Page 65 of Cookie: Part One
When I enter, it’s just as I suspected. The entire room goes quiet, making me groan internally and pause by the espresso machine, stalling.I’m definitely going to need some coffee for this!
Everything has gone wrong from the moment I got here. This wasn’t supposed to be all this extra shit. I amnotsupposed to be having no walk of shames on vacation!
“Ah, if it isn’t our leettle Pechenye. Come sit. Zhey don’t bite. Not all of zhem, anyvay,” Uncle Vlad laughs, plopping down next to Pyper, chugging down some vodka before wiping his mouth and picking up a fork, stuffing his mouth so full with some of the stacked smoked meats on his plate that his cheeks look like a chipmunk’s.
After fixing my coffee, I saunter over, ignoring all the stares and slumping into the seat next to Nadya and Dimitri, still stirring in my sugar and creamer.
“Y’all ever walk into a room and feel like everyone read a group text about you except you?”
“Haha! Every day, leetle one. I call it family breakfast. You get used to it. So velcome to ze club.” He grins, smelling like alcohol, and I snort, watching him go for the bottle again. This time, I pluck it out of his hand and slide the coffee I’d just made over to him.
“That’s enough for you this morning.” I raise a brow, and he grumbles.
“Fine… but,” he pauses and nudges a bowl of berries toward me. “Eat. Helps ze nerves.” We eye one another before nodding and I pop a raspberry into my mouth with a smile while he sips the coffee, tension unwinding slightly.
“Hov are you feeling, Connie?” Pyper reaches for me as I pop another raspberry into my mouth.
“I’m good… why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know, you just look…”
“Stressed?” I cock my head and she sighs.
“Da, stressed… you look stressed.”
“But vhy, Pechenye? Vee vill handle zhis easily.” Dimitri takes my other hand on the table and I hear the family members murmur disdainfully, but I don’t shake him off.
“Just a lot on my mind.” I smile and Nadya lays her head on my shoulder.
“Vell, don’t zhink about it alone. Vee are here for you.”
“Aww, you guys are so sweet, but I’m fine… I’ve just been in my head.” I grin, reaching for a croissant. “These past few days have been just… a lot,” I admit.
“Mmm,” Uncle Vlad hums, sipping his coffee. “I’m sure, but Misha is competent. He’ll find ze bastard zhat sent ze gift. I nearly spit out my vodka vhen I saw such cheap stones,” he grumbles.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I side eye him.
“I said almost!” he grunts, making me laugh, and I lift my hands in surrender.
“My bad, big dog,” I giggle and he grumbles once more, taking another sip of coffee as I glance around for Alik. “Is Alik not here?” I ask and Pyper goes still.
“He vill be here later,” she answers and I nod, wanting to talk to him about… well… us, I guess. I’ve been denying him because I truly felt there was nothing there, but maybe I was wrong? Maybe… I don’t know, but at least for now the five of us…ugh, what am I even thinking?!
“Hey, you look like you need to relax. Stressing never helps anyzhing,” Pyper sighs, shaking her head, and she’s not wrong, but I doubt she’s got all the worries I have. Still, she’s right.
“I came here to relax, but it seems like the longer I’m here, the more stress I have,” I chuckle and she leans in toward me, her eyes sparkling.
“Zhat’s because you are only vrapped up in Misha. Hov about you go visit ze family museum?” she beams.
“MUSEUM?!” I shout, making everyone in the room look at me.Shit…“I mean, you guys have a museum here?” I say lower.
“Da! It has all ze family history and boring artifacts zhat a nerd like you vould like!” Pyper claps and I scowl at her.
“I’m going to ignore that since I’m feeling generous today, but anyways… and why am I finding out about this now?” I turn to all of them, my jaw on the floor.
“A lot has been going on, Connie, but it’s not like it’s too late. You can go zhere nov. It’s ze perfect zhing to do vhile vee head to zhese fittings.” Pyper smiles.
“Aww, so I have to go by myself?” I look at Nadya, Dimitri and Pyper… hell, even Uncle Vlad would be better than being by myself in this moment. I usually would mind and even enjoy my solitude, but…
