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Mikhail’s gaze is still locked on me, his amusement replaced by something quieter, unreadable.
I don’t like it. I need to break this tension before it swallows me whole.
“Okay,” I say, clapping my hands together. “So, um, Maggie, Alex, what brings you guys here?”
Maggie, bless her, takes the bait immediately.
“Right!” she says, perking up. “We wanted to check on you after you, you know, threw yourself from a moving vehicle like a psychopath.”
Alex, however, doesn’t let it go so easily. He’s still watching Mikhail, his expression careful, unreadable.
Maggie keeps talking. “Okay! So, now that we’ve addressed the fact that Leah has a secret husband?—”
“I was never a secret,” Mikhail cuts in smoothly.
I glare at him. “Could you please not?”
Maggie waves me off. “Anyway, now that we know you’re alive and, uh, married, we should go get something to eat!” She spins toward Alex, smacking his arm. “Right? We were saying we should grab food.”
Alex doesn’t respond immediately. He’s still watching Mikhail, that too-calm, too-observant expression still on his face, like he’s trying to solve a puzzle that’s right in front of him but just out of reach.
Mikhail smiles lazily, completely unbothered by it. “Sure, we could eat. Unless, of course, mywifewould rather I cook for her again.”
Maggie’s head whips around so fast I swear she gets whiplash. “I’m sorry,what?”
I rub my temples, so done with this entire conversation. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
Maggie gasps dramatically, clutching her chest. “Excuse me? I have literally never seen you cook. Ever. You’ve burned toast, Leah.Toast.”
Mikhail chuckles, clearly enjoying my suffering.
I groan. “It’s not a competition, Maggie.”
She narrows her eyes, glancing between Mikhail and me. “Fine. But we’re still planning the baby shower, and we need to get started.”
Mikhail, who has been leaning lazily against the doorframe, straightens slightly. “What’s that?” he asks, brows furrowing.
Maggie blinks at him like he just asked what air is.
“You know,” she says slowly, enunciating every word. “Ababyshower. The big fun event where we celebrate the mom-to-be, give her presents, and pretend like newborns don’t make you question every life decision you’ve ever made?”
Mikhail looks at me now, his expression completely serious. “You didn’t tell me about this.”
I blink at him. “Because I didn’t think you’d care.”
He frowns, like the very idea is offensive. “Of course I care.”
Maggie perks up immediately, spinning back to Alex. “You see this? Nowthisis the kind of enthusiasm we need for the party planning committee.”
Alex sighs. “Please don’t make me part of this.”
“You’re already in too deep,” Maggie declares, pointing at him dramatically.
Mikhail’s attention remains locked on me, his gray eyes intense. “When is it?”
Maggie grins. “Soon! We were going to finalize details today. You’re totally invited, by the way.”
Mikhail tilts his head slightly. “Obviously.”