“Please do. I’d love to watch them choke on their aged brandy.”
She sighs. “But I promised you guys to be good so you wouldn’t have more pressure on your shoulders. I love you and want to make your life easier, not harder.”
“Muting yourself mutes your charm. I’m barely attracted to a sassless girlfriend,” I tease.
Valerie draws back and swats me. I rub my shoulder. “Okay. That was the wrong thing to say. I’m sorry.”
She sniffs and lies back on my shoulder. “Can you just hold me, Hunt?”
“Of course, dorogaya. Talk to me while I hold you.”
“I’m exhausted. Not doing things just has me worried. I know that you guys are all grown up and nearly double my age.” She laughs a little.
“Less than double or it would be a bit weird.”
I can practically hear her rolling her eyes when she takes a sticky breath. “And all I can do is worry. If it’s not about you guys coming home alive, it’s about the next problem. It’s about if your dad can get into everyone’s heads and make you break up with me.”
“Valerie.”
“I mean, I love school and the career I’m fighting for and all I know I can do for others, but even the idea of losing you three ... the idea of losing one of you ...” She nuzzles my neck. “I guess knowing you’re still alive and in the world is better than the other way I could lose you. I feel so weak.”
“Feeling things doesn’t make you weak.”
“Don’t quote me to me,” I huff.
The door opens and Lief walks in. He starts toward the kitchen, then notices Valerie draped over me. Her legs are shaking a little and she sniffles again. He drops his shit by the door and walks over. He rubs her back and pulls her hair away from her face.
“Pet?”
“I’m having these damn feelings and they’re just ... leaking out of me.”
Lief sits next to me and I adjust Valerie so we can both comfort her. Lief rubs over her back and kisses her shoulder.
“I get your fear now, Hunt. The one where I’d just leave with no warning. I thought Chase was doing that, then we talked, but everything feels off.”
“I wanted to talk to you about that,” Lief murmurs.
Valerie lifts her head and I see how wet her eyes are. I don’t see complete tear marks down her cheeks, but she’s definitely upset. Lief massages her shoulder while I rub her back.
“My parents want to meet you.”
“You told them about me?”
“They asked what was different from the last time we spoke. You are the only difference.”
She smiles softly and reaches out to Lief. He takes her hand. “They want to meet you tomorrow night before the gala. I don’t care if all of us go. My parents will adjust. They won’t be rude to your face anyway.”
“No?”
“They’re too old for that energy,” Lief teases.
She laughs softly, but still rubs her cheek against my shoulder. I smooth my hand down her back. “And even if you’re not going to the gala, I can come home faster.”
“Or we can all go and you and Hunter can make bets on the women who will throw themselves at Chase.” Lief makes a face. “I’ll stay in the shadows.”
“You won’t woo every woman with your sexy weather talk?”
“That’s reserved for you and you alone,” He assures her, kissing her temple.