I rub her arm, recalling how she told me all about her history with Asher. “But you’re here now and Asher proved he deserves you.”
“Kyle didn’t?”
“Not really.”
“And fucking with your birth control pills doesn’t get him any brownie points either.”
“Tell me about it.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Sometimes, I feel like he’s so close, and other times it’s like he’s a shadow I can never grab a hold of. I thought I was okay with it at the beginning, but I’m far from okay now, Reina. I feel like I’m on a constant rollercoaster ride with no room to catch my breath. How can I trust him now?”
“Talk it out, Rai.” She softens her tone. “It’s the only way for you to move forward.”
I nod even though I have no freaking clue how I should start that type of ‘talk’.
Reina interlinks her hand in my arm. “Come on, spend some time with Gareth. He came to me crying yesterday when he thought an alien took his auntie.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Apologize to the little guy, not me. If you let him play with you all day, he’ll probably forgive you.”
We head to the living room and find Gareth holding a bamboo sword and riding Kyle as if he’s a horse. He shouts as he fights the evil monster who is Asher.
My heart clenches at the sight. It’s the first time I’ve seen Kyle so carefree and smiling without calculation.
It’s a miracle that he can smile like that after witnessing the monstrous deaths of his parents. It’s even more miraculous that he can be so open with a kid.
I don’t know why I feel like something’s moving in my chest at the view.
“Look at them.” Reina’s voice is filled with awe. “Gareth doesn’t like people so easily, but he’s already making Kyle his horse. He watched Tangled the other day and the horse is his favorite character, so not anyone can be his horse.”
“Kyle has a way of charming people. Seems that not even kids are immune.”
Reina smirks, flipping her hair. “Are you telling me that or are you talking to yourself?”
“Shut up.” I hit her shoulder with mine and she returns the gesture.
I missed her so much.
We spend almost the entire day with Reina, Asher, and Gareth. My twin sister won’t let me leave, saying she only sees me once in a blue moon and that it’s the weekend anyway, so I should rest.
I invite Ruslan and Katia to eat lunch with us, but they won’t leave their guarding spots, not even when I order them to. So I just get them takeout.
Kyle and Asher spend most of the time playing with Gareth or watching TV together. Before I know it, we’re all sitting down for a late dinner after Gareth passed out on the couch.
Reina goes to carry him to bed, but Asher gently pushes her aside.
“I can carry him,” she argues.
“I know you can, but he’s gotten so big, so I’ll do it.”
She tries to protest, but Asher places a kiss on her forehead, making her go speechless.
My twin sister joins us in the dining room. She went all out and even prepared a Russian soup.
“Since when do you know how to cook?” I ask.
“I took classes. Why?” She turns to Kyle, who’s sitting silently by my side. “Is she still a hopeless cook?”
“More or less.”
“Hey! I prepared you those pancakes and toast that time.”
“Burnt pancakes and toast.”
“You ate them.”
“I had no choice. The non-burnt parts weren’t so bad.” He takes a sip of the soup, still not meeting my gaze.
Reina stares between us and motions at him. I make a face at her, but that only widens her grin.
Asher joins us after he places Gareth in his room.
“Did he wake up?” Reina asks.
“He didn’t even stir. He played too much for his own good.” Asher places a hand around Reina’s shoulder and leans in to kiss the top of her forehead before he sits down.
I’ve always loved the way he looks at her like she’s the center of his world and everything else is an accessory. Like the world is gray and she’s the only one in color.
Lowering my head, I dig into my soup to avoid watching them like a creep. I startle when my eyes meet Kyle’s inquisitive ones. He’s been watching me. But why?
He pours himself a glass of wine and finishes half of it in one go.
“Where in the United Kingdom are you from?” Asher asks him. “London?”
“Yes. I lived there for most of my life, but I’m originally from Ireland.”
“You don’t sound Irish.” Reina removes the fish bones and places the clean ones on my plate as if I’m a kid.
“I was raised by an Englishman, thus the accent.”
“Asher lived in England for three years.” Reina’s voice drops with clear sadness. “He went to college there.”