He levels me with a look that would bring a mountain to its knees. “You have your juice.”
“But I’m already eighteen. People drink at this age in the UK.”
“This is not the UK and you are not English.”
“Well, I’m half Russian and people drink at eighteen in Russia.”
Mom raises a brow. “She has a point.”
Papa slides his attention to her and all I can do is watch as a different, cryptic emotion blossoms in his eyes. I’ve always loved the way he looks at her, like she’s his world. How he searches for her when she’s not there. It’s like she’s his air and he has to see her every moment.
My papa might be heartless, but he’s the best husband and father alive.
“Don’t feed her lies, Lenochka.” He pins me with a stare. “I’m three-quarters Russian. That makes you about a quarter Russian.”
“One-third at worst.”
“Still a no.”
“Let her have some, Boss. We need to prepare her for all the vodka.” Yan fills my glass with wine and narrowly escapes having his head chopped off by Papa’s glare.
Then he pretends not to have noticed the murder attempt and gets engrossed in his food.
“Didn’t you have eat not two hours ago?” Kolya calls him out on his bullshit point-blank.
“So what? Food tastes so much better with the kids around.”
“That’s true.” Mom sighs. “I’m so happy you guys came back, even if it’s just for a few days. Apparently, you’re all grown up and don’t need to visit your mother anymore.”
“Of course not.” I side-hug her. “We’re just too busy with school.”
“And other things,” Jeremy says casually while cutting his steak.
I make a face at him and he just remains in his blank mode.
We agreed that he’d let me talk to them on my own. Which I’ll do in the morning because I’m too drained for that conversation tonight.
“Oh, I know.” Mom rubs my hand that’s on the table. “I’m glad you made friends. They looked nice.”
“They’re the best ever. We’re having a lot of fun on campus.”
“Not too much fun, though, right?” Papa levels me with one of his stern fatherly looks again.
“Oh, Adrian. Let her be,” Mom chastises. “Tell me all about the fun you’ve had.”
I chatter on and on, interrupted by Jeremy's semi-threatening objections whenever he feels like I’ve veered too close to the subject we’re here for.
We stay around the table for a long time, even after we finish dinner. They fill us in on Yan’s antics with Kolya, Boris, and Papa. Mom comes to his defense, which displeases Papa, judging by the subtle threats to Yan’s life.
By the time we retreat to our rooms, it’s super late.
That means it‘s early morning in the UK.
After taking a shower, I lie in bed and retrieve my phone. I send everyone a text that I’m visiting home for the weekend. I get replies from Cecily, Ava, Glyn, Bran, and Remi, but there’s nothing from Creighton.
My heart sinks as I stare at the last text I sent him.
Annika:I’m going back home to convince Papa to accept our relationship. If I do, Jer will leave us alone. Wish me luck. I’ll miss you.