Page 79 of Devious Madness

“Well, it’s not like you had any great examples growing up. Your mom has had five marriages and your dad, three.” Megan points out.

Megan didn’t exactly have a Norman Rockwell upbringing, but she hasn’t led her life with her heart leading the charge. She’s levelheaded and smart and uses common sense. Until Alexander, she’d never made a rash decision about a guy in her life.

“That’s a lot of stepparents.” Elana’s eyes widen. “My mom never got married. She dated occasionally, but nothing was ever serious.”

I point to her. “See, that’s the way to go.”

“Except, she never had anyone to share her life with. Other than me, she didn’t really have anyone.”

“You don’t want that, do you?” Megan needles.

“I would think you’d be on my side here,” I say. “I mean, you’ve seen the disasters I’ve been with.”

“Yeah.” She nods. “But that doesn’t mean the right guy isn’t right in front of your face.”

Of course.

“I’m not marrying Rurik,” I all but shout. “I’ve known him for barely ten days.”

“The fact that you aren’t chasing him is what makes me more it might be worth exploring.”

“You just don’t want to be the only one that’s dragged into this whole mafia thing.” I wince when Elana’s eyebrow curves. “Sorry, no offense.”

“None to me. I’m just the little sister.” She gives her best impression of an innocent smile with fluttering eyelids.

“Mira, put a card down.” Megan pokes me.

“I will say this. I’ve known Rurik for a long time, and he’s never made a claim on a woman.” Elana drops another winning card down and slides the trick to sit with her others. “So, if he’s said he’s marrying you, I’m not really sure there’s anything you can do about it.”

“I can say no.”

Megan laughs. “Can I be there when you do?”

“It’s not as fun watching someone dig their own grave as you think it might be,” Elana gives Megan a pointed look.

“Maybe just give him a chance. Don’t run away just because you’re afraid.”

“Why would I be afraid of him?” I protest now that they’ve both decided to gang up on me.

“Because this is the first time you haven’t dived headfirst into something. You’re being reasonable. You’re letting things develop on their own.” Megan doesn’t even try to hide her smirk. “You’re sleeping with him and loving every second of it without putting big labels on it.”

My face heats. “You don’t know?—”

“I have known you for too long for you to think I don’t know when you’re getting laid,” Megan interrupts.

I stare at her, slack-jawed, for a long moment. “I’m that transparent?”

“To me you are.” Megan shrugs and tosses down a king of diamonds.

Finally, Elana won’t win a hand.

“It’s complicated, though.” I drop a low card and hold back a higher one for another hand.

“How complicated can it be?”

I keep focused on my cards. Answering her question would destroy everything. She’d see me for who I really am, and I’d lose her. And Rurik.

That last bit stings a little more than it probably should, but I’ll stuff that in a box for later evaluation.

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