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“Foolish man.” He glanced at me, his scowl deep. “Now I all dressed up. No party. No nothing.” He lay back on my bed and laced his fingers together over his chest. “We should train, eh?”
I lay next to him, and we both stared at the ceiling fan’s lazy circle. “Yeah.”
Neither of us moved. My body was tired, sore, and losing an afternoon of training was beginning to look like not such a bad thing. My thoughts strayed back to Sophia. She’d taken such pleasure in hurting me at the last trial, and now seemed to delight even more in rubbing it in my face. She and her father topped my list of people I would seek vengeance on once Teddy was safe.
After a few quiet minutes, Dmitri began to snore, softly at first, and then growing louder over the span of half an hour until I began to fantasize about smothering him with a pillow. A bump at the door had him awake and on his feet in a second.
“Who?”
“Just me.” Teddy’s voice. “Can you get the door? My hands are full.”
Dmitri opened it for him, and Teddy entered carrying a large plate full of cake, another large plate full of sandwiches and some silverware, and a bottle of wine with red cups under his arm.
“This pleases me.” Dmitri grinned and closed the door as Teddy laid the food out on the bed.
“This is a feast.” I hugged Teddy as soon as his hands were empty and kissed him on the cheek. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.” He squeezed me tightly and then shook Dmitri’s hand.
“Happy birthday.” Dmitri pulled him in for a bear hug.
Teddy laughed and escaped. Then his face grew somber. “I’m sorry about downstairs.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know it’s not you.”
“No.” He ran a hand through his unruly blond locks. “It’s not, and I really didn’t appreciate them showing up here like that. They’re not the ones I want to spend time with.”
“Have they gone?” I eyed the croissant sandwiches, and Dmitri’s stomach rumbled.
“Yes. Well, Sin’s still here. He’s staying for the weekend.” Teddy pulled the loosened cork from the wine bottle and poured us each a cup of red. “Dig in. I’m hungry, too. Cal and Sophia turn my stomach, so I didn’t eat much.”
We settled around the platters, Dmitri eating two sandwiches in one go.
“Anything important discussed while we were hiding up here?” I tried to make it sound as nonchalant as possible.
Teddy wasn’t fooled. “No. I didn’t get any information. You’re the one who knows things. I’m in the dark.” He put his sandwich down. “I wish you’d tell me.”
I shot a look to Dmitri and back to Teddy. “You already know I’m training for the triathlon in the spring. I don’t know what it will entail, exactly. So, we’re on the same page.”
“What else?”
“Like what?”
“How many more—” He glanced to Dmitri, who seemed to remain oblivious while munching away. “—competitions are there?”
“After this triathlon, only one more in late summer.” I took a bite of sandwich despite the tightness in my throat. I wouldn’t tell him everything, just enough to keep him even-keeled for the time being.
“That’s it? Then you’re done? Win or lose?”
I nodded and forced myself to chew. “Right. Win or lose, I’m done.”
“That’s more than anyone else tells me.” He nodded and sat back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I changed the subject to his time at college, and Teddy lapsed into how excited he was start med school.
“When you doctor, you prescribe medications?” Dmitri asked and forked a chunk of cake into his mouth.
“Yes, that’s part of it.”
“Hard stuff?”
Teddy cocked his head. “Narcotics, you mean? Yes.”
“I have friends. You make good money. All you have to do is—”
I stood and clapped my hands. “Well, I think I’m stuffed. Since they’re gone, want to go downstairs? Maybe go outside and let me show you my skills?” I brought my fists up.
“You’re kidding, right?” Teddy laughed.
“She no kidding.” Dmitri puffed his chest out. “She taught by best fighter in all Russia.”
“Well, hell.” Teddy downed his wine. “On that note, let’s do it.”
Dmitri laughed as we walked into the hall and down to the front door.
“Your ass is going to be on the grass, pretty boy.” I punched him in the shoulder.
“Ow.” He grabbed his arm as we strolled out into the sunny yard, then dropped his hand and rolled his shoulders. “Just kidding. I didn’t feel a thing.” He grinned and pulled his hands up, palms open. “Come at me, bro.”
I rounded up my hair up into a ponytail and tied it with an elastic from my pocket. “I didn’t realize you wanted an ass-whipping for your birthday.”
He smiled bigger, getting into tough-guy character. “I hate to hit a girl, even one with a mouth like yours.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t.” I easily moved away from his first swiping grab.
