Chapter 66
Kinsley
This Isn’t Happening
My eyes lit up at the sight of him, and a grin spread across my face. Joy bubbled up inside me.
“Nik,” I exclaimed.
He stood there, as handsome as ever, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. His hair was slightly tousled, but his smile was as bright as ever. He made my heart skip a beat.
“Your night’s up, Brother. Quit hogging my girl.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Our little warrior is making demands,” Alek said, stepping out of the shower.
“Is she, now?” His eyebrows rose as he studied me.
“Yes, I suppose I am, and if what you told me before is true, then you’ll probably have the hardest time, Nik.”
“What are your demands, baby girl?” he asked, handing me a towel for my hair.
I reached for the other one, and he shook his head no, pulled me over to him, and began drying me off. The towel slipped between my legs, and I winced.
“My poor malyshka,” Nik whispered in my ear.
“We can have a family meeting about my demands later. I’m starving and really want to meet Bash’s sister.”
He finished drying me off, picked me up, walked out of Alek’s room, and headed toward his.
“I had all the things I like you to wear put away already. Let’s get you dressed so you can make a good first impression.”
He picked out a cute outfit and stepped back to watch me dress. I fidgeted with my hair overly much, and he finally had to pull me away.
“What if she doesn’t like me, Nikolai?” I put my hand on his arm.
“Personally, I think she’ll love you. Just give her time to acclimate.”
We made the familiar trip down the stairs and to the dining room. Everyone else was already gathered around the large table when we entered. I stayed close behind Nik, feeling shy. I stayed as long as I could before he pulled me around him.
“Kinsley, this is our Bellaruso. Isabella, this is Kinsley.”
I lifted my gaze to say hi, and time froze. My eyes locked on a face that was hauntingly familiar. The room blurred. A whirlwind of memories rushed back to me like a tidal wave crashing on the shore.
Steel your face. This is not happening, this cannot be happening. There is no way in hell this is happening.
I stared at her like an idiot. Every fiber of my being wanted to reach out, to run to her, but by the look on her face, she didn’t want that. We were both caught dancing on the line between recognition and pretending. The weight was suffocating, crushing me with each breath.
This is a dream. It has to be.
I closed my eyes and then opened them, as if my mind was playing tricks on me. The vision before me didn’t change, so I looked down at the ground. My heart beat frantically.
Black spots formed behind my eyes, echoing the relentless rhythm of memories that threatened to overwhelm me. I had dreamed of this moment, imagined how it might be if our paths ever crossed again, but now the reality was almost too much to bear.
No, no, no, you will not panic.
I dug my fingers into my palms, trying to draw the attention away from the attack that threatened to engulf me.
“Kinsley?” Marcel’s voice cut through my haze, and I could hear the concern in his tone. So much for keeping a straight face.
Isabella stood up abruptly, her eyes locked on Nikolai, who stood beside me. A flicker of recognition crossed her face, and her expression darkened with a mixture of emotions. Without uttering a single word, she threw her napkin down and fled.
A deafening hush descended over the room. It was as if the entire world held its breath, anticipating the inevitable storm that was about to break forth. I desperately tried to keep my composure. Blinking back the tears that threatened to spill forth, I glanced at Nik.
The intensity of his gaze as he tried to understand what was happening unnerved me to the point where I had to look away.
It was like Isabella’s reaction set off a chain of movement.
Nik made eye contact with Sebastian, who cocked his head to the side.
Without a word, Bash rose from his seat and left the room.
“Kitten, don’t take it personal. It looks like she’s going to need some time to adjust to our relationship,” Aleksandr said.
Tears fell as I met his eyes. I pulled away from Nik and ran back to his room. Throwing myself on his bed, I cried. How was this possible? What kind of cruel, cruel game was the universe throwing our way?
How was Autumn, kind and gentle Autumn, Isabella Caruso?
I sat up after several long minutes and pulled my knees up to my chest, rocking back and forth in shock. A knock sounded, and Marcel entered the room. He came over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll leave. Have Marcus take me back to Sophia and Christopher’s,” I mumbled, feeling small.
“No, Ms. Taylor,” he said immediately, letting me know I was listening to my counselor, not my friend.
“But—” I said frantically, feeling the panic come back in full force.
“Ms. Taylor, Bella experienced trauma as a child, not in the same way as you, but enough that it has a hold over her still. If anyone should understand, I think it’d be you? I think you and her could really relate in certain ways.”
“Dr. Marcel, you don’t understand…”
The words died in my throat. He wouldn’t ever be able to.
There was no way for him to, unless I said something.
I couldn’t do that, though. He mentioned she experienced trauma as a child.
When I heard the guys mention she didn’t talk and had some issues, I figured something had to have happened to her.
But never in a million years could I have predicted this.
Did they know? Think, Kinsley, think.
“Ms. Taylor, I’m going to need you to listen closely.”
Marcel’s Dom voice rang out throughout the room, and I gulped and nodded. I instantly became a little girl again, needing him to tell me what the rules were. He would know what to do.
“Running to Sophia and Christopher’s will not get her to accept the relationship any easier. That’s not the answer. Avoiding people who are uncomfortable with the arrangement will quickly become tiresome.”
His words were spoken calmly, and I was thankful he hadn’t been able to read deeper into my reaction.
I wish to god this situation was that simple.
If only it was embarrassment about being in a relationship with the King brothers that set her off, maybe then we could get past this, but it wasn’t like I could share that, so I remained quiet.
“If I know Sebastian, he’s talking to her about her behavior right now.
You will not do anything hasty. In fact, you’re going to take a deep breath and then do what I expect.
You’ll do what your Kings expect. And that is to be the wonderful young lady we all know and love.
Isabella could use a friend like you,” he said.
“Dr. Marcel, I don’t know if that’s possible.”
“I don’t believe that for one second. If anyone could understand her, I believe it will be you. She has her own story, one we only know smart bits and pieces of. She doesn’t like sharing. Reminds me of someone I used to know,” he said with a soft smile.
There was no aha moment, no connection of dots being made, and I stared at him, wondering what on earth she told them happened to her. Because I for sure as hell knew. I knew it all. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head sweetly.
“It’s not my place to tell her story. And I don’t want you to worry too much about it. Her experience wasn’t like yours, but similar enough that I know in my heart you’ll be good for her.”
“Similar?” I asked stupidly.
“Yes, Ms. Taylor, but entirely different at the same time. Now promise me you’ll try with her.”
I nodded, even though in my heart, I knew there was nothing I could do on my end. My heart hurt, my head hurt, and I never felt more confused in my entire life than I did at that moment. He patted my hand, and Alek, Nik, and Ivan strolled into the room, taking his place.