AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Andrei looked to Viktor. “We should stop and get her bone broth while we’re out today. Or we can make her some. My grandmother used to make it. She showed me how. It’ll be easy for her to drink, but it should help the lack of food for the last week or so and might kickstart her appetite again.”
Adrik caught my eye, a small smile on his face. “Andrei, what are your thoughts about Sephie and I staying here today? I’m worried it will be too much for her if she goes and she’ll end up sleeping for an entire day again.”
“You should ask Misha that question,” Andrei said.
“But I’m asking you,” Adrik said, somewhat firmly so Andrei would know not to brush him off a second time. I was watching Andrei, but I caught Misha’s eye. He knew what we were up to, giving me a quick wink. Andrei was almost flustered at trying to figure out how to answer the question.
“Don’t overthink it, Andrei, or you’re going to get in your own way. What does your gut tell you?” Misha said. I walked quietly over to Andrei and grabbed his hand. It worked for Misha, maybe it will work for Bubba.
He took a deep breath when I grabbed his hand and thought for a minute. He looked at Adrik and said, “She should stay here. Her lung is slowly getting better, but she still feels like total shit, despite what she’s telling us.”
Adrik raised his eyebrow, looking straight at me. His wide smile slowly crept across his face as he knew I was likely regretting telling him to ask Andrei’s thoughts on whether I should go or stay. I wasn’t expecting Andrei to completely out me like that. I just laughed. There wasn’t much else I could do. He was right. Everyone knew he was right.
Adrik walked to me, pulling me gently to him. He was still trying not to laugh, but he was clearly amused at what had just happened. “Looks like you’re staying here with me, solnishko,” he said as he kissed my temple. “Maybe more often than you’d like.” He finally laughed as I poked him in his ribs.
Adrik asked Andrei to stay behind while everyone else went with Chen. He knew I’d want more time alone with Andrei, but I think Adrik was also curious to see what Andrei’s newly discovered gift was about as well, especially given that he so easily read me that morning.
For the first time since I’d come into their lives, I saw Andrei nervous about staying behind with me. “Bubba, don’t be nervous,” I said, trying not to laugh at him. He was still sitting at the kitchen island, so I walked slowly to him, sliding my arm around his shoulders. He grabbed my wrist, holding onto my arm. He gave me a sideways glance. He’s definitely nervous.
Adrik might’ve been enjoying his nervousness. He was standing on the other side of the kitchen, arms crossed over his chest. He watched me try to calm Andrei down, finally saying, “How long have you been noticing these things?”
“Not long. Really since the night we saved Max. Tori popped into my head the day or two before that night and I couldn’t get her out of my head. I’ve not thought about her since the day she got fired, really. I mean, we saw her that one day when Giana wanted to go shopping. Well, Misha saw her. I didn’t see her. Mentions of her here and there after that, but other than that, I never thought about her. It was weird that I thought of her and couldn’t get her out of my head,” he said.
“Did you feel like something was wrong when you thought about her?” Adrik asked.
“Yeah. It wasn’t the same as Misha’s impending doom, but something didn’t feel right. Same as when Sephie grabbed my hand today when I was thinking about her going to the meeting with the journalist.”
“What about the rest? About her lung healing and her still feeling like shit?”
“That just popped into my head. I said it before I really thought much about it,” Andrei said. He glanced at me apologetically.
“Don’t be sorry, Bubba. You’re right. I do still feel like shit,” I said, smiling at him. “But that’s the way it works for me. I’ve learned that when something pops into my head like that, it’s usually because the other person is thinking it but doesn’t want to say it. That’s how it seems like I can read your mind all the time. It’s only different with Adrik,” I said.
“How is it different with him?” Andrei asked.
“With the rest of you, it’s usually something you need brought to light, if you will. It’s an issue that you need help dealing with. But if you’re not thinking about it or struggling with it, I don’t necessarily pick up on it. I might be able to if I made an effort, but I don’t like to pry. With Adrik, it’s everything. I just have to look at him for a few seconds and I know what he’s thinking. Like when he gave Giana shit over accusing me of being on drugs. It wasn’t the same as when I see things with Misha, but I got a recap of what happened. Enough to know what went on,” I said. “He’s able to do it to me more now too. It seems like the more time passes, the more connected we are.”
“She’s still much better at it than I am, clearly. Since I believed her when she said she was starting to feel better,” Adrik said. He squinted his eyes at me like he was still somewhat irritated with me.
“It wasn’t a complete lie. I do feel some better. I just still feel like shit overall. But slightly better shit,” I said.
“Viktor said he was going to get you bone broth. That should help. Not eating isn’t helping you out right now,” Andrei said.
“I’ll consider a feeding tube if that doesn’t work. She’s going to get all sharp and pointy again. I’m very delicate,” Adrik said, grinning at me.
“I’m ruining all of Bubba’s hard work training me. He’s going to have to start completely over with me by the time I get out of this cast and my ribs heal enough that I can do anything strenuous.”
“That’s what I like to call ‘job security,’” Andrei said.
The other guys got back a few hours later from Chen’s latest meeting with the journalist. I felt Adrik hold me tighter before he lightly brushed his fingertips over my cheek to wake me up. “Wake up, solnishko. They’re back and it’s time for your antibiotics,” he said quietly.
“Shocking. I fell asleep again,” I said sarcastically. Adrik helped me up from the couch.
“How did it go?” Adrik asked as we walked slowly to the kitchen.
“Chen really is quite good at pretending to be someone else,” Stephen said. “I don’t know why he thinks dating is hard.”
“The thought of boobies makes most men incapable of forming complete thoughts. Women instinctively know this, so they put them on display. It’s downhill from there, really,” I said.
