Page 74 of Cookie: Part One
“I vas not asking. Connie comes vit me. I refuse to let my friend look like slut for such important event.” She squares her shoulders and Misha grits his teeth.
“Pyper, sh?—”
“How about we all ride together?” I blurt out, taking both of their hands and strutting off to the luxury car. I shove Pyper inside, slide in next to her, then pull him inside, and I’m thankful when the driver shuts the door and we head out on the awkward and quiet ride to the venue.
Hell, by the time we get off the property, I’m already regretting the decision from how stifling quiet it is in the car. All of my weak attempts to talk are met with dull responses from both of them, leaving me to groan. The silence presses in on us, thick enough to choke, and by the time we finally pull up to the venue, I’m practically clawing at the door for escape, desperate for fresh air and a break from the tension that clings to us.
I tumble out, gasping for breath, and Pyper is instantly at my side, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“Are you vell, Connie?” Pyper asks and I sigh.
“Just peachy,” I force out, attempting to be reassuring though I know both of them can see right through it.Fucking psychopaths!
“Good.” Pyper forces me up, straightening my back. “You go in zhere, back straight, chest out, ass fat. Show no veakness,” she warns me.
“She has no veaknesses next to me.” Misha steps close, taking me into his arms, and Pyper smirks, impressed.
“Now zhat’s vhat I like to hear. Misha, you protect my girl, or?—”
“No need for ‘or.’ I alvays protect vhat’s mine.” He pulls me in for a kiss and I melt against him. “Let’s go, Pechenye. I vant to show you off,” he whispers, pulling away, walking me over to the grand building with Pyper next to us.
I knew walking in holding Mikhail’s arm would cause a scene, but hunnnyyy… I didn’t expect the low hum of chatter to lapse into complete silence like that.
Eyes snap to us so fucking fast, and the gasps are heard throughout the room. I swear more than one Russian aunty grips her pearls.
Mikhail’s grip on my waist tightens, and I look up to see him scanning the crowd, making eye contact with each and everyone of them. Every single one of their eyes drop away from his, averting their gaze and looking the other way.Damn… what Glo say? I love me a… no! Focus, FOCUS!
I scan the room, and I’m immediately overwhelmed, though at this point I’m not surprised, by the ambiance. The event venue looks like something out of a fairytale, with paintings on the ceilings, massive, obviously expensive light fixtures, and large enough to seat more than a couple hundred people.
However, I don’t need more than a glance to recognize that I’m not wanted here by more than a handful of people. Especially Veronica, who is in the center of the room, smiling wide, but with teeth clenched so tight I bet those next to her can hear her jaw creak.
“I knew zhat dress vould make a scene,” Pyper murmurs, seeming satisfied.Damn my best friend is messy as hell… but I love it!
“You mustreallynot like her, huh?” I glance at her as she swoops up her drink, snorting.I’ll take that as a “Hell the fuck no I don’t!”
“Misha, Pechenye, Pyper!” I hear and turn my eye to two of the few people in the room who will actually be okay with me being here.
“Nadya! Dimitri! You both look great! Congratulations!” I smile, trying to appear shameless as possible, as if this shit is normal. I beam taking in her and his matching cream formal dresswear.
“Thank you.” Nadya grins and leans into Dimitri. “Vhat do mean vee look great?!” Nadya beams, pulling me from Misha’s grip and twirling me around. “You are ze star of ze show!” She hugs me tight and I want to groan at her words.
“Th-thank you.” I shyly chew my lip as Dimitri steps up and places his arms around my back, drawing me in for a kiss on the cheek.
“Simply lovely.” He steps back and takes my hand, kissing it.
“Of course she vould look stunning.” Pyper puffs out her chest proudly, and I smack her upside the head, reminding her what setting we’re in. This is honestly nothing to be proud of, but it would go in one ear and out the other with her.
I sweep the room for Alik as I grab a champagne flute and slowly sip, feeling nervous. It really feels like I’ve walked into a lion’s den. All eyes are on us, and how can theynotbe?
Misha, one of the grooms, is glowing. Pyper looks sexy as fuck, and so do Nadya and Dimitri followed by me… the outsider, but I stand tall because it’s not like I can run out of here now. Not when Misha’s arm is wrapped around me so firmly, not even giving me a chance to budge. But it’s not so bad because the familiar, quiet warmth of my people around me settles me as I look for Alik.
“Oh!” I jolt when I see him.
He’s standing by the far wall, framed by a stunning, elaborate floral arrangement. The tailored suit, the powerful grace, the slightly rough angle of his jaw, it’s exactly him. A ridiculous, adolescentthumphits my chest. I straighten my spine, my lips curving into an immediate, genuine smile, mind flashing to the shower and more importantly, to the time he and I spent together before our break up.
“Misha!” I beam up at him, and he glances down at me.
“Da, beautiful?” Misha pulls me into a kiss, hugging me.
