Page 21 of Working Out West

The phone on my desk started ringing. I wanted to ignore it, but a distraction could be a good idea, or I would end up on West’s doorstep to his shitty little apartment to demand the reason for dropping me.

I stalked over to the desk and answered sharply with “Da?”

“Moy syn,” my mother said into the phone in Russian before she switched to English to add, “I have been trying to call your mobile.”

Moving around the desk, I picked up my phone. “Sorry, Mama, I had it on silent. Is everything all right?”

“Da, I just wanted to see how my boy is.”

“Good. Work always keeps me busy.”

“Stupid work,”she spat in Russian and continued in our home language. “It always keeps all my boys busy. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Adrik. Tell me, do you have someone to introduce to your mama and papa when we come?”

“No, Mama, no one special. As I said, work keeps me occupied too much to have a life outside of it.”

She fell silent. Which couldn’t be good.

Of course, an image of West dropped into my mind. The one of him standing before the counter where he placed his gift for me while blushing.

My chest ached.

I had wanted to take him into my arms and claim his mouth. No one other than my parents or Dimitri had given me a gift outside of my birthday. It pleased me too much. As did his chocolate muffins.

Shaking my head, I called, “Mama?”

“You sound sad,moy mal’chik.” My boy. Out of her sons, I had been the only one who she called her boy. I never asked and she never explained why.

I tensed. “I am fine, Mama. Tired, maybe.”

“Nyet, there is something else.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Mama. Nothing has happened.”

She huffed, and then I heard her cover the phone and have a muffled conversation. I knew who would be nearby. My parents’ love was strong, and they never strayed far from one another.

There was a shuffle, and then through the line was my father. “Adrik, we’re moving up our trip and will be there next week. Do not bother with a hotel. I know you have some free condos you have not leased out in your building. We will stay in one of those.”

“Papa, tell Mama you do not need to move your trip forward. She worries for nothing.”

“Are you crazy? I cannot tell her that. She worries, I worry. She wants, I give. You will learn this when you find your one.”

Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I will see you next week then. Text me when you have the details, and I’ll pick you up at the airport. And Papa—”

“Do not fear, son. No one from here will know we are traveling. No harm will follow. You think I am stupid now? I would not risk my jewel or my son who wants nothing to do with the business.”

“Papa—”

“Forget it. I am already getting the evil eye from your mama for saying this. I understand. Some days, I even wish I was as smart as you and got out when I could. It is too late and anyway, I will give it over to Michail soon. Then it will be his problem. Then your mama and I will visit more. Six months has been too long.”

“It has. I look forward to seeing you both.”

“Talk soon.”

“Yes,” I replied and hung up.

At least there was one good thing about my parents’ early arrival; it would distract me enough until I found out more about West. It could also save me from approaching him and making a fool of myself.

Now that I thought about it, there was a possibility I’d misheard his words that night.

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