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“I never wanted you involved in this life. And that’s the path you’ll take getting involved with them. I think it’s a mistake.”
My temper flares, and I stomp it down. She has every right to worry. “You got involved when you started working for the Poletti’s, and they’ve treated you damn good this whole time. How can you have an opinion like that about them?”
“They have,” Mom agrees. “But I’m not thinking about having a relationship with any of them. Especially with a name like the Orlovs.”
“They aren’t like their dad,” I argue. “Alexey and Dmitri are a million times the man that Viktor was. I need you to believe me when I say that this is what I want.”
“What happened to not wanting to get involved with anyone?”
“That was before I saw what they had to offer,” I say quietly. “It started the night of Les’ wedding. They never pushed, but they made sure I knew they were thinking about me. They accept me forme. All of them do. They make all the shit that happened with Travis disappear. They make me feel like I’m worth it.”
Mom grabs my hands. “You are worth it.” She sighs. “I want you happy, and I can tell by the way your face lights up that they do that. You’re just going to have to give me time to adjust. I was around during Viktor. I need to rewire how I see the Orlovs.”
“So, it’s not that I’m dating five guys?”Possibly six.“It’s because I’m dating the Orlov twins?”
“I need to adjust to it all. Maybe if you let me meet them, it will help.”
“You want to meet them?”
“I want to meet the men who put that sparkle back in your eyes.”
Emotion rushes to the surface. I thought I hid how much Travis really hurt me, but I should have known Mom would see right through it. “They’re perfect, Mom. I’ve never felt so alive.”
“Then invite them for dinner. It’s still early enough.”
I choke on a laugh. “I think we may need to wait on that.” I couldn’t bring them around Mom right now. Not with Grant breathing down our necks. And I don’t even know if they want to meet my mom in an official capacity. I just told them I wanted to see Mom. I didn’t tell them I planned on telling her about us. “Soon, though. I promise.”
Let’s just hope they're game for a normal dinner with their girlfriend's mom.
“Sleepover!” Caden yells, running into my room. He dives onto the bed, making me bounce like crazy. I came in here when I got back from Mom’s to clear my head.
“What are you doing?” I ask with a laugh.
“We haven’t done this in a while, Firefly. I miss it.”
I curl into his side and lay my head on his chest. “Me too,” I admit. I love where this whole thing has taken us, but I miss when we could just hang out and talk. Things have been so tense with Ghost, and I hate that I can’t help him. The hits just keep coming, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to slow any of it down. I look up at Caden’s face. “Do you think this will ever end?”
He frowns. “What do you mean?”
“All this shit with Ghost’s dad. Is this how his future looks?”
“Nope. We will take that motherfucker down. Now that Nolan and Holden found the weak spot, we just have to exploit it.”
“Won’t that make things worse?”
Caden shrugs. “Probably. But it will piss Grant off enough that he’ll fuck up.” He rolls so we’re face to face. “What did you talk to your mom about today?”
I consider what to say for a second. Would he be okay that I outed us? I don’t even know whatweare. I guess there’s one way to find out. “I told her about us.”
A smile spreads across his face that takes my breath away. “Us? All of us?”
“I did.” I run my hand down his cheek. “What are we now?”
“You’re still my best friend, Firefly. That will never change. We’re just building onto that friendship.”
“I can’t lose you,” I whisper. “I’m so afraid this is going to blow up in my face.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
