Chapter 43
I gulped as Andrew’s blue eyes bore into mine.
My mind still hadn’t been able to wrap itself around the magnificence of this beach house.
To think that these families had been doing this for years, the memories collected, and that our son would be carrying on the tradition made it surreal.
That was what my life was now, summed up in one simple word.
Surreal.
“I’ve taken the liberty to write the questions down. Inside that envelope are seven folded pieces of paper. Will you hand one to each of the crew?” Andrew’s command rang out, clearly shaking me from my wayward thoughts.
“Yes, Sir.” I stood shakily and opened the envelope. “Oh, there are names and numbers on them.”
I looked up sharply, and the confidence in his eyes put me at ease. My curiosity was truly piqued at this point. Once I had handed them out, Andrew directed me back to my seat.
“I’ll try very hard to answer correctly and not disappoint you, Sir.”
He shot to his feet and was yanking me from the chair in five seconds. His arms went around me, and then he fisted my hair. His lips descended on mine, and everything faded. I gasped as sparks licked my skin, and the heat only he could ignite in my stomach flared to life.
I shuddered at the sensation, my pulse beating so hard I couldn’t hear anything. At that moment, I wanted to forget these questions and drag him back to our room and devour him.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “You two need a minute? We can come back later.”
I pulled back as my face burned. “Andy,” I breathed.
With a final nibble of my lower lip, he released me. “Sorry, angel. I told you every time you speak nonsense, I’d kiss you, no matter what. Now you know I’m serious. And just so your mind is at ease. You aren’t answering the questions, I am.”
“Oh.” I swallowed hard.
“You’ll see. These have been modified from the original seven, specifically two of them. I saved those for the girls, who will go last. Question number one, please.”
Bash grinned. “I love that you granted me this one Counselor, You know it’s my favorite.” He grinned before reading the question out loud. “If Victoria lost her memory, what’s the first thing you’d do to remind her of who you are to her?”
Andrew turned toward me and spoke directly to my heart. “I’d pull you over to the window like this.” He took my hand and led me to look out over the sandy beach. Outside, running without a care in the world, was Declan.
“I’d point to the little boy you’ve blessed me and the entirety of our family with.
I’d say see how his hair catches the light, the gold represents you and the copper, me.
We made that together. I’d tell you I never wanted children before him, before you.
That you gave me something no one else could or ever will and that I’m eternally grateful for your sacrifice and for keeping him safe. ”
Declan turned and caught the two of us staring and waved excitedly. A happy sob ripped from my chest as Christopher King swooped him up, and he squealed. Andrew led me back to the chair.
“How did I do?” he asked humbly.
“What do you mean?” I squeaked.
“Did I pass or fail? Bash is going to keep count.”
“Definite pass.” I grinned.
“I’m next,” Nikolai said, drawing my attention.
“Counselor, at what moment did you fall in love with Victoria and know she was it?”
“I’ve thought about this one a lot. Something not all of you know is that my little angel here writes poetry.
And on the second night I had her all to myself, I took her to the teahouse for some poetry readings.
Despite shaking, she stood and shared something from the depths of her heart that haunts me still.
It was a depiction of life for four little girls named after seasons.
Little did I know at the time just how meaningful it would be. ”
“You didn’t tell us that?” Kinsley said, pouting. “I want to hear it, don’t you Izzy B?”
“Maybe later. I’d actually like Marcel to dig a little deeper. What about it made you fall in love with her?” Isabella asked, her eyes narrowing.
That was when it hit me. The questions he was asking were for them, to prove to them he was worthy. Of me. A shift happened, and he looked in my direction.
“I see you’re catching on. Such a smart girl.
As you wish, Isabella. I knew she was experiencing trauma and the internal fight I had raging inside me to be the professional I know myself to be slipped each second she stood and spoke.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from her and for the first time in my entire life, I was reduced to simply being a man.
Not a friend, not a grandson, not a trauma counselor, or even a brother. ”
He paused for a moment and then looked at his friends. Isabella cocked her head to the side and motioned for him to continue.
“The beauty before us made me realize in mere seconds that I was only existing in this world, not truly living. I’d never wanted to be more to someone than at that moment. I chalked it up to her ex being my bully. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was her, always her.”
A silence hung over the room, and I bowed my head, feeling embarrassed by his declarations and the scrutiny Isabella was giving him.
“Pass or fail, Nik?”
“It’s a pass. Personally, I enjoy seeing this side of you. It’s like meeting a new friend within the old.” Nik’s face broke out into the biggest grin.
“I think he sufficiently answered. I’m next,” Pasha announced as Isabella leaned over to read his question. He flicked it away quickly, causing her to punch him in the shoulder. “What is your favorite weird habit of Victoria’s that you adore?”
Kinsley clapped happily. “I loved this one. It was my favorite.”
“No pressure, but I think I’ll keep this one light, if you don’t mind. Victoria is a horrible liar. She had the nerve to tell me on our first dinner date she didn’t like meat. Now anytime I take her out, she still insists she doesn’t but ends up eating half my steak.”
“It’s habit, plus yours always tastes better. Remember, I ordered one once, and it was not the same. Never again, the safest bet is to just eat yours.”
“Is that what I am to you, then? A safe bet?”
“Never, you’re my only bet. But now that you’ve mentioned steak, I’m feeling famished. Whose question is next? And just for the record, Pasha, it’s true. I’m a horrible liar and I secretly love steak as long as it’s on his plate.”
Somewhere along the way, I let my guard down, accepted that this was my family, and that I had nothing to worry about.
Andrew loved me, my season sisters loved me, and even this strange set of friends seemed to care deeply for me.
Even if it was out of love for Andrew, they were giving me a real shot, and I was going to embrace it.
“That’d be me,” Alek said, looking thoughtful. “Hmm, I wonder why on earth you chose me to read this one, Counselor. Just know if it were up to me, I’d be asking something entirely different, but here we go. My friend, what is one insecurity of Victoria’s that you love?”
I gulped, feeling exposed in the blink of an eye. My heart hammered inside my chest, and my eyes met the girl’s. Kinsley had her head cocked to the side, and Isabella leaned forward.
“This question has always been my favorite and fascinated me. To look at an individual you love and pick one insecurity knowing at the end of the day they don’t like it, but you adore it. Again, it fascinates me.”
Andrew may have been speaking to Alek, but the heat of his gaze bore into me. I lowered my head, almost afraid to hear his answer. What if it was something he loved today but hated tomorrow?
I couldn’t even fathom what it might be, especially given my own issues with my many flaws.
There were so many, and the catalog of them rolled around in my head as if it were a checklist. I reached out once again and rubbed the velvet of the chair in my hands, relishing the feel of the material. It had a calming effect.
“Alek, I chose this one for you because my answer speaks to a deep desire you have. And I have a feeling we’ll be kindred spirits in this, especially given your sheer desire to get that lovely little pixie on your lap pregnant as many times as safely possible.”
“Oh God, not this aga—” Kinsley exclaimed.
“You hush now. Andrew is speaking,” Alek chided, pulling her back against him. He nuzzled her neck sweetly, and she rolled her eyes at Isabella, who shook her head.
“Of course, none of you know this and even though I’ve begged her to wear the bikini, she was adamant and has refused. But my little angel has the most amazing little stretch marks across her lower tummy. I’m obsessed with them. They’re like little intricate mazes—”
“They’re hideous,” I exclaimed once more as embarrassment coated my cheeks.
Of all the things to choose from. My hands immediately went around my lower stomach. He stalked toward me, and I put my hands up as the look on his face was feral.
“I own every part of you, angel, and if I say they’re amazing, then they are. When are you going to learn?”
I tried to stay seated as he pulled me out of the chair. Leaning down, he hooked his fingers into my hair and tugged back until I felt like my neck was going to snap. My possessive, dominate Andy was determined to prove a point.
He pressed his mouth against mine and kissed me with a passion that had me breathless. I melted into him, no sign of embarrassment keeping me from instinctually responding.
A soft moan escaped as his tongue slid over mine. He pulled back, pools of desire swimming in his eyes. My eyes flicked over to the crowd, and Kinsley sighed contently and leaned her head against Alek’s chest. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded.
“Alek and I agree, it’s a beautiful thing to be obsessed with. You’ve passed this one with flying colors, Counselor,” Kinsley said.
With his eyes still glued to mine, Andrew said, “Ivan’s question is up next. I gave it to him because he’s my best mate and I’m publicly asking him to hold me accountable.”
My heart swelled as his eyes danced with love, and I wanted to beg Isabella to capture the moment for me so that if he ever stopped looking at me this way, I would have a physical memento to hold onto. I gulped as Ivan’s gravely voice rang out.
“How do you intend to show Victoria a ‘good life’?”
Andrew’s mouth turned up into a half smile, and a deep chuckle reverberated through the room.
“Well, for starters, my grand plan begins with a touch of magic. I’m whisking her and our son away to a place where dreams come true, where she can wish upon a star to a place she’s never been. A seven-day Disneyworld adventure.”
A squeal came from Kinsley, and she practically vibrated with enthusiasm. And in true fashion, her words tumbled out like a waterfall, and I soaked up every one of them, loving seeing this side of her.
“No way! Seven full days at Disneyworld. I’m jealous.
You’re going to love it, Tori,” Kinsley exclaimed.
Her eyes were wide with delight. Her hands fluttered with animated gestures, and Alek had to hold her down.
“I lived in Florida for a while, with Owen. Let me tell you, it’s a whole world of wonder and so much joy.
You have so many days. Spend the first one focusing on the rides so you know which ones you want to repeat daily.
There are so many of them. Oh, do you like rollercoasters, I bet Declan will love them, and promise you’ll take him on the Slinky Dog Dash. And the parad—”
Nik leaned over and kissed her, silencing her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled once he pulled back.
I laughed at the contrite look on her little face. She still had something else to say, and she was brimming with the need to complete the thought.
“What is it, Mouse?” I teased, and both she and Pasha’s heads turned toward me. Pasha cocked his to the side.
“You call her Mouse too?” He seemed to approve.
“Yes, I hope it’s okay,” I said, feeling bashful. “When we were all held together, I refused to call her Spring in my head. She was always Mischa or Mouse and, in my heart, I know one of them is too painful to use, so yeah, in my head she’s a dancing little Mouse and always will be.”
Kinsley pushed her guy’s hands away and ran over to me.
“I love you so much. I was going to say that in conjunction with the parade, the fireworks will light the night sky like a thousand wishes. It’s the one place where even a grown-up can be a kid again.
You’re going to love every magical moment of it, and I can’t wait to hear all about it,” she concluded, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy.
“You done trying to steal my thunder?” Andrew asked, pulling her away.
“Yes, Sir. You may resume, but you have my vote. I love your idea. It’s perfect.”
A mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes as he shoved her back toward the King brothers.
“Ivan, my next plan is to secretly take notes on every little thing she mentions she’s curious about.
I have a few up my sleeve already. The plan is to surprise her with all the experiences that hopefully will leave her as breathless as my kisses and grinning like Declan when he has a chocolate ice cream cone in his hands. ”
He leaned back, a thoughtful expression taking over his face.
“I make a promise to you right now, here before our family, that I will never forget the everyday magic—quiet mornings waking up next to you, drinking a cup of tea on lazy Sunday mornings where time stretches for us. Spontaneous dance parties in the living room, and movie nights snuggled under a cover. It won’t always be grand gestures, there will be so many small, quiet ones along the way that will leave a legacy that extends beyond just the two of us.
I task you, Ivan, with the job of ensuring I don’t lose focus. ”
“You can count on me, Brother,” Ivan said.