Accidentally Yours (Merffy Kizzmet) novel Chapter 173

Accidentally Yours.

Chapter 173

He straightened and glanced over his shoulder. “Nicu. You stay with her.”

Nico froze at the doorway, blue eyes sharp. Enzo’s tone wasn’t an order so much as an entrustment, the kind that carried more than either of them said aloud

Nice gave one sharp nod. “Always,”

Enzo’s hand lingered in Lola’s hair a beat longer, then he pulled away, leaving her in the care of the only man he trusted with what mattered most.

clicked shut.

The door cl

Silence stretched.

Lola exhaled, turned her head toward Nico, and groaned. “I’m starving.”

He raised a brow from the armchair. “You just got k

kissed like you were oxygen, and the first thing you say is you’re hungry?”

y

国

She flopped back dramatically into the cushions, clutching her ribs like the heroine of some old black–and–white film. “If I don’t get pho in the next hour, I will probably die.”

Nico’s lips twitched, though he tried to hide it, “That so?”

“Tragic death by noodle deprivation,” she went on, eyes closing. “Put it on my tombstone. Make sure they spell it with the accent mark, I don’t want to be remembered as basic.”

That cracked him, a low laugh spilling out before he could stop it. He shook his head, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re impossible.”

She cracked one eye open, hazel sparking gold. “And yet, here you are.”

He muttered something in Italian under his breath, too quiet for her to catch, then pushed up from the chair. “Fine. Pho. But you’re staying right there.”

“Deal,” she said smugly, curling deeper into the couch like victory tasted better than broth.

As soon as Nico disappeared into the kitchen, she reached for the stuffed duck perched on the armrest. Lord Archibald Featherstone Quackston III, Supreme Commander of the Bathtub Brigade–though Enzo insisted on calling him Archy, like chopping the name down to one syllable could contain the madness.

Today

the duck wore a Halloween onesie patterned with little white ghosts, soft cotton stretched over his round belly. It was one of the ridiculous outfits Enzo had brought home in bulk, every costume and pajama set Build–a–Bear cartled, because when it came to Lola, he couldn’t leave anything behind.

She hugged Archy tight to her

r chest, crooked tail squishing into her ribs.

Best gilt I’ve ever gotten. And he knows it. Which is why he’ll never let me forget that he stood in line with a pack of five–year–olds, bought out half the store’s duck clothes, and carried the bag like it was contraband.

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11:23 Thu, Oct 9

Chapter 173

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She wriggled until the blanket was coconned around her, tilss protesting but manageable, then grabbed the remote. A couple clicks later. the TV glowed with the familiar neon title screen. Stepbrothers: Unrated.

For the hundredth time.

The opening music filled the suite, absurdly dramatic, and she sighed in satisfaction, snuggling Archy closer. Comfort wasn’t complicated. It was noodles on the way, a dick in a ghost onesie, and trash cinema that made the world blur just enough.

he’d Nico came back from the kitchen with a tray like he was auditioning for a Michelin star. The pho wasn’t left in its takeout box poured it into a heavy bowl, lime wedges fanned along the tim, hasil layered neatly on top, chili paste in a perfect swirl. He even found porcelain chopsticks and a spoon, like this was some high–class tasting menu instead of leftovers.

Lola blinked, grinning. “What’s this? MasterChef: Mafia Edition?”

A, firm and quiet, though his ears had gone red at the edges.

He set the tray carefully across her lap. “Eat,” he said,

–

She snorted. “Bossy. Still, she picked up the spoon, blew across the broth, and took a sip. Warmth spread down her throat, easing the ache in her tibs. She sighed, satisfied. “Okay… I’ll give it to you. You’ve got skills”

Nico’s fingers toyed with her hair as the movie flickered on. Not restless–steady, like he needed the anchor of touching her just to breathe right.