Again, she follows me, watching me drop the towel and pull on clean clothes.
“Where are you going?”
“To figure out how to get to Moscow. I’ll be back in a few hours to get you. Lock the door after me.”
SOMETHING OLD
Three Years Earlier
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.” Lev is spinning his lighter around one finger in steady circles. The timing of each spin is precise. Up. Down. Around. Repeat.
He hasn’t lit a cigarette—yet. I expect he will, before I fall asleep. Despite my repeated suggestions he quit smoking, I highly doubt he has.
“My brother is getting married on Saturday.”
I stiffen so I don’t react any other way. In the past, Lev has made it clear family is not a topic he wants to discuss, and I can relate. But that doesn’t mean I’m not insanely curious about his life outside his trips to Chicago.
I cough. Fiddle my fingers so it’s less noticeable that I froze. “You have more than one?”
“Yes.” Still with the perfectly repeated flips.
Even if this were our first conversation, I’d be able to tellexcitingorfunisn’t the reply Lev wants based on his expressionalone. Since this is the second time he’s mentioned his family in nine years, my response feels especially important.
“How did they meet?” I ask casually.
“My father arranged the match.”
“How … progressive.”
His lips twitch.
“Do you like her? Your soon-to-be sister-in-law?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“I didn’t ask if it mattered.”
Another twitch before he drops the lighter and reaches for the box of cigarettes. “She’s fine. Aleksandr agreed to the match. He can find fault with anything or anyone, so …”
“So, she’s perfect.”
“Practically.”
I suck on the inside of my cheek, debating what else to ask. “Do you think they’ll be happy together?”
“No.” Lev taps an unlit cigarette against his abs. “No, I don’t think they’ll be happy.”
Despite the bleak prediction, I smile. “I hope you’re not giving a speech at the reception.”
“No speech.”
I curl my fingers, allowing my nails to dig into the soft flesh of my palm. The prick of pain is startling. Grounding. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Will your father pick who you marry?”
