Lev

I gritted my teeth. “I was seventeen years old. She called me a tramp. She had hate in her eyes. And you…you wouldn’t even look at me.” I told him the honest truth. “You were a coward.”

His hands came up to rest on his hips. He nodded slowly. “Yeah, maybe I was. But I would’ve given up everything for you. I loved you that much. I would’ve dropped everything. My football scholarship, my family, none of it mattered. If you just asked me to pack a bag, I would have come with you. We could’ve been together,” he finished on a whisper.

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” I told him. “I would never wish the life I’ve lived upon someone I loved. I wouldn’t even wish it upon someone I hate.” I leaned against his car and looked out into the street. “I was starving, James. Literally starving before Lev busted me stealing his brother’s wallet. I wasn’t ready to die. I just wanted to get something to eat. Stealing that wallet turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. It changed my life.”

James huffed out a breath, leaning on the car in the space next to me. “I would’ve always provided for you. You never would have gone hungry if we’d done that together. But you didn’t give me the opportunity.”

I changed the subject. “I heard you got divorced.” I turned to him. “What happened?”

He looked at me, those baby blues full of sadness. “I was still in love with another woman. My wife resented that so she left me.” He blinked slowly, reaching out to take my hand. “It’s only ever been you for me, Mina. Only you.”

His hand was warm on mine and a sudden rush of emotion hit me. I squeezed his hand and spoke quietly, “You need to move on, James.”

“Like you’ve moved on?” he uttered sternly as he released my hand.

I nodded. “I moved on seven years ago.”

He puffed out a long breath. “That sucks.”

No, it didn’t suck. It was wonderful. I had Lev, and he gave me things no other man could, not even James.

There was nothing more to say. I held out my hand. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, James.”

He took my hand, shaking it lightly. “I already have, but she doesn’t want me anymore.” He shrugged. “That’s life, I guess.”

It was life, unfortunately.

Just when I moved to let go, James pulled me forward so quickly that I was thrown into his body. His arms came around me and his lips came down on mine hard.

Wide-eyed and my body rigid, my mouth remained slack as he groaned into my lips.

Well, that certainly brought a new definition to the saying ‘stealing a kiss’.

Chapter Forty-Three

Mina

The rest of the afternoon went off without a hitch. Maggie and John apologized for James’ abrupt departure. They apologized even more so for what happened that night seven years ago. I told them that it was long forgotten and that I wished them well. And best of all, Maggie left a moment and came back with the leather-covered photo album I’d left behind. Flicking through, I could see it was untouched apart from some new additions at the end where Maggie had added some photos of us as a family. I couldn’t wait to show the photos to Alessio. We left close to five p.m., and Maggie asked if we could get together sometime for lunch. I hugged her tight and told her that I would love to, even though I was somewhat sure that wasn’t going to happen.

As we drove home, Lidi fell asleep, which gave me the perfect opportunity to speak to Lev without distraction. “What did you think about Maggie and John?”

He thought about it. “I think they regret causing you pain. They seem like nice people.”

“And James?”

His jaw tensed. “He was an ass.”

I agreed in a sense, but now I had to tell him the awkward part.

“He kissed me today.” I turned to look at him. His hands had tightened around the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “After I followed him out, we had it out. He was angry with me for leaving. He told me he was still in love with me. That it was why he got divorced.” I paused before landing the biggest blow. “He told me to leave you today and asked me to marry him.”

At the last part, Lev turned to me, his face slack. He gathered himself before clearing his throat and asking, “And what did you say to that?”

I feigned indifference, “Well, after I slapped him for that rude kiss he planted on me, I told him he needed to get a grip. I explained that I only wanted to marry one man, and I was already with that man.” I let out a breath of frustration. “You called it, baby. I was wrong. He definitely wanted a slice of Mina pie.”

Lev uttered an irritated, “I’m not sure whether to find him and beat the shit out of him, or just sit here and be thankful in the knowledge that you wish to marry me one day.”

I gri

He glanced at me and his hard face softened, a small smile gracing his lips. He leaned over and I pulled back. “Not on my lips.”

He looked confused. “Then where?”

I smirked, turning to look out the window. “I’ll show you when we get home.”

His low growl caused goose bumps to trail up my arms. And when we got home, he kissed me well and good.

In fact, he kissed me boneless.

It was the night before the club reopened, and Sasha called together a di

We ate. We talked. We laughed.

Everything was going well. Almost too well, if you know what I mean. So when Anika turned to me and said what she did, it was hardly a surprise. It was expected. “So, Mina, what’s happening? Are you looking for your own place yet?”

The entire table went silent.

“Ani.” Nas stared at her. “Honey, don’t.”

Anika had been drinking since we arrived. She was currently on her fourth glass of wine and she looked rather mellow. She waved Nas off and blinked slowly. “What? We’re all friends here.”

We were?

I wasn’t so sure of that.

I cleared my throat and responded, “Well, actually, I have been looking online at apartments.”

Nas sounded taken aback. “What?” While Lev stated a firm, “No.” And Sasha… Oh, Sasha. All he said was, “Good.” They did this simultaneously, stopping to look at each other after they heard the others’ response.

Lev cleared his throat, putting his napkin down. “Not that it’s your business, Anika, but there would be no point in Mina moving.” He lifted his glass of wine and sipped at it. “Mina proposed to me two days ago.” The table went silent. He placed his glass down. “And I’ve accepted.”

What?

What what what?

Where the heck was I when this proposal was happening?

I was surprised that Lev’s pants hadn’t caught fire, because he was clearly a liar.

“Um…” I started as everyone turned to stare at me.

But Lev helped me out. “Remember? In the car. You told me that you pla

I leaned forward, forced a light laugh, and then whisper-hissed, “That was hardly a proposal, sweetie.” I said sweetie like it was sticky and needed to get off me, like, now.

“Sure it was,” he uttered conversationally. “And I accepted.” He looked around the table. “We’re getting married.”

Nastasia chuckled, and that chuckle turned into a laugh. Viktor gri

I turned to him, a smile spreading across my lips, but I did this shaking my head.