“Tell me how much you love me, and I’ll stop pouting,” he said, lowering his head to graze his lips over mine.
“I love you more today than yesterday, and I already love you more tomorrow than today,” I whispered against his lips.
“Monroe,” he groaned, deepening the kiss.
When he pulled into my parents’ driveway, Lyric was already doing the same. As Gian came around my side of the SUV to help me out, I got a look at my soon-to-be brother-in-law’s face, and his expression was just as unhappy as Gian’s was.
Mila hopped out of the SUV with Lyric’s help and smacked a kiss on his lips. “Have fun tonight. Don’t get too wasted. I’d like at least a few good wedding pictures to decorate with, please. And you looking hungover in them isn’t going to fly, mister.”
“Spend the night with me, and I won’t drink a single drop,” he negotiated.
“You’re acting like you’re not going to see me for a year, Lyric,” she said with a small laugh. She hugged him quickly then stepped back. “Your brother is waiting to go to Hannigans’.”
“Fuck my brother,” he grumbled as Mila practically bounced tow
ard me with a grin on her face.
“Hey, Gian,” my sister greeted before linking her arm through mine and guiding me toward our parents’ front door.
As we reached the porch, the door swung open, and River and Nova were already there. Since no one was drinking, Nova had been allowed to come to our sleepover. But what had me squealing was when I saw Tavia behind our cousins, already in pajamas.
Tavia squealed back and bounced out onto the porch to hug both Mila and me. “Surprise!”
“I’m so glad you could come,” I cried.
“Where’s Volkov?” Mila asked, looking into the house as if expecting Theo to come out of the shadows at any second.
“Over at Raven’s,” she said. “Don’t be surprised if there are a half-dozen Russian guards patrolling outside the house later tonight, though.”
“I think Fontana will have you beat,” my sister said with a sigh as she glanced at Gian.
“Can I get a kiss before you go in?” Lyric asked, sounding just as pouty as Gian had earlier.
Mila skipped over to the top step of the porch and jumped into his arms. “Fuck,” he grunted, catching her in his arms and kissing her. When he lifted his head, he glared down at her. “Don’t do that again, woman. You scared five years off my life just now.”
“I knew you would catch me, babe,” she said with a wink. “Have fun. Love you.” Jumping out of his hold, she climbed the stairs again.
I watched as Gian slowly made his way up the walkway toward the front porch, my overnight bag in his hand. “Precious?”
I didn’t dare scare him as my sister had Lyric, and I slowly descended the steps until we were eye level. “I love you,” I told him. “Don’t miss me too much. Just a little.”
“Not possible,” he breathed as he kissed me. “Text me before you go to sleep. Ugo will be outside with a few men later. Don’t leave the house unless he is with you.”
I cupped his face in both hands. “Thank you for this. It means so much to me.”
“Anything for you, precious.” He lifted his gaze to the others behind me. “You, little one.” Nova came down the stairs. “Carry this for your cousin. It’s too heavy for her to lift.”
Nova took it and made a face. “It’s like five pounds, if that.”
“See? Much too heavy for her.” He kissed me one last time then slowly backed away. “I love you.”
I blew him a kiss and then climbed the steps with Nova, knowing he wasn’t going to leave until I was safely inside.
Chapter 24
Monroe
The five of us camped out in the living room in sleeping bags, watching movies and eating every kind of junk food known to man. It wasn’t a wild night, but it was fun, and I was spending it with some of my favorite people.