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“All this for that girl?” Dominik asked, checking his phone.
“You’ll understand one day,” I muttered.
“Hmm, doubtful.” He looked at me. “You stay away from Henry, got it? I don’t want any more drama with him. There are enough problems with my father taking off to Poland.”
“He left already?” Bogus charges were being considered against Joseph Staszek. It had been decided he’d hide out in Poland until it calmed down.
“Yes. And he took my sister with him.”
“She can’t be happy about that.”
“She’s never happy with what’s decided for her best interest.” He grumbled, looking at his phone again. “In the meantime, I have a meeting. I’m picking up my bride tonight.”
“Your bride? Does she know?” I hadn’t heard that he’d sorted out details about a marriage since the woman he’d agreed to marry had passed away.
“She’s going to find out tonight.” He shook his head. “I hope she’s less trouble than your woman has been.”
“Good luck with that.” I slapped his back and turned toward the front door. She’d been right about one thing: I’d been gone from home for a while. It was time to get back to my life.
“Dmitri,” Dominik called as I opened the door. “If her leaving causes you to look like a train ran over your face, why do you let her go?”
I looked over my shoulder at him. “Because it’s what’s best for her.”
Pain ripped through me as I shut the door behind me. I paused a moment, only a breath, before forcing myself to get in my truck and drive away.
Chapter 12
Aleksandra
Two months later…
“Table fifteen needs maple syrup.” Carol tapped my shoulder as she squeezed past me. The morning rush packed the diner, making small spaces even smaller.
“Thanks.” I scribbled down the last of my table’s order, refilled the coffees, and went to put the order in the kitchen.
“Table ten is asking for you.” Marcus, my manager, popped up at our service station. “It’s not your table, but he won’t listen.” He narrowed his eyes and leaned a little closer with a hushed voice. “He looks sketchy. Get his order fast.”
“He’s sketchy, so you want her to serve him?” Carol laughed. “Don’t be too protective of the staff, Marcus.”
I leaned to the side, peering around him to table ten.
“Shit.” My breath caught.
“What?” Carol raised up to her toes. “Oh.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“Who is it?” Marcus asked, suddenly looking for gossip. I was lucky to get this job so fast when I returned to New York. The pay wasn’t horrible, and the people were actually pretty cool.
“Go on.” Carol nudged me with her shoulder.
“Shouldn’t you be warning me away from him?” I smirked.
“No way. He messed up, sure, but that’s what groveling’s for. Though he doesn’t look much like a groveler.” She tapped her chin.
“No. He’s not. He’s more the demand you forgive him type,” I said.
It had been eight weeks since I last saw him. I’m not sure what I thought would happen when all the drama ended, but it still hurt when he just let me walk away.
“Just don’t give in the first time he demands.” Carol looked at him again and sighed. “He’s here, right? He didn’t just move on and forget you. If he’s here, and he’s the kind of guy you painted him to be, you’ve been on his mind since you two broke it off.”
