I caught the twinkle in his eyes, despite the failing light. “Now I spend my nights imagining American grocery stores.”
I laughed so hard I nearly lost my train of thought.
Luka looked pleased with himself.
I stroked his cheek. “You deserve a life that doesn’t cost you this much.”
His smile faded. “What if I cannot have both?”
I waited.
“My country and...”
He stopped there and closed his eyes.
I kissed his forehead. His breathing hitched, and then he buried his face against my throat.
At some point Luka fell asleep for real. I knew because his hand finally relaxed where it rested against me.
I stayed awake a little longer watching the snow.
Listening to Luka breathe next to me.
Chapter Forty-Four
February 20
Luka
It was far toolate to still be awake.
The gala was the following day, and I was trying very hard not to think about that. It wasn’t that we weren’t ready for it.
What occupied my thoughts was everything that came after it.
We lay on Dean’s bed, half-watching some dreadful late-night Italian game show on his phone, the volume low, Dean’s hand stroking languidly up and down my back.
Then he cleared his throat.
“If things get bad,” he said, eyes still on the screen, “I could come to Velkarya for a while.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
Dean’s hand stopped moving, and he turned his head. “Is that a no?”
“Actually, it’s anabsolutely not.”
He blinked.
I was already sitting up, my heart hammering. The image arrived before reason could stop it.
Dean standing beside me in Velkarya. Dean smiling at the wrong person.
Dean attracting attention simply byexisting.
My stomach dropped.
“Luka.”
