Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 102

Ria's POV:

Nikolai and I had just landed back in the States, and of course, he had a surprise planned. He couldn't help himself. After three weeks since the wedding and being back in Oxford to get the clinic renovations underway with Layla, Jamal, and him, it felt like things were finally falling into place. But here we were, back in the States-not to face Vlad just yet-but to visit Nikolai's family.

His childhood home, where it all started, felt warm in my memory. Even though it hadn't been my home, Nikolai's family had always treated me like their own. And as we pulled up to that familiar house, I couldn't shake off the feeling of nostalgia washing over me. This was the first time I'd been here since Thanksgiving, and after everything that had happened, it was kind of like stepping back in time. Layla and Jamal were with us, too, fresh from their honeymoon. It was a complete reunion.

The moment the door opened, Eduard's deep laugh echoed through the hall, and Amara's excited chatter followed. They both rushed forward like we were long-lost family members. "Ria!" Amara practically beamed, pulling me into a tight hug. "You came back! Oh, we've missed you, sweetheart. Look at you! More beautiful every time we see you."

Eduard stood back, grinning his usual mischievous grin. "Finally decided to show up with our idiot son, huh? Took him long enough."

I couldn't help but laugh, as Nikolai, standing beside me, rolled his eyes with that boyish smile. He muttered, "Not even five minutes in the house..."

Amara swatted Eduard lightly. "Don't tease, Eddy."

From across the room, there was a loud shout. "Best friend, you're here!" Alisha's voice pierced the air as she bounded into the room, her usual ball of energy. Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed my arm, dragging me toward the hallway. "Come on! You're going to my room."

I barely had time to glance back at Nikolai, who simply smiled as Alisha pulled me down the hallway with the energy of a puppy on too much sugar. "You're not gonna wanna miss this," she declared.

Her room, predictably, was a dream in pink. It was hyper-feminine, coquette, with soft tones of ballet pinks, lace, and fairy lights strung across every corner. It fit Alisha perfectly-sweet, but with a definite sassy edge. She sat me down on her bed like we were about to have a sleepover, and I couldn't help but giggle at how into it she was.

"This place is seriously so cute, Alisha," I said, taking it all in. "It suits you."

"Duh," she grinned before flopping next to me. "I decorated it."

A presence at the door caught my eye, and there was Nikolai leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, just watching us with that same lazy smile. I caught him watching me a lot lately, ever since the wedding. Like he was trying to figure something out, or maybe...just realizing something. He didn't say a word, just enjoyed watching his little sister talk a mile a minute about all the things she'd decorated in her room since I last visited.

A moment later, Jamal and Layla appeared in the doorway, both looking at Alisha's room like they were stepping into some kind of bubblegum fantasy. Jamal raised an eyebrow, his deep voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh wow, Alisha. Real subtle decor."

Alisha's eyes narrowed immediately. "You're just jealous I've got better taste than you."

Jamal didn't miss a beat, plopping down next to me on the bed with a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, sure. Taste. That's definitely the word I'd use."

"You wouldn't know style if it hit you in the face," Alisha shot back, hands on her hips, standing in front of Jamal like a tiny general.

"And you wouldn't know how to decorate without blinding someone with all this pink," Jamal teased, smirking at her.