Chapter 3
Chapter Three
The doc arrived at school twenty minutes after I got off the phone with my dad. Thirty minutes after that, Addison and I were seated on the family’s private jet. The doc has me hooked up to an IV with some kind of magical drugs being pumped through my system because I feel fucking great right now.
“You need to relax. Want me to get the doc to share some of the good drugs?” I ask Addison.
“No,” she hisses. “I’ll be fine. It’s only a weekend,” she says more to herself than to me. “Why do you think your father wants me to come home with you?”
“Probably because he wants to meet you,” I deadpan.
“Yeah, but why?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, but I promise it’ll be fine. My parents aren’t that scary.”
Addison squints her eyes at me. “When you passed out, everyone went pale, like they’d seen a ghost. They were very much scared of what your parents would do if something happened to you.”
“Well, yeah. They’re scary motherfuckers to outsiders.”
Addison points to herself. “I’m an outsider, Lex.”
“You’re my best friend. You are not an outsider.”
“Have you talked about me to them before?”
“No, but I don’t need to mention you for my parents to know about you. They know that we hang out every day at school. Nothing gets past my parents.”
“Gee, that’s so not reassuring.” Addison rolls her eyes.
Reaching over, I grab her hand. “I promise it’s going to be okay. I won’t leave your side the entire weekend.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay, just don’t pass out on me again,” Addison says.
“Holy shit, this is where you grew up? I knew you were rich. I didn’t know you were royalty.” Addison stares at the house through the windshield as the car approaches the twisty driveway.
“I’ve told you numerous times I was a dark prince.” I smirk at her.
“Yeah, but I thought you were joking.” Addi turns in her seat to look at me. “Lex, I love you and you know I’d do anything for you, but I do not belong here.”
“Hey, listen to me, Addison Marie Sanders. You belong everywhere and anywhere you want to be. You are the best friend of Lex Valentino-Petrov. Whatever door you approach will open for you, Addi.”
“Okay, that’s… a lot, Lex. And I’m not your friend because I want benefits,” she says.
“You literally just asked me to fuck you,” I remind her.
Addison gasps. “I did not. I said if you don’t want to help a girl out, I’m going to have to find someone who will.”
It takes a little more energy to control the rage that builds up inside me whenever Addison talks about losing her V-card to a random guy—or any other guy who’s not me.
“Do you remember what you said to me before you passed out?” she asks.
“What’d I say?”
She leans in, her mouth next to my ear. “You told me to not let you die before you got the chance to fuck me.”
“I had a fever. I was delusional.” I don’t even remember saying that. “But also, maybe I shouldn’t die before I get to fuck you.”
Addison’s hand slaps my shoulder. “Stop,” she says. “Okay, what do I say to your parents?”
“Start with hello. Or privet or ciao will work,” I tell her.
“Show off.” She rolls her eyes at me again.
I know my multi-lingual abilities are a sore point for her.
No matter how much she’s tried over the last year, Addison hasn’t been able to pick up much of either Russian or Italian.
Which is odd, because the girl is fucking smart.
She’s at school on a full-ride scholarship, something she earned from her academic abilities.
Taking her hand, I open the car door and lead her up to the front of the house. “Just remember you belong anywhere I am,” I tell her.
“Thank you. And also, I’m sorry if I embarrass you by saying something stupid.”
“Addi, you could never embarrass me.” I open the door. The house is quiet. But I know my parents are already aware I’m here. “Five, four, three…”
“Lex, how are you feeling?” My mom rushes down the stairs. Her arms pull at me and then she’s squeezing me tight. When she lets go, she places her hand on my forehead. “I’ve got your room freshened up for you. And I have some soup ready. You need to go lie down.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” I tell her. “It’s just the flu.”
“You fainted, Lex. You are not fine,” Mom scolds. “Oh my gosh.” Her gaze falls on Addison. “You are gorgeous.”
I smile at Addison, who blushes. She is beautiful. She’s fucking gorgeous. And then my mom is hugging Addison.
“Thank you for calling my husband,” Mom says.
“Oh, I’m sorry if I worried you both. I just… didn’t know what to do,” Addison admits.
“You did the right thing.” Mom smiles when she lets Addi go. “I’ve set you up in the room next to Lex’s. Unless you two are planning on sleeping in the same room.” My mom’s gaze flicks from me to Addison and then back to me.
“Mom, jeez. We’re just friends,” I grunt.
“Pity. I like her,” Mom says. “Well, just so you know, I’m a cool mom. So if you do end up in his bed, just be safe. I’m way too young to be a nonna.”
“Oh my god! Papa!” I yell out to my dad. He’s got to be here somewhere.
“You’re home. How you feeling?” Dad asks as he walks through the front door.
“I’m fine, but Mom is trying to marry me off.” I plead with him to get my mother under control.
“We don’t do arranged marriages in this family.” Dad shrugs. “The doc says you’ve got some viral thing but should be fine in a couple of days.”
“I’ve been telling you I’m fine,” I grumble.
“Addison, welcome. If you need anything while you’re here, just let us know.” Dad ignores me and turns to Addison.
“Thank you, Mr. Petrov.” Addison smiles at him nervously.
My dad tilts his head at her. “You can call me Mikhail.”
My mom and I stare at him with open mouths. It takes a moment for me to snap out of my shock. When I do, I take Addison’s hand. “I’m going to show Addi to her room,” I tell my parents.
“Okay, I’m sending soup up,” Mom calls after us. “Wait! How are you feeling? Are you sick too? Do you want me to get a doctor to look you over?”
“Oh, no, Mrs. Petrov. I’m fine, honestly, but thank you,” Addison replies as I’m pulling her up the stairs.