Page 94 of Love to Defy You
I don’t even know how to answer that question. His wedding is coming up in a few days, and I don’t need him worrying about my mental health. It’s a touchy subject for him.
“Yeah, just... lots of homework.”
“They gave you homework over spring break?” He sets the dish down on a pot holder and starts pushing the paper plate seating charts to one corner of the table. “What a bummer.”
Galina flits into the room with her mousy brown hair pulled back into a clip. She hums a tune and sets down a basket of bread in the middle of the table.
“It smells good,” I say.
Her petite face lights up from my compliment. “I made pelmeni for you. I remember you like these, yes?” Galina’s lilting voice has a thick Russian accent.
“Yeah, pelmeni is great.” I peer into the casserole dish at the Russian dumplings filled with meat, but Alek served these in St. Moritz, and they remind me of him. Everything reminds me of him.
“Oh, the salad.” Galina scurries back to the kitchen.
Dad takes a seat and stares at me with a furrowed expression.
“What?” I snap.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” He folds his hands on the table and leans forward. “Do you need to talk to somebody?”
“Jesus, I’m fine, Dad.” I pick up my plate and scoop a small serving of dumplings for myself. His lips form a thin line as he looks at my plate, so I scoop another helping to avoid judgment.
“Is everything okay with you and Alek?” he presses.
No.“Yeah. We’re fine.” I stab my fork into my food and force it into my mouth, but it turns to ash the moment it hits my tongue.
Before my dad can interrogate me any further, Galina saves me by coming into the room with a wooden salad bowl. At least we got the engagement ring discussion out of the way. She already gushed over my ring when I arrived on Sunday night, and it took everything in me not to start bawling all over again.
I don’t know what to do about Alek and me. Until I hear from him, I’ll continue to spiral like a compass that can’t find true north. Without Alek, I’m lost.
Dad spoons out some salad onto his plate. “Who wants to play cards after dinner?”
I glance up, and he’s giving me a hopeful grin.
“Can we play tomorrow?” I ask. “Lots of homework. You know how it is.” The lie tastes bitter.
“Sure, kiddo.” His smile falters, and it guts me. “But don’t stay up too late studying. You need some rest.”
Once I clear my plate, I excuse myself from the table and head upstairs. As I’m changing into my pajamas, my phone vibrates on my vanity, and I almost trip on my pants when I lunge for it.
It’s a message from Mikhail, but I hesitate to open it as cold dread makes my forehead and hands clammy. I’m afraid to read his text because my intuition tells me I don’t want to know what he has to say.
I suck it up, take a deep breath, and open it.
MIKHAIL
Just heard back from Alek. He says he’s fine. *thumbs-up emoji* I told him to call you.
Staring at my phone, I reread the message and sink onto the stool. My limbs are numb from shock.
He got back to Mikhail immediately, but not me? My finger shakes as I navigate to my text conversation with Alek.
Sure enough, my last message shows as read.
The phone falls from my hand and clatters on the vanity. My mind can’t make sense of his silence, and the longer he ices me out, the more confused I get. Every excuse I had for his lack of response is shattered.
His phone isn’t broken. He’s not lying dead in a ditch. He’s... fine.
