“Really?” River sounded surprised.
“Not once,” his mother affirmed. “I was thrilled when he called earlier and told me he wanted us to meet you. He didn’t tell me how beautiful you were, though….”
Calina continued speaking as she led River into the kitchen. Before Nikhail could follow them, the door opened behind him.
“Nikky!” Laurie and Laney said in unison as they rushed through the door and threw themselves at him. “You’re home.”
He hugged them both, something inside him settling at being surrounded by the women he loved. His mother, sisters, and, of course, River. “Hey, girls.”
Laurie was the first to pull away. Her black hair was in a short bob, and she wore slacks and a white blouse. She glanced around the apartment. “Where is she?”
“Laur,” Nikhail cautioned. “Be nice.”
“I will be,” Laurie said with a huff. “I just want to meet the girl who has swept our brother off his feet.”
“Yeah,” Laney said, drawing back and looking around the space. “Where’s your girlfriend, Nikky?”
“She’s in the kitchen with Mom,” Nikhail said, and both his sisters craned their necks to look around him, clearly trying to see her. “But just… wait a minute, okay?”
His sisters must’ve heard something in his voice because they both looked back at him.
“What’s wrong, Nik?” Laney asked, always the most intuitive of the siblings.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said. “I just… River means a lot to me. She’s my whole world, and I hope you can find it in your hearts to welcome her with open arms. Be nice to her, please.”
They both studied Nikhail for a long moment, but it was Laurie who spoke first.
“So what you’re saying is I shouldn’t kick off our meeting by telling her how much I fucking hate Representatives?”
Every muscle in Nikhail’s body tensed. “Laur?—”
“Relax, big brother.” Laurie elbowed him in the side. “I promised Krystal I’d be good, and I meant it. Come on, introduce us to your girlfriend. We won’t bite.”
And true to their word, they didn’t.
River emerged from the kitchen shortly after, her shoulders relaxed and a smile dancing on her lips. She held a glass of wine for herself and a beer for Nikhail. They sat side by side on thecouch, their thighs touching, as Nikhail introduced River to his sisters.
The three of them got along splendidly, and it wasn’t long before Nikhail had been banished from the couch as his sisters teased him about his meticulous wardrobe. River was smiling and laughing alongside them, and he went into the kitchen.
“Can I help you, Mom?” he asked. “You haven’t sat down since I got here.”
Calina was pulling items out of the fridge, but she turned when he walked in.
“Of course, you can,” she said, handing him the bowl she’d been filling. “Prep these for me, will you?”
Nikhail took in the pile of carrots, onions, and celery. “Finely diced?”
“That would be perfect.” She patted his cheek affectionately. “Thank you, Nikhail.”
He tilted his head towards the living room. “Go, take a break. I’ve got this.”
“You’ll let me know when it’s done?”
“Absolutely.”
He’d prepped many a meal when his mom had been working late after his father had abandoned them.
It wasn’t long before Calina’s voice joined the chorus coming from the living room. Nikhail peered out of the kitchen, grinning as he saw River smiling and chatting with his family. She fit right in, as though she was always meant to be there.