Page 37 of Sergei
“I wish. What about you? How was your day?”
“Busy.”
That was all I got. I had no idea if he was busy with work or dealing with Alek, so I asked, “Any news about Alek?”
“No.” Before I could press, he straightened his back and asked, “What are your thoughts for dinner?”
“I don’t really have any.” I motioned my head toward the kitchen. “I would’ve cooked, but I used the last of the groceries to make lunch.”
“I see.” He thought for a moment, then lifted his brow. “Would you be up for taking a ride? We could grab something on the way back.”
“Sure,” I answered, sounding more excited than I’d intended.
I popped up from the couch so fast I surprised myself, and Sergei, too. His mouth tugged into the faintest smirk as he glanced over at the television. “You sure? I don’t want to disrupt your movie.”
“Oh, please,” I groaned. “It’s awful. I was only watching it out of sheer desperation.”
“Desperation?” Sergei stood with a chuckle. “I didn’t realize things were so bad around here.”
“Oh, they’re not!” I stammered. “They’re great! Your place is wonderful, and…”
His smirk deepened as he teased, “I’m just messing with you, Lina. I know it’s been an adjustment, but this won’t last forever.”
He’d called meLina.It was a name I hadn’t heard in years. Only two people had ever used it. My mother and Sergei. I can still remember the last time he called me by the nickname. I’d just turned fourteen, and we were attending a family gathering. I’d decided to dress up and wear heels for the very first time.
I wanted to look grown-up and elegant, but just as I entered the main room, I tripped over my own two feet and stumbled tothe floor. I was mortified. My face burned with embarrassment. I just knew everyone was going to laugh at me, but Sergei appeared out of nowhere.
He slipped his hand under my arm and pulled me to my feet. Once I was standing, he lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, “Easy there, Lina. You wouldn’t want anyone here thinking that you actually care what they think.”
Without saying anything else, he released his hold on me and sauntered over to his friend group, pretending nothing had happened. He had no clue that his words soothed a part of me that I didn’t even know existed.
And it had just the same effect on me now.
I looked over at him and a warmth washed over me as I took in his sexy little smirk and that twinkle in his eye. Maybe I was a fool. Maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see, but I couldn’t help but think that there was something special about him. Something good. Something strong. Something that might actually pull me from the darkness and hold me in the light.
I really hoped I was right.
I swallowed hard, then followed him out of the living room and down to the hall closet. He reached in and grabbed the toboggan and gloves I’d worn several days before, along with a heavy coat. He held them out to me, and I took them and immediately put them on.
The coat was a little big, but I didn’t mind. It was warm and smelled faintly like Sergei’s cologne, and I clung to it as we headed out into the cold, night air. The ride was quiet, but it was a good kind of quiet. Relaxing even. I looked out the window, watching the city lights blur as we drove deeper into the city.
After a while, I glanced over at Sergei. He was leaning back in his seat with one hand on the wheel and the other resting lazily against the console. I thought we were going to spend the entiredrive in silence until Sergei said, “You know, I never was a fan of Alek.”
“Oh?’
“Yeah, I couldn’t stand the guy. He always acted like he was better than everybody, for no reason.”
“I think he had a short man complex.”
“I don’t remember him being all that short.”
“Didn’t say he was,” I scoffed. “But he definitely had a chip on his shoulder.”
“That he did.” He shook his head. “I bet he has one of those over-the-top security systems that uses facial recognition just to get in the door.”
“No facial recognition, but it was definitely over-the-top. There are motion sensors everywhere. Pin codes at every door. And cameras tucked in corners like he thought the whole world was out to get him.”
“Figures. He always had a thing for control.”
