Ren laughs but turns to Jamie and studies her as well.
“You girls have been busy,” she says after a couple of minutes. “Seems you’re both in love.”
Jamie and I both scoff at the idea, but I see the way her cheeks redden a bit. Jamie is not much of a blusher. Very few things embarrass her, so when she turns red, I know it’s something to pay attention to.
“Bring the young men around sometime so I can get a good look at them,” she says with a wink before disappearing back behind the counter.
“Young men,” Jamie says with a grin. “Not so much in your case, huh, Gina?”
I arch an eyebrow at her. “It’s not like Aleksei just graduated high school last year.”
“True enough,” she says with a shrug.
“So tell me what happened after Dmitri was such an ass.”
Her eyes practically sparkle as she leans in closer and says, “Okay, so after you left I was asking Aleksei about him. He’s really tightlipped about anything that happens at the clubs, but I do have my ways.”
She laughs and takes a drink of her tea before continuing.
“He said that Dmitri’s been in one hell of a mood since he saw you at the club Friday night.”
“Yeah,” I say with a frustrated sigh. “I already know he’s pissed at me.”
“He thinks it’s more than that. He said nothing gets to Dmitri, but you seem to have.”
I think about what she’s said as I take a drink. “Damn, that’s good,” I say when the vanilla and caramel hit my taste buds. I hadn’t realized how much I needed a dose of caffeine.
“Sounds like you and Aleksei are really hitting it off.”
She tries to hide her smile and fails. “Yeah, he’s actually pretty amazing. I think maybe I’ll keep him around for a while.”
I laugh because coming from Jamie that’s the equivalent ofI’d like to move right in with this guy and get engaged.
“I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be with a nice guy.”
She reaches over and gives my arm a squeeze. “So what were you going to tell me?”
After I relay my night to her, she’s laughing so hard she’s snorting. Ren shoots us a curious look but keeps her distance. I’d skipped over the jerking-off part and just said he was looking at photos of me. It felt wrong to share something so personal about someone else. Plus, I like keeping that as something that only Dmitri and I shared, even if he is totally clueless that he shared it with me.
“I can’t believe you did that, Gina! Oh my God, you broke in and then pissed on his damn grass! Are you insane?”
I laugh because it is crazy, and I have no excuse for it. I didn’t mention that I also stole his shirt. I feel stupid enough as it is.
“Wait,” she says, using a napkin to dab at her eyes, “you know what this means, right?”
“That I’m insane?”
“No. Well, I mean, maybe, but it means that he likes you.”
“I want to believe that,” I say, “but why was he such a jerk to me then?”
“He’s holding back. I’m not sure why. Maybe he thinks you’re too young for him.”
“Maybe,” I agree. “I just don’t know what I should do now.”
“Well,” she says with a big grin, “because I love you so much, I’ll call Aleksei and make a date with him. Maybe he can tell us something more.” She gives an exaggerated sigh. “The things I do for you.”
I laugh and raise my mug up in a toast. “You’re such a trooper.”