I glower at him. My stomach knots. My guts feel like they have been put through a wringer. I force my muscles to unwind, one at time, unclench my fingers, then jerk my chin, "Nope, I don’t mind at all."
"But I do," her voice rings out. I turn to doorway as Theresa walks into the room. Her features are pale, her back erect. "What I very much mind is my future being discussed when I am not in the room."
She pauses next to Michael.
"Do I not have a say in my own life?" She tips up her chin at him. "As Xander’s brother, I expected that you’d, at least, give me the choice in who I want to spend the rest of my life with."
"Of course, it’s your choice," Michael rises to his feet, "but you can’t blame us for being worried about you. We loved Xander and we know that he’d want you to be happy."
"And I know what will make me happy."
"You do?" Michael’s brow furrows.
She nods. "I know who I want to marry, and it’s someone Xander would have approved of."
Michael holds her gaze. The silence stretches. The hair on the nape of my neck rises. It can’t be. Surely not. She wouldn’t go there, would she?
I glare at her, but she keeps her gaze averted from mine.
"Who is it?" Seb finally inquires. "Who is this person who you want to marry?"
My heart begins to race. The pulse pounds at my temples. No fucking way, is she going to do this. Oh, no. I rise to my feet just as she turns and points a finger at me.
"Him," she says in a clear voice, "I want to marry him."
Theresa
"The fuck?" He glares at me, "What did you say?" He clenches and unclenches his fingers, in what I realize is a nervous tic. He takes a step toward me and Luca grabs his shoulder.
"Let me the fuck go." Axel tries to shake him off, but Luca holds onto him.
"What the fuck did you say?" Axel glowers at me.
"Watch it," Luca says in a hard voice.
"No, you watch it," Axel seizes Luca’s collar.
Luca’s features contort, he pulls back his fist, and my heart slams into my chest.
"Wait," I close the distance to them, "stop, Luca, please," I twist my fingers together, "Please don’t hurt him."
The two glare at each other, then Luca lowers his fist.
The breath rushes out of me. The adrenaline drains out of me somewhat as I turn to Axel, "I… I owe you an explanation."
"You think?" Axel says through gritted teeth, "Tell them you didn’t mean what you said."
I hesitate.
Axel’s brows draw down.
"Do you know what you are doing?" he says in a low voice.
No, I don’t. It’s why I am standing here, trying to break up a fight between two grown men who, individually, are twice my weight, at least. A chuckle bubbles up and I clamp my lips together. I am not going to get hysterical. I am not.
"Theresa," his tone hardens, "you don’t want to do this."
"Stop threatening her," Luca scowls at him, "and give her a chance to complete what she’s saying."