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Helpfully, though, Calli seems to answer that question for me when her arms tighten around me and a soft, “Nikolas,” falls from her lips.

“Well, shit, man. You’re one lucky motherfucker, you know that? She’s one in a million.”

I nod, a lump too large to speak around suddenly jumping into my throat.

“I-I th-th-think I—”

“I know, Bro. I can see it. I’ve always seen it. And despite all this shit and what’s going to happen when you get her home, I’m so fucking happy for you.”

A smile curls at my lips, because damn it, I’m happy for me too.

“I n-never th-thought I’d get a ch-chance.”

“You underestimate yourself, while everyone around her underestimates her. I’m not surprised. I think you’re pretty perfect together, to be honest.”

“Yeah?” I ask hopefully. It’s pointless, but it’s there anyway.

“Yeah.” He drains the rest of his bottle before sitting forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “And I’ll do whatever it takes for it to continue when you get home. She’s right, Bro. You deserve this. This and so much more. We’ll figure a way to make it all happen.”

“Maybe I should just marry her,” I say in jest. “Worked for Theo and Emmie.”

“Very different situation. I can’t see Dad signing off on that anytime soon.”

“Only for a few more weeks. Then we’ll officially be fully grown adults and we can do what the fuck we want.”

“I’d better go choose a suit. You want your best man looking sharp, after all,” he teases.

“Who the fuck said you’d be my best man?” I bite back.

“Well, who else is it gonna be? Nico?”

“I’m pretty sure Calli wouldn’t want bloodstains on her dress, so probably not.”

He smiles at me, his eyes shining with happiness for me and confidence in me to do the right thing. It’s wholly overwhelming, but I silently vow to do everything in my power to make it happen.

“Come on, get your girl to bed.”

“She would still be in it if some stupid motherfucker didn’t decide to break in in the middle of the night.”

He holds his hands up. “I can’t help it if I missed my little bro.”

“Fuck you, man. Fuck you.”

I stand with Calli still tucked into my chest, and he watches with amused eyes.

“She looks good on you, Bro.”

An image of her writhing beneath me, her back arching as I fill her body up, pushing her right to the edge fills my mind, and my lips twitch into a cocky-arse smirk as my cock swells.

“You’ve no fucking idea, man.”

“Maybe not, you dirty motherfucker, but I know how much she enjoys it.”

“Can’t believe you fucking knew and said nothing,” I grunt, following him out of the living room.

“You’d have freaked and run off, much like you did anyway. But I didn’t want to be the cause. You need her, man. Just as much as I think she needs you, so you’re gonna need to stash all this ‘I’m not worthy’ bullshit and come up with a way to make it happen.” He comes to a stop at our old bedroom and pushes the door open. “Sleep tight, lover boy.” He winks before closing the door on us.

“You’re a pain in my arse, Alexander.”

“Same to you, Nikolas,” he quips back, and I walk into our bedroom with a wide fucking smile on my face and what I really pray isn’t fruitless hope in my heart.