007. Such a Heart-Breaking Misunderstanding [1]

Special mass release for the novel's launch, 07/20.

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MIA

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Inhaling deeply, trying to control my emotions, I turned, "What do you want?''

As he skated towards me, came the part 'Does he knows where your heart lies? Where it truly lies?' and I felt like cursing the universe. Because, damn it.

Why did it had to be like this?

Why did he had to see me as kid?

Fuck, I'm more accomplished than all fourteen of us, I've been carrying more responsibilities than all of them, and he still sees me as a kid? I have the body of a grown women, and by how many guys and girls hit on me back in college, I know I am very attractive. That is, if he's into brunettes.

If he's into blondes like my sister Emma… I will have no chance at all.

"Don't go, yet," he told me as he came to the walls at the sides of the ice rink, then, he held on the door that was at the size of half my body. "Hand me the blades cover, please," he pointed at it, near the seat where he had left his phone, slippers, a bottle of water, and a bar of chocolate identical to the ones I used to buy for him and send with the letters.

Holding my shit together, I put my things on the opposite edge of the large seat, picked it up and handed it to him. He quickly put them on and walked out of the ice rink, towering over me, as I'm with no heels I don't even reach his shoulders.

But don't you dare to call me short.

Misha is 2.07m tall, alright?!

He sat down on his side of the seat and changed from the black skates to the Versace black slippers, putting the skates on the bag he had also brought with him. Then, he picked the bottle and began to drink from it, and I couldn't help but to stare at it, at how his Adam apple moved, at how much he drank, even though I have no idea what he's drinking. And when his foxy ocean blue eyes turned to me, I instantly averted my gaze.

"Sit down, Mia, no need to stay standing like that," he pointed to the seat and to the space at his side, but I sat as far from him as possible, not trusting myself near this man. "Do you hate me, Mia?"

Frowning, I turned to him, "What?" Where the hell did he get that from?

I literally love him.

I'm absolutely obsessed, damn it.

"Do you hate me?" He asked again, a puzzled look on his face.

I blinked, stunned, "Why would you think that?"

"You clearly hate me. You always did, didn't you? I mean, you can be honest with me, we're siblings-in-law now and we'll be step-siblings in a month. I've always asked myself why you hated me," he leaned back on his side. "You don't talk to me, you don't look at me, when I'm near you go to the opposite direction, you get furious easily with what I say, and your avoid me as if I was some kind of plague. I don't want to press it, but now that we'll live in the same place, I think it's better to know what I did to you. Did I offend you?"

What the fuck is he talking about?

What the hell?

"Siblings-in-law?"

He tilted his head, "Leo didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I hissed.

"Me and Emma are dating," he grinned. "Finally."

Oh, I feel like dying.

"What do you mean, dating? What do you mean?" Emma is a lesbian, I'm fucking sure of it. She dates Rosalia. What the hell is he talking about? And what's with the 'finally'?

Was he really in love with her?

Shit. I feel like crying.

Don't tell she's been bisexual the whole time.

Sigh, "That's what I'm talking about, Mia. You exhales hatred when you are near me. I mean, are you overprotective of Emma? You were never that close, so I don't know, and you only seem to have a problem with me. I mean, we would become in-laws one way or another, no? Since you're in love with Leo."

My eyes almost popped up, "I am what? With whom?"

He blinked confused, "In love with Leo. My younger brother. You don't need to pretend, Mia, we all know," he avoided my eyes and leaned closer to his front, clenching his jaw. "Is it because you look down on me or something? I mean, sure, you are the prodigy of our famiglias, but I never did anything against you."

I stood up, feeling like I'm hyperventilating and he turned to me, questions on his blue eyes, "I am not in love with you brother, you fucking idiot," I yelled. "I never was, he's not my type, he's a brother to me. Have you gone fucking mad? He isn't the one that I," I swallowed the words in the middle, clenching my fists. "I can't believe you are so stupid not to know your own brother's preference, Grigori Mikhail, seriously," I scoffed bitterly.

His eyes darkened and he frowned, "Excuse me?"

"Leo is dating. He's been dating for years," I hissed. "I've simply been protecting him, since his own siblings were too busy with mine to even look at him and notice what was going on."

Misha stood up, making me feel like a kid, "What? What do you mean?"

"I shouldn't even be saying this, fuck. It's his secret to keep. You will know when he's ready to tell you, since he trusts me more than he does you," I scoffed bitterly. "Dating Emma, huh? Of course, you are. Of course. How fucking predictable, how fucking amazing. What? You're also going to say you've been in love with her for more than ten years and only got the guts to make a move now?"

Hold it.

Don't cry.

Don't you fucking cry.

Not in front of him.