ChapterFifteen
NADIA
“Oh crap,” I breathe against Walsh’s mouth. This is not how I wanted to tell my sister about this.
“Nadia?” My sister says my name again, and I slowly turn to see her standing in the doorway to my bedroom. I never thought I’d be caught with a boy in my room. Though Walsh is far from a boy.
“You’re supposed to be at the doctor’s. Then date night or whatever,” I blurt out. Kat shakes her head at my lame response.
“Graham called and told us you left school early and that you seemed upset. I was worried.” Walsh’s hand flexes against my hip, and his hold on me tightens. I know he’s reminding me that he’s at my side no matter what and that I can lean into him. His support means the world to me.
“Right, ah…” I lick my lips trying to come up with what to say but decide to go for it. “This is Walsh?” It comes out more as a question, and my sister cocks her head to the side, sizing him up.
“I thought you were talking to a guy at your school named Kyle.” She can clearly see Walsh isn’t in high school. He probably couldn’t pass for college either, although he could be a professor maybe?
“She’s not dating anyone,” Walsh says firmly, making my sister’s brows lift. “I’m Walsh. Her fiancé.” Well then I guess Walsh is going to just toss it right out there. He releases my hip to walk toward my sister to offer her his hand. “You must be Kat.”
“I am. The older protective sister.” She takes his hand and shakes it.
“Baby, who are you talking to?” A second later Luke appears behind my sister, and his eyes widen for a second. “Walsh? What are you doing here?”
What the hell? Do they know each other?
“Kissing my sister,” Kat mutters. I don’t think she’s angry or upset. She seems more confused than anything.
“Luke.” Walsh sounds as surprised to see Luke as he is him. “I’d heard you got married, but I had no idea.” Walsh turns back toward me and holds out his hand in a silent order for me to come to him. My feet move without thought, and when I reach him he tucks me into his side.
“Can someone explain why a man that I’m guessing is almost twice my sister’s age is in her bedroom kissing her after I got a call that she was upset? Which I’m going to guess is your fault.” Kat points her finger at Walsh.
“It wasn’t his fault.” I rush to Walsh’s defense. “If anything, he fixed it.” He’d more than fixed it actually. I hate that it came to that, but Kyle did this to himself, and I hope he’s learned a lesson.
“Fixed what?” Kat gives us both a skeptical look. I give her a toned-down Cliff’s Notes version of what’s played out. I might as well get as much out on the table as possible. When I’m done she stands there staring at us.
“I love her,” Walsh finally says, filling the silence. “She will be my wife because she’s already my everything.”
“I love him too,” I tell my sister.
“I don’t know what to say.” Kat turns to Luke.
“Walsh is good people. I’m a bit shocked that he’s staking claim to someone.”
“Why, because he’s some manwhore?” Kat hisses at her husband.
“No, the opposite. I’ve never seen him with anyone or heard anyone talking about it.” Luke touches Kat’s cheek as he tries to reassure her.
“How do you even know him?” she asks, and her tone softens. My insides are fluttering at Luke's confession about Walsh. He already makes me feel special to him, but this only adds to my reassurance.
“We’ve done some deals together over the years,” Walsh answers. “I promise you. I’ll take care of her.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Kat worries her hands together.
“You should know more than most how fast these things can happen,” I point out because she and Luke had their own whirlwind.
“I know, but you’re still so young.”
“Wouldn’t you have loved to have found Luke sooner?” I toss back at her.
“You’re right.” She gives me a soft smile. “You’ve always been wise beyond your years because of how we grew up. If this is what you want, you have my support. Always.”