Page 5 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
Kostya winced and Roman snorted. It was always serious shit when his sister used his formal name.
“There’s nothing to tell,” he assured her.
“Is your friend a male or a female?” Irina persisted.
He grunted. “Female.”
“Ahhhhhh.” His sister smirked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that you don’t have any female friends, so this is significant.”
“You’re right, Mom. Uncle Kostya has never mentioned a woman.” Lexi turned to look at him with too-old eyes. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“Yeah, is she?” Irina asked, her eyes twinkling.
I’m so screwed. How do I explain Lark Sorensen? Still, she isn’t a girlfriend…
Kostya opened his mouth, and Irina raised her eyebrow.
“This stroganoff is delicious,” he finally said before he took a big bite.
“Seriously, Uncle, you need to get with the program,” Roman told him. “Girlfriends rock. And I’m talking about girls as friends. You need to get some women in your posse.”
Kostya shook his head.
Really?I’m getting schooled by a fifteen-year-old?
“He’s kind of right, Uncle Kostya. Maybe in the olden days, people didn’t have friends of different sexes, but nowadays they do. It’s more…more…” Lexi turned to her brother. “You say it.”
“Healthy. Seriously, Uncle Kostya, you spend too much time with the guys from your team. They’re great guys and all, but you need to get out more. Mom is always saying you need a social life and all. Mom has guy-friends and dad has girl-friends. You met them last Christmas, remember? It’s all cool. It’s not like they’re having sex or anything. But you could probably use some sex.”
“Okay, enough!” Irina put up her hands. “Roman, really, you have seriously crossed a line, and I’ve raised you better than that, haven’t I? I need you to apologize to your uncle right now.”
Kostya snuck a peek over at Lexi and damned if she wasn’t nodding.
Holy fucking hell. What has this world come to?
His lips twitched.
“Uhm, kids, I really appreciate your concern, but I gotta tell you that my sex life, or lack thereof, wouldn’t be something I would clue you in on.”
“Thank God,” Irina muttered. “Roman?” she growled as she gave her son the stink-eye.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Kostya.” Then he turned to his sister. “But we worry about you.”
“Yeah,” Lexi nodded. “You’re the best. We just want you to be happy. Some woman would be lucky to have you.” Then her eyes sparkled. “I wouldn’t mind spoiling one of your babies.”
Kostya gave his sister an incredulous look. “I blame this on you,” he pointed his fork at his baby sister.
“This is not my fault. This is all Tony. We Russians are stoic, you know this. But the Italian side of the family just can’t help themselves.” She shrugged.
Kostya still had a hard time wrapping his head around his little sister marrying into the big Romano clan. He was always invited over to Tony’s parents’ house for the holidays, but more often than not he found excuses not to attend; it was just too overwhelming. Irina, God bless her, always let it slide.
“Okay, time to serve dessert,” Irina announced. The kids perked up.
“You made dessert?” Lexi asked.
