She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyebrows scrunched as she thought about what she was feeling and what I’d just said. She looked up at me, eyes changing to purple as I watched. “You’re the balance between good and evil now.”
“Did you look in my head for that answer?” I asked.
She looked confused. “No. It just popped in my head. Were you thinking it just now?” her
“No, but that’s what your dad said to me. You, me, and Ivan. Eventually the Wonder Twins and Stephen, too. We’re all the balance between good and evil.”
“Side note, we need to come up with a new nickname for the three of them. It feels awkward to always say ‘and Stephen,” she said, grinning at me.
I pulled her to me forcefully, making her squeal. “I just love you,” I said, laughing along with her as I gave her a quick kiss. I went to open the bedroom door and she used the opportunity to jump on my back to hitch a ride downstairs. Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything I would’ve loved more in that moment.
Ivan was the first one we saw when we came downstairs. He was in the kitchen, looking for something for lunch. “Have somebody get Vinny’s for everyone, if you guys haven’t eaten,” I said. “I’m starving.”
“On it,” Ivan said, pulling out his phone. He typed a quick message, then put his phone back in his pocket. “It’ll be her shortly,” he said. “Do I have to wait until the food arrives to hear what happened to you?”
Sephie giggled and hugged me tighter. “I think you should make him wait,” she said.
“Why do you ha te me now, princess?” he said, clutching his heart.
“You didn’t let me finish! I think he should make you wait until the rest of the guys are here,” she said, innocently. He looked at her skeptically, knowing full well that is not what she meant when she first said it, which made her laugh again. “You love me, Squish. Don’t even try to lie.”
I deposited her on the counter, grabbing a glass from one of the cabinets. I filled it with water, drank half, then handed the rest to her. She finished it, handing me the empty glass along with her sweet smile.
Ivan was watching our exchange with a devious grin on his face. “You two are extra di sgusting right now. And by di sgusting, I mean f**king adorable.”
Sephie looked at me, trying to be serious. “Squish feels left out!” she announced. She opened her arms toward him, but did not make a move to leave her spot on the counter. “Come here, Squish. Bring it in. Come on. You know you want to,” she said, trying so hard to not laugh, but failing miserably at it. Her laughter is what brought the rest of the guys to the kitchen. Ivan heard them coming and walked to Sephie quickly, wrapping his substantial arms around her. “Gotta get in here before everyone else shows up.” he said, laughing along with her. “You’re my favorite,” she said in a very loud whisper as everyone else walked in the kitchen. She knew she would cause objections from everyone else. She might’ve enjoyed that part. “Why is it that Boss is the one that got zapped and likely has a new level unlocked, but you look like it was you?” Misha asked, looking at Sephie clowning with Ivan when they walked in. “It’s new level by osmosis. It’s this new thing we’re trying out. I don’t know how it’s going to work with the red pandas though. Pancakes and water don’t mix,” she said.
“I thought you said you ha ted school and never paid attention?” Stephen asked in his usual thoughtful way. “You have impressive range.”
She laughed. “I said I ha ted school and never paid attention. I didn’t say I wasn’t still a straight A student.
“Touch?,” Misha said as he walked to the fridge to look for something to eat.
“Don’t bother, my adorable Russian guardian. Vinny’s is on the way,” she told him,
“I love you so much right now,” Misha said.
“Don’t love me. Love him. It was his idea,” she said, pointing to me.
Misha turned to look at me, then very seriously said, “I love you so much right now.”
“Awww. See Ivan? We’re not the only ones that are di sgusting right now. It’s spreading.” she said.
“Gross,” Ivan said, smiling at her. “Now that everyone is here, I want to know what happened.”
“You’re very impatient,” she said, still enjoying teasing him. She looked at him for a minute, much the same way she was looking at me earlier before we came downstairs. She grinned at him. “It’s not you that’s impatient right now. Your demon is all itchy.”
He looked at her, clearly surprised. “Is that what this is?” He looked at me, saying, “now I understand why you needed to go to the gym yesterday.”
I looked at Ivan, noticing what Sephie was seeing. “Yeah, she’s right. I think your demon might already know what happened. It’s excited.” “You can see it now too?” Andrei asked.
“Not in the way you might think. I can tell the difference between Sephie and her demon. It’s becoming clearer for Ivan now too. It’s very clear with mine. He apparently has his own thoughts and feelings,” I said, unable to hide my smile as I looked at Sephie. She giggled as I walked to her, standing in between her legs while still facing everyone else. She slid her arms and legs around me resting her chin on my shoulder.
“Have you had a conversation with it yet?” Misha asked, curious,
“No. I don’t know if that will happen or not, but I can feel what he feels now, I don’t know if it’s the same for him or not,” I said.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.