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“Good idea.” She flicks off the lamp next to the bed and pulls the curtains closed. “You rest and I’ll double check that Yakov and Mariya are following your design for the nursery. Don’t worry about a thing, Luna. I’ll make sure they aren’t slacking on the job.”
Good, I think. Sic her on them and see how they like it.
Ofeliya isn’t so bad, really. Mariya said I’d go out of my mind within a week of living with her, but if anything, I’ve gotten used to her. Being overbearing is how she shows love. It’s better than the radio silence I get from my own mother.
Still, it’s best if Ofeliya spreads her love to everyone in the house evenly.
While she’s gone, I can find some social interaction elsewhere. As soon as the door closes, I turn my lamp back on and grab my phone out of the bedside drawer. I punch in Kayla’s number by memory.
“Luna?” Kayla answers, sounding breathless. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Should I not be?” My heart clenches. “Are you okay?”
Would the Gustev Bratva ever go after Kayla? I don’t think so, but why else would Kayla be in trouble?
“Me?” she asks like there might be a third party on the line. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
I chuckle in sheer relief. “I don’t know. Why wouldn’t I be fine? You’re the one who answered in a panic.”
“Oh.” She blows out a breath. “I just haven’t heard from you in so long. When I saw your name, I assumed something was wrong.”
“It hasn’t been that long. I just texted you…” I try to think back to how long it’s been since I’ve talked to Kayla.
“Two weeks ago,” she says like she has the receipts in front of her. “And I haven’t actually heard your voice in over a month.”
“Really?” I can’t even count back the days in my head. The last six months have been a blur. The only way I can tell time is passing is because my bump keeps growing.
“Did you need something?” Kayla asks curtly.
So much for an uplifting chat with my best friend. I guess I came to the wrong place.
“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Just to chat?”
I bite back a groan. “Yes. Just to chat. I know I’ve been busy, but it’s not like we aren’t friends anymore.”
“Well…” Kayla’s voice trails off.
“Well what?” I push. “Are we not friends?”
“I love you, Loon, but I never hear from you. It’s hard to be friends with someone who is barely in your life.” She sighs. “I get it. You have a lot going on and things aren’t safe, but… Well, I can’t sit around and wait for you to decide you want me in your life. Either I’m in or I’m out.”
“You’re in! Obviously you’re in.”
“Am I?” she asks. “Because I used to see you all the time. Now, I’ve seen you twice in six months. I’ve talked to you six times, if that. You’re like a ghost.”
I want to argue, but she isn’t wrong. I can’t even be mad at her for feeling this way. I miss her, too. It’s why I called.
“I want to tell you that it will get better starting now, but I can’t,” I admit. “Things are complicated and I’m not sure when it’s all going to get sorted out. But when it does, you’re going to see me so much you’ll get sick of me.”
“Not possible,” she mumbles.
“Believe me, you’ll be begging for some time apart. Especially since I’ll be coming with two babies in tow and cramping your childless style.”
There’s a beat of silence before Kayla responds. “I cannot wait to squish their little faces. I bought matching knitted newborn hats from a craft fair last weekend. I had to haggle with the seller because the price on these teeny tiny hats was outrageous, but they’re so cute.”
Tears well in my eyes. Even when Kayla was upset and questioning our friendship, she bought a gift for my babies. She was still thinking about me. Still planning for a future where we’d be friends.
