Page 382 of Eternal
The front door creaks open again, heavy boots, familiar voices, cold air rushing in. Then the sofa dips beside me. A hand finds its way into my curls, twirling them lazily. I don’t even have to look.
Damir is smiling. He always is when he looks at me.
Vik drops onto the other side of the couch with a sigh. “Just threatened Damir to take care of you.”
I roll my eyes. “Are you insane?”
Damir laughs under his breath. “He’s protective, right?” he mutters.
“I need a girl with me,” I called out toward the kitchen. “Kat, help!”
“You realize I could kill you both, right? So why would I need to be taken care of?” I add all serious and confused.
That makes them laugh harder.
Damir’s hand disappears behind my back, I feel a pinch near my waist. He leans in, lips brushing my ear. “Kill me later,” he whispers. “Keep all that sexual tension inside.”
I burst out laughing. God, he’s so annoying.
“Oh!” Vik groans. “Stop whispering stuff like that when I’m right here. Makes me wanna shoot you, Damir.”
Damir kisses me quickly then looks at Vik with fake innocence. “Should’ve kissed her earlier.”
I laugh again. And right on cue, Kat walks in carrying a full tray.
“DINNER IS READY!” she shouts like we’re in a dorm. She grins. “Tonight: borscht night.”
Vik whoops and high-fives her. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
We’re not even at the dinner table. I grab the remote and put the movie on.
“Casablanca again?” Vik groans, already sinking into the cushions.
“Don’t complain,” I smirk. “If you do, we'll watch it twice.”
Damir takes my hand and kisses it. “Don’t tempt her.”
I catch Kat smiling across the couch, giving me a thumbs up.
He’s a good one, Visha.
She’s right. He is. And for a second, I feel this weird pressure in my chest. Like my past and my future are both here, and I’m sitting exactly between them. Hopeful. Scared.Happy.
I notice Damir checking his phone again, smiling.
“Hey,” I nudged him. “What are you looking at?”
He shrugs. “Jealous?”
“Stupid.”
“It's a surprise, partner. Focus on the movie.”
We eat, talk, and fall into the warmth of each other. It’s late by the time we go out again. The dogs run toward me, excited and soft and familiar. I kiss them, hug them like they’re my own.
“Why don’t you keep them?” Damir asks behind me, smoke curling in the air.
“Because I don’t have a home for them yet,” I say. “And they’re happy here.”
