Page 35 of Treasured By 3

“And you’re not rushing out the door,” she answers.

“Shockingly, strippers are less exciting than my fiancée,” I say, feeling my brow furrow. “Did your father try something?”

“He’s been silent.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing’s bothering me Hunt, go have fun with Lief and Chase and everyone else. Make those strippers rich tonight,” she encourages before giving me a damp kiss on the cheek.

I don’t move. I continue watching Valerie, but she doesn’t give in like normal. Hell, I learned the shut up and watch trick from her, so I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s immune, but I can tell her head is somewhere else.

“Something’s bothering you. I’m not leaving until you tell me,” I say.

“Lief and Chase will leave without you.”

“I don’t care,” I take off my coat, eyeing her bath. “I’m five seconds from getting in. Want to count them down?”

“Hunter, don’t.”

“Five.” I start, pulling at my shirt. “Four.” I get enough buttons undone to pull it over my head. “Three.”

“I uninvited my mother from the wedding,” she says with a groan before sinking deeper. Only her eyes remain over the cloudy water.

I sigh and sit on the edge of the tub. “Why?”

Valerie blows some bubbles, and I reach for my belt when she pops back up. “Because she doesn’t support our marriage! She said it in front of your mom and Josefine. She called you and Chase my mistresses. I called her last week to see if she’s changed her mind after talking to Sophia, and my mother still said I was making a mockery of marriage by claiming three men. It started a fight. We both ... said things.”

“That you meant,” I fill in.

“She can’t say I’m making a mockery of marriage when she married my father and still won’t leave him after what he did to Tristan and me. Our marriage will be real and right. I love all three of you. You love me. You’d never hurt me, raise a hand against me, abuse my trust or love. So she’s full of shit and she doesn’t get to be at my wedding when she’s going to be terrible about it,” Valerie huffs before crossing her arms.

I text Chase and Lief to leave without me, then take Valerie’s hand. I play with her fingers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I’m supposed to be a good example. I know that you and Vanya aren’t close, and I know that you still have issues with her, so why would you keep working on that when I’m cutting my mother out of my life again?” she whispers.

I chuckle and pull her closer to me. “Dorogaya, our relationships with our mothers are complicated and different. You’ve made the same effort you’re asking me to make with my mother. And you’re reaffirming those boundaries you’re so fond of.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t take the high road.”

“It’s overrated,” I say.

“You have a bachelor’s party. Go,” she encourages again.

I take a breath, then sink into the tub, leaving my shoes hanging out. Valerie gapes at me. “Hunter Volkov, you still have pants on!”

“I’d rather stay here and make you feel better, cuddle you, kiss you, spend all night with you than go throw ones,” I say. “You’re more important.”

Valerie softens, then turns, so she’s sitting the wrong way in the tub, just like me, her legs hanging out over the edge. “I love you, Krolik.”

“I’m very loveable,” I say, chuckling.

“I mean it. You’re a good man, even if you’re beyond frustrating sometimes.”

She leans her head on my shoulder.

I wrap an arm around her and press my lips to her forehead. “I’ll frustrate you forever.”

“Softy,” she grumbles.

---