Stay Close (For You 1)

Paige nods, and I can see a little relief in her eyes.

“I will never take her from any of you. I wish only to become a part of what you have built.”

Paige reaches out and squeezes my shoulder, and if I’m not mistaken there are small tears in her eyes.

“I know that feeling all too well.”

A few hours later, when I get back to the guest house and slip back into bed, my krasotu is still sleeping. I lie there watching the sunlight spread across her shoulder. The sheets are tucked around her waist, and her pale skin glows. Hours pass, and I never take my eyes off her. I could spend the rest of eternity just like this and die a happy man.

When she opens her eyes and smiles at me, the light catches the diamond on her finger, sending prisms of rainbows dancing across the room.

I bought it after I talked with Paige. The five-carat princess-cut pink diamond is surrounded by small white ones on a platinum band. My krasotu deserves a ring as beautiful as she is, and she will forever be my darling love.

“Ivan,” she says, looking at it in shock.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” she screams, throwing herself at me. She giggles with excitement and climbs up my body, wrapping her legs and arms around me as tightly as possible.

I laugh with her and rub my hands down her back. We stay like that for a long time, but we can’t remain in our bubble forever.

“Pandora,” she says, looking into my eyes.

I nod in understanding. She needs to talk to her twin.

Chapter Thirteen

Penelope

I slip into my room to see Pandora still asleep in my bed. On the weekends she could sleep forever if we let her. Normally her growling stomach is the only thing that motivates her to get up. Crawling onto the bed, I lie next to her and run my finger down her nose. Her face scrunches and she slaps at my hand, making me giggle.

I knew Pandora was the first person I wanted to tell. I know I’ll have to face my mom and dad soon enough. Pandora and I share everything, and I hope that she’ll be happy for me. I want her to be excited with me. I run my finger down her nose again.

“You better have food,” she grumbles, smacking at my hand again. Her eyes fly open when her hand makes contact with my ring. She grabs my hand, looking at the gigantic rock Ivan put on me.

“Never one to waste time are you, Penny?” I hear the laughter in her voice. The little bit of tension I wasn’t even aware I was carrying melts away. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, feeling a little choked up now. “I know some might say it’s fast.”

“Fast is putting it lightly,” she laughs. “Seems to be the way this family works, though.”

We both smile at that. Dad always talks about how he fell in love with Mom after just one look. Knew from the moment he saw her she would be his life. Then he did anything and everything to make her his.

“I knew the day would come when we’d have to detach ourselves from each other. But I thought we still had more time.”

I stare at her, thinking about not having her crawl into my bed every night. I don’t know why I didn’t think about it before. Things will change between us.

“Ahh, Penny, don’t cry. All I’m saying is I’m going to miss you. But it’s time for a new chapter in our lives. I’m just glad you have someone with you in your new chapter.”

“What about you? Do you want someone?” I ask.

Something flashes across her face before it’s gone. “Just because you’re lovestruck doesn’t mean you need to push it on me. I think I’ll go along with Henry and do the no-dating thing”.

I roll my eyes at the mention of our cousin. Henry refuses to date. He said he didn’t want to end up all crazy in love like his own parents. Both of our dads seem to have stalker tendencies when it comes to their wives. Henry is terrified he’s going to catch it.

“Will you tell Mom and Dad with me?”

The ball of tension in my stomach has suddenly returned. She runs her hands over her face and now I can see she’s worried, too. I always get sick when I think about my parents being mad at me. Pandora had always been quick to take the brunt of whatever we got ourselves into as kids. But this time, it’s on me. And I need her support.

“How about I tell them I’m knocked up. When they start to freak, we’ll just say that we’re kidding and Penny’s marrying the guy who looks like he murders people for breakfast.” I smack her arm, and then she sobers. “Wait, you’re not pregnant, are you?”