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“That sounds fun.”
Lev nods. “I like it because it’s really quiet at night. And it’s dark. And all the blinds are down.”
Well, that explains why this basement has no windows. I can’t even be mad at it now. “I used to do the same thing with my sister,” I admit. “Except we used to eat pizza and ice cream and cookies.”
“You have a sister?”
“Yes,” I answer before thinking. Then it hits me: Ihada sister. I grab a hold of my Z link instantly, trying to push down the sadness I’ve just unearthed. The bruise on my heart that won’t go away no matter how many times I poke it.
“I have a sister, too,” he explains. “And two brothers.”
“And Uri is one?”
He nods and shovels another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “He’s my best friend, too.”
There it goes again—my heart, shuddering with emotion that I really don’t want to be feeling right now. Or ever. At least not for Uri Bugrov.
“But don’t tell Nikolai or Polly,” he adds, suddenly mortified.
“I won’t. Pinky swear.” I offer him my pinky to make good on my promise, but he looks at me like I’ve sprouted another head. Sheepishly, I let my hand fall. “Sorry. We, er… we don’t have to pinky swear.”
“Uh, what is that?” he asks after a long silence. “Pink-ee swear?”
“Oh. Well, it just means it’s an unbreakable promise. Once you’ve linked fingers, that’s it. You can’t break your promise no matter what.”
His mouth drops and his eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“Really.”
He looks down at his hand and then back at me. “I… I wanna do it.”
My heart lifts. “Of course.” I wait until he’s lifted his hand before I lift mine. I have to lean onto the center island in order to reach him. Then I guide my pinky around his and we lock onto one another.
I can feel him tremble but he seems calm. “There,” I say with satisfaction. “Now, that promise is unbreakable.”
He grins the widest I’ve ever seen. “Cool.” I giggle softly as he pushes his empty bowl towards me. “Can you make me some more cornflakes?”
“Coming right up.”
As I fill up his bowl again, it occurs to me that Lev might be just the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. A few pointed questions, a pinky swear or two, and I might be able to get him to do exactly what I want.
Namely: get me out of here.
He gets his basement back; I get my freedom back. Win-win, right?
My conscience doesn’t agree, though. The moment I consider it, the guilt washes over me. I glance over at Lev, who’s waiting eagerly for his second bowl. The innocence on his face makes me feel like a total scumbag for even thinking of using him that way. I can’t possibly put him in the middle of this. And I definitely can’t make a pawn out of him.
I slide the bowl over to Lev. “Here you go, Lev.”
He takes the bowl and shovels more cornflakes into his mouth. Every time I see some splatter, I feel the need to reach over and clean his face for him.
“You’re a really good cook,” he says between chews.
I suppress a laugh. “Thanks, Lev. I appreciate that.”
We spend the next few minutes talking about books. Well,Ispend the next few minutes talking about books. Lev mostly just listens and eats, though he doesn’t seem to mind me rambling. When he’s done, his gaze starts flitting around the kitchen as though he’s looking for something.
“You okay, Lev?”
