Page 60 of Deadly Protector
“What?” Mila jumped off the stool, tugged her into her arms.
Zamira didn’t care about her tears now as she buried her face in her sister’s shoulder. She was the one who always comforted her kids, but now…she was off-kilter in a way she hadn’t felt in forever. “I don’t think I’m cut out for dating,” she finally murmured, lifting her head. “He said a bunch of crap about how he still wants me but that I need to think about what I want.” Or whatever. “It sounds like a bunch of lies. I told him I didn’t need time to think—I want to be with him.” She cared for him so much her chest ached with it. He’d barreled right into her life and stepped up to protect her when he hadn’t had to.
“Dimitri is being a dumbass,” Lyosha said as he stepped into the room, dressed in slacks and a button-down.
“I’ll say,” growled Mila.
“He does not want to break up with you either,” Lyosha continued.
Hope twisted hard in her chest. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Just trust me on this. He will come to his senses.”
Zamira swiped away the last of her tears as she tried to wrap her mind around the vast change in Dimitri. Just hours ago in the early morning hours they’d made love. Now…he wanted to give her space? Ugh. More like he wanted space for himself.
His reasoning sounded like an out for him. “Am I okay to go home?” she asked Lyosha. She figured she was since Clarita, Carlos and their kids had already gone home but she wanted to confirm.
He nodded once, but added, “Yes, but you are welcome to stay here as long as you like.”
“Yes,” Mila added. “Please stay.”
“No, I’m fine. But thank you both for your hospitality. I’m sure you want your place back.” And she wanted to be alone right now, wanted to wallow in self-pity.
Lyosha simply shrugged, and before Mila could answer, their white and orange cat Nala raced in chasing their border collie Boots. His nails clicked on the floor as he ran right at Lyosha, jumping up at him.
Lyosha snickered as he scooped up Boots—who promptly started licking him like crazy. “Is Nala picking on you?” he murmured, his tone indulgent.
Mila simply shook her head, but it was clear she was fighting a laugh. “He’s such a baby sometimes.”
Zamira laughed, watching as Nala wound her way around Mila’s legs until she was picked up as well. Taking a step back, she said, “I’m going to grab my stuff.” She’d never unpacked, just took out the basics, and the truth was she wanted to be home.
Wanted to be around all her things—her kids’ things. As soon as she got home, she was going to start a video chat with them.
Then…she wasn’t sure if she should call Dimitri again or wait for him to reach out, or what. He’d thrown her for such a loop.
No, she wouldn’t call him. She had her life back, some downtime. She’d hoped to enjoy a lot of that time with him, but she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her free time moping around.
Well, maybe a little.
She’d already made up her mind about him, about them—she wanted to be with him. And it sounded like he was the one who needed to make up his mind.
He needed to figure out what he wanted. Maybe now that he had space, he’d figure it out.
