I broke out into a loud laugh, letting it echo in the room, already flying in the air and into Alex’s arms.
The beginning of our forever wasnow.
But just as that thought crossed my mind, the phone rang, sending that well-known twinge of panic through me. I pulled back from Alex, refusing to believe that he would call.
Slowly, Alex walked to the kitchen island and picked up my phone, turning the screen to me.
“Wow, Jade.” Julian launched into it before I even uttered a greeting. I’d never been more relieved to hear his stupid voice. “I guess youarethat kind of girl, huh?”
Alex pinned me to him, the look in his eyes outright murderous. “Yourbrief—”Julian’s sarcasm was impossible to miss, “—worked wonders because bail was posted for Pavlov this afternoon. Thought you should know.”
“Okay,” I said simply, wanting to never use a phone again. In fact, I’d throw it into the ocean right after the call. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Yeah, no problem, and hey—” Julian kept talking and Alex opened his mouth to say something, but my lips were already on his, drowning us both. “I’d ask you to call me if you ever want to go out, but…I guess you already found yourself a new daddy.”
52
The Little Beach House
Alex
"Ow! That’s hot…" The flame from the lighter licked my thumb for the tenth time, but I was finished. It was all set up.
Almost.
Jade would arrive any minute, and I was going to propose, make her cry from happiness—it was going to be great.
It looked fucking phenomenal. I mentally patted myself on the back for this idea. The night was calm, the ocean glistened in the moonlight, and the fifty or so candles I had set up around the beach, on the rocks, and in the sand were like out of a fairytale.
I couldn't wait. I couldn'twaitfor her to say yes and to slide that ring onto her finger. God, I could see it now—Jade, my fiancée, my future wife.
My criminal mastermind.
She had orchestrated the day to go exactly how she wanted, and after bail was posted for Andrei, I somehow convinced Jade to go pick him up instead of calling Olga. I suggested we surprise Olga, and of course, I couldn’t go myself, considering he thought I was dead.
I thought this through—it was perfect, it would all go smoothly. Slight shakes overtook my limbs, but I marched inside to change, and just as I stepped outside of the bedroom with a fresh shirt on, a car rumbled to a stop right outside.
What. The. Fuck? It was way too early for her to be back. I had at least, atleasthalf an hour left.
And then I heard Andrei's voice.Fuuuuuck.
Had he decided to drop by before going home? I raced to the front door, already dialing Olga. There was a shuffle outside, and a key turned in the lock, but I immediately locked it again, keeping it in place.
"Hell—"
"Olya!” I whisper-yelled into the phone. “Quickly, distract Jade with some long, made-up story! Keep her on the phone for at least two minutes!" I spat out urgent instructions, panicking.
"What?" she responded, confused. Goddamn,both Andrei and Olga were going to fuck this up for me.
"Just make anything up! Tell her how hard it's been without Andrei, about your baby, ask her about the whole OnlyFans thing, I don't know! Just keep her occupied!"
"Why isn't it working?" Jade's angelic voice sounded from behind the door, and I swung it open, both her and Andrei’s puzzled faces coming into view.
"Sasha!" Andrei exclaimed, and my jaw almost dropped at the sight of him. Holy shit, he looked like death. Damn. These three months had aged and destroyed us both.
Both Jade and Andrei made a move to step inside the house, but I shoved the phone into Jade’s hand instead, urgently shooing her out the door.
"Olga wants to talk to you. Here." Jade stared at me in bewilderment, and I bit my bottom lip, holding back my laugh. Gently, I pushed her back out of the door just as Andrei beelined it for a hug.
