I just wanted to know if you’d like to come with me.”
I blink. “To hang out on Jane’s detail?”
“That’s not strange at all,” Charlie says with pinched brows.
Donnelly ignores him. “I dunno what you’re up to today, but if you’re free, I could use the company.”
He wants to be in my company, unearthly reader. He is seeking me out, even though we’re not supposed to be intimately together.
“I’m free all day.” Excitement bubbles. “Let me just get my wallet and stuff—”
“Are you asking her out on a date?” Charlie asks him accusingly.
“Nah, just a casual friend thing.” He’s still very cool about it.
Charlie inspects him, then Moffy, then me. Back to Moffy. “You really think it’s wise for your sister to go out withhim?”
That stings.
Maximoff adjusts Ripley in his arms. “It’s fine, Charlie. Just let them be.”
Just let them be.I never really thought Moffy would bethissupportive of me and Donnelly, and I can’t calm my mushrooming smile.
“Fine?” Charlie is wide-eyed. “He’s attachedto people whoattackedmy twin brother, probably because they believed he’s fucking Beckett. What do you think they’ll do to Luna if they see he’d rather fuck her?”
“Jesus Christ, Charlie,” Moffy cringes. “Can younottalk like that around my kid? And me.”
“Forfuck’s sake,” Charlie doubles down. “The least of the laundry-list of problems here is me talking about your sister having sex with a bodyguard.”
Donnelly jumps in, “We’renottogether.” He pries out those words from his core, and pain blooms inside me.
We’re not together.
