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“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” he’s telling me. “Honestly not sure what he could possibly have to say.”
“We’re going,” I tell him. “I’m not going to let you be estranged from half your family because of me. We’ll go and we’ll listen to whatever it is he has to say.”
“You don’t have to force yourself, princess. I know you don’t like him.”
He’s right. I don’t like how big of an impact Richard Steele had in the reasons I made the decisions I made nine years ago. I don’t like how he prevented me from seeing Nate again five years ago. But everyone deserves a chance, even him.
“You never know. He might surprise me. Maybe he’s changed since the last time I saw him.”
Xander snorts. “Don’t hold your breath.”
“Even if he hasn’t we’re still going. Who knows, maybe after I meet your father, you can finally meet mine.”
He groans at that making me laugh.
“My dad’s not that bad. He’s actually much nicer now that he’s not Don anymore. The position has relaxed him,” I lie.
“Bullshit,” Xander mutters. “We sure do make a pair, you and me. Fathers that drive us crazy.”
“Mothers that couldn’t be there for us growing up,” I add softly.
Xander places a kiss on the top of my head at that. “Tell me about her. Your mom.”
So I do. Everything is easier when I do it with him. Even talking. The words that I would have found impossibly to voice are said gently. He listens to it all attentively. My mother’s grace, her strength. She left a country and the only home she had ever known to marry my father, relocating to the U.S from Moscow.
The rest of the night flies by with us talking. Xander asks me to say something sexy in Russian, I refrain from punching him in the jaw. He tells me about his childhood. His favorite memories, one of which involved beating Graham at a race. We trade stories like that in the dark.
And I can almost feel our yearning hearts becoming one. Xander was right when he spoke about the invisible string between us, the one that always leads us back to each other. I just hope it never cuts.
I drink a cup of coffee as I try to ignore my nerves arising from the meeting later today. Xander and Nate already left, him going to drop him off. I managed to wake up with just enough time to head into the guest bedroom downstairs in order to act like I slept there all night. When he saw me earlier, Nate had no idea anything was amiss.
But we’re going to have to tell him eventually. I know Xander’s not hiding it because he’s worried about his reaction. I’m sure Nate wouldn’t care if we told him we were together. But in the past couple of months, with moving from D.C and finding out I’m actually alive, meeting me, it’s been a lot of change. Kids thrive more in a permanent environment and neither Xander nor I want to destabilize him even further. At least for now.
After finishing my coffee, I decide to take a shower in order to get ready for the day. By the time Xander comes back, I’m dressed and waiting for Rico to come pick me up. He is not happy about that.
“Would have been nice if I left and came back to find you in my bed, princess,” he points out.
I smile, reaching up to cup my cheek. “I know and I’m sorry, Xan. But I have a ton of work to get to at the office. I’ll be back later this evening so we can head to the meeting together,” I assure him.
He blows out a breathe before inclining his head to brush his lips against mine.
“Think about all the things I could have done to you if you had stayed,” he murmurs, voice like sin. “Too bad.”
My insides heat and I start considering the repercussions of delaying Rico for a couple of minutes. Then Xander pulls away, leaving me hanging. I blink at the sudden empty space in front of me.
“Have a nice day at work, princess,” he tells me, laughing as he walks into the kitchen.
I briefly consider throwing an apple at the back of his head. But I decide to be the mature one, heading into the elevator and then into the car Rico arrives to pick me up in.
It’s a progressive day at work and I find myself wishing the day wasn’t so good because now it’ll inevitably get ruined by whatever it is Richard Steele has to say. Xander and I walk into the restaurant together that evening, arm in arm, dressed semi-formally. Me in a long floral maxi dress and him in a black suit without a tie. I try to imagine the picture we must make to the outside world. I hope people look at us and think we’re right for each other.
It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks though. I know we’re right for each other.
Richard Steele is already seated, waiting for us to arrive. The restaurant is pretty, with a nice ambience but it all goes over my head as I set my eyes on Xander’s father for the first time in five years. He hasn’t changed much. Still the same uninviting aura. The same lingering frown of disapproval. Facial expression etched in ice, intimidating green eyes.
I continue walking towards him. We both stop once we arrive at the table.
“Father,” Xander says, clearing his throat. “You summoned us.”
