“With my parents,” Marina explains as she comes in with bags of groceries, and it’s then I notice Arsen’s arms are filled with dishes of food.
“She hasn’t stopped cooking,” Arsen mutters as his wife passes him and heads straight to the kitchen. “I think there’s enough to feed a small country.” His words are sardonic, but the love he shows for the woman is apparent for everyone to see. Following his woman to the kitchen, Kol waits a beat before laughing at his brother.
“From the minute they met, man, he’s been whipped and wouldn’t have it any other way.” Thea smacks his shoulder and glares. “Same for me, blue eyes, same for me.” Dragging his wife down for a kiss, I walk away to see what Marina brought.
“How can I help?” I ask as Arsen helps her unpack the bags on the counter.
“Sit.” Marina points to a chair at my bistro-style table, and I do as I’m told.
“Anything else?” I ask, and Arsen shakes his head at me.
Marina turns, grabs something, and brings it over to me. “Eat.”
“Did you lose your vocabulary?” I joke with her, but it’s not until I meet her stare that I see the emotion in her gaze. She’s heartbroken over Ember. “Awe, shit. I’m sorry, Ari.” Standing up, I pull her into a hug.
“She didn’t deserve this,” Marina mumbles into me.
“No, she didn’t,” I agree with her, and I want to mention the baby, but I have no idea if Ember’s family knows, and I don’t want to take the excitement away from her by telling them by accident.
Releasing Marina, Arsen drags her into his own embrace, and the moment is so intimate that I turn and eat the breakfast casserole that Marina has made. Sausage, bacon, eggs, vegetables, and spices. I’m done before I realize how hungry I was.
“That was delicious,” I say as the front door opens and in walks Cali. Stopping in her tracks when she sees Thea and Kol on the couch, I laugh when she steps back outside to look at the house number.
“Did the whole family move in?” Her lips twist in a wry smile as she meets my stare.
“Not quite,” I respond before waving her into the kitchen. “You remember Ember’s siblings?”
“Nice to see you again.” She smiles at them, but it doesn’t reach her eyes, and I know better than to ask her what’s going on because she won’t say with anyone else here.
As she sits across from me, everyone is silent. I’m not sure if they’re waiting for her to say more or if she is waiting for them to continue their conversations, but I’m getting annoyed. Not at anyone in particular, just the fucking tiptoe game I’ve been playing for the last two years, and now that all of mine and Ember’s secrets are out, I don’t like there being more in my life.
Turning to face Arsen and Marina, I ask, “Could you give us a minute?” They nod and leave to join Kol and Thea.
“What’s up, Cal?” I want it out in the open.
Her face crumbles with the weight of her emotions. “I’m in trouble, Noah.”
Reaching across the table, I grip her hand in mine, worried. “Tell me everything, and I’ll help.”
Cali waves her free hand in front of her face. “Not that kind,” she finally gets out. “I fell in love.” I grin at her then. “With two men.” I grit my jaw. “They both want me too.” I’m liking this less and less than if she were in legal trouble.
“They want you to choose between them?”
She shakes her head.
“I don’t understand then, Cali.” Although I think I’m getting a picture.
“They want to share me.” Her gaze flits up to mine quickly to gauge my reaction before dropping to the table.
“And what do you want, California?”
“I knew you’d be mad,” she mumbles, pulling her hand away.
“I’m not mad. Why would I be mad?”
“You never call me by my full name, Noah.”
“I’m not mad,” I insist. I don’t feel mad. Surprised, definitely. But not mad. “Is this what you want? A polyamorous relationship?” I nearly choke on the word.