"K-K!" Evelyn sang, her voice muffled through the door. "I'm sending in Romas!"
Kiera scowled at the closed door. Romas had no qualms about invading her bedroom to drag her out of bed if Evelyn directed him to. He had no qualms about ordering dinner for her when she went out with them or telling her what to do with her life. He despised her video game playing and art, instead saying she needed a man capable of keeping her feet on the ground long enough for her to focus on doing something real with her life.
"I'm up!" she shouted.
The fact that he worshiped the ground Evelyn walked on and took care of her made Kiera jealous. She'd never dated a man half as handsome, annoying, or caring as Romas, and she expected there were very few men like him to go around.
She stumbled up and crossed to her bathroom to brush her teeth before going out to breakfast. One look at her disheveled '70s garb, and she decided to change into pajamas.
When she walked into the kitchen, Evelyn was gazing with adoration up at the huge man, leaning against him in a purely anti-feministic way. Romas was a towering example of male perfection: blond with golden skin and bright blue eyes, a chiseled face and buff body, and tall. Evelyn was six feet tall and Romas a full head taller than her. They made a perfect couple, and Kiera was disgusted at the perfection before her that represented everything she had no hopes of ever attaining.
"Hel-lo, I'm here!" she called. Evelyn gave a brilliant smile, and Romas eyed her. She eyed him back. "You again."
"Hello, kitten," he said in his thick accent. She sometimes thought his accent sounded Russian, sometimes Irish.
"Everyone sit!" Evelyn ordered.
Kiera took her usual chair, and Romas ruffled her hair as he passed her. Evelyn brought the last of three trays to the table.
"You didn't come to the party last night," Kiera said as she helped herself to eggs before Romas could fill her plate. Serving them was another of his annoying habits. She couldn't yet determine if the action were pure chauvinism or old-fashioned civility.
"I had business," Romas said, serving a glowing Evelyn.
"Tell her what kind," Evelyn urged, squirming in her chair. They exchanged a heated look so intense Kiera blushed. She focused on her food and banged her fork against her plate.
"Romas proposed!" Evelyn exclaimed.
Kiera's eyes flew up.