Not anymore.
She blinked. “But we’ve only gone on one date.”
Nikhail chuckled. He wasn’t sure why, but he found it amusing that after all the “I love yous” they’d exchanged that morning, and the fact that he knew her better than anyone else, that she was hung up on this.
“True, but I think we’ve established that we are doing things out of order. We’ve only been on one date, but I am certain I want this. I wantyou.” Nikhail brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed them. “Move in with me, River. Be my person. I know there are still things we need to do. My mom will want to meet you, as will my sisters, and my house isn’t nearly as grand as the one you grew up in, but?—”
“Yes,” she said, interrupting him.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Let’s do it.” A luminous grin spread across her face. “I’d be delighted to move in with you, Nikhail. And of course, I’ll meet your mom if you want me to. It all sounds amazing.”
Had Nikhail thought he’d reached the pinnacle of happiness before?
He’d been wrong.
Thiswas the happiest he’d ever been.
“Don’t be nervous, little storm.”Nikhail brushed River’s hair away from her neck and pressed a kiss to her soft skin. “They’re going to love you.”
River glanced at the apartment door in front of them, then up at him. “Easy for you to say. They’re your family.” She tugged on the hem of her purple sweater. It was paired with black jeans that hugged her curves. She lookedincredible. “What if they hate me? I don’t know… maybe this was a bad idea.”
“They will love you, because I do.” Nikhail turned River around, putting his finger under her chin and lifting it until she was looking at him. “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think they’d welcome you with open arms. They dropped everything when I called earlier, saying there was someone I wanted them to meet before I go home.”
Even Laurie was leaving work early to come. Nikhail had talked to her already, told her that even though River was a Waterborn, she wasn’t like the Representatives.
Laurie had promised to keep an open mind when meeting River.
“I don’t know.” River gnawed on her lip ring, twisting her hands together. “I haven’t had time to mentally prepare for this. Maybe we could come back at a different time? Traditionally, parents and I don’t really get along. Especially mothers. I’m not sure?—”
The door opened.
“Nikky.” The warm, comforting tone of Calina Galebringer’s voice reached Nikhail’s ears. Even the sound of his family’s nickname for him didn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. “You’re home. And you’ve brought a friend. Come in, quickly.”
Calina herded them into the apartment before either of them could protest. Like Nikhail’s sisters, Calina was a foot shorter than he was. Her straight black hair, highlighted with silver streaks, reached past her shoulders and shimmered in the afternoon light. She was wearing jeans and a pale pink sweater, and she had on a black apron over the top.
Bow before the chef, the apron declared, the text a bold pink. A rolling pin with a crown on top was next to the text. The apron had been a gift from Laney a few years ago.
“Hello, Mom,” Nikhail said warmly, kissing his mother on the cheek. “Sorry it’s been so long since my last visit. I kept meaning to come, but life got in the way.”
Calina waved her hand in the air. “It’s fine. You’re here now. And you’ve brought a friend.”
“Not just a friend.” Nikhail squeezed River’s hand and held her close to his side. “This is River, and she’s the most important person in my life.”
And she was finally his. He could barely believe it.
“Oh, I see.” Calina’s grin widened, and her eyes sparkled. “Then this is a special day indeed. It’s a pleasure to meet you, River.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” River said. “Nik has told me so much about you, and I’m so pleased to meet the woman who raised such a wonderful man.”
“And she’s well-mannered? Amazing.” Calina wrapped her arm around River’s shoulder, tugging her away from Nikhail. “I have some refreshments and drinks in the kitchen. Come help me?”
River looked over her shoulder at Nikhail, wide-eyed. He gave her an encouraging nod.
“Uh, sure?” River said.
“Wonderful.” Calina tilted her head towards River. “You know, Nikky has never brought anyone home.”