Page 37 of Mabilia

He was against it.He’s still against it. He’s not the only one either. Tommy is siding with him, which is weird. If anyone should be excited for me to move out of my parents’ house, you’d think it’d be my boyfriend.

But, no, Tommy is on board with the whole “it’s not safe” bullshit my father keeps groaning about. I’m not sure college could get any safer. Papa made sure this entire floor is filled with Bratva kids. I’m surrounded by family. And spies. All at my father’s beck and call. Not one of these kids would dare disobey the Pakhan.

But this is still a win for me and I’m taking it. I was supposed to room with Aurora, before she disappeared. That’s a whole other story—one she needs to tell you herself.

Tommy walks in behind me with a box in his hands. “Did you know this dorm is coed?”

“Is it?” I ask in my most innocent voice.

“You failed to mention that part, Mabilia,” Tommy grunts, dropping the box on the bed. “I just had at least ten guys come up to the truck and offer to help move you in.”

“Oh, that’s nice of them.” I smile.

“Nice? I told them all to fuck off.”

“You what?” I screech. “Tommy, I have to live here. Now I’m going to be known as the girl with the crazy boyfriend.”

“No, you’ll be known as someone who’s off limits.” He smirks.

“Mabilia, it’s not too late to change your mind. You can come home.” Mom is teary-eyed as she walks into the room.

“Or you could move in with me.” Tommy lifts a shoulder as he sits and spins in the desk chair.

“Over my dead body,” my dad chimes in.

“You’d rather her live here? In a coed dorm with a bunch of guys who…” Tommy trails off.

“Who what?” I urge him to continue.

“Who are going to regret trying to hit on you,” he says.

“This floor is full of Bratva kids. Trust me, none of them have the balls to hit on me.” I laugh.

“You underestimate your appeal,” Tommy tells me.

“You underestimate my level of restraint when it comes to wanting to kill you,” Papa tells Tommy.

I swear my boyfriend says things just to get a rise out of my father. They definitely have a love/hate bromance thing going on. Neither would admit that though.

“You know, I could move in with you here. How fun would that be? We could be dorm mates,” Mom suggests.

“No,” Papa and I both say at the same time.

“I love you, Mom, but I’m only down the road. I’m not even leaving the city. You will still see me all the time,” I add as I wrap my arms around her.

“I know, but I thought I still had years left before you moved out.” She sniffles.

“You have two other children at home,” I remind her. “And you can always go to Melbourne and see Zoe and the kids.”

Zoe is my adopted sister. My parents found her when she was a teenager. I was only a baby so she’s always been a part of my life. But we don’t have a sisterly relationship. She’s more like an aunt to me. Papa and Mom took her in to protect her and then she moved to Australia. She’s now happily married with three kids she insisted she’d never have.

“Maybe.” Mom sighs.

“Okay, this is supposed to be a happy day. Not a sad one. Dry your eyes.” I point to both of my parents. “Tommy and I will go get some more boxes.” I quickly grab Tommy’s hand, pull him up off the chair, and drag him out of the room.

“What if we just pretend that you sleep here, but really spend every night at my place instead?” he suggests as soon as we’re closed inside the elevator.

“Or you could spend some nights in my room and I can spend some at your apartment?” I counter.

“Deal, but I want you next to me every single night from now on. I don’t care where we sleep,” he says.

“Deal.” I smile up at him and loop my arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he replies before leaning in and pressing his lips against mine.

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