She laughs, but her whole face lights up, because whatever kind of crazy my brother is, she’s definitely down for it.
“Of course she is,” Volodya says, scooping her up with a hand under her ass to make sure her dress doesn’t ride up. She laughs and wraps her arms around him, looking at him with so much love that I have to look away before I start to get envious.
Turning my attention to Misha, I give his chubby cheek a kiss and start talking to him in Russian. His big, whiskey-colored eyes, the same as his daddy’s, stay glued to mine, and I swear he understands every word I’m saying.
When Volodya eventually puts Maddie down, she tells me she already put a casserole in the oven for me and then tells me not to let Misha stay up too late like last time because it really screwed his sleep schedule up.
“He wanted to see who won the hockey game,” I remind her, because we’ve been over this before. “It was a shootout, Maddie. It would’ve been cruel to not let him finish watching it.”
“He’s barely one,” she says, giving her son a smile.
“The memory of his coolest uncle letting him stay up late to finish a hockey game is in there somewhere.”
“The coolest uncle?” Volodya asks. “Vasily will be so happy to hear that.”
“The truth can sometimes be painful.” I hand Misha to my brother and take the casserole out when the timer goes off, giving Maddie an appreciative smile. “Thank you. I haven’t eaten all day.”
“I wish you’d meet someone,” she tells me yet again.
“He meets lots of women,” Volodya cuts in.
She smiles and squeezes my arm. “Someone nice who’s not just enamored with you because you’re a Medvedev.”
Volodya leans against the counter. “He’s yet to meet one of them.”
Before Maddie came into his life, my brother rarely smiled, but he’s giving me a smug grin now that only grows when I tell him to fuck off in Russian. He just laughs and gives his son a kiss before putting him in his walker. The dogs immediately gather around, letting him clumsily pet them while they form a protective barrier around the walker.
I fix a huge plate of food while Maddie goes over the list of what needs to be done and what he’s allowed to eat while I try not to laugh at the little mother hen she’s become.
She points a finger at me. “Don’t you dare laugh at me.”
I hold up my hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You can stop worrying, though. I’ve got this, and I’ll call if I have questions or he sneezes or whatever.”
Volodya laughs while Maddie glares at us, but I can tell she’s fighting a smile. They both bend down and tell Misha goodbye and after they’ve finally left, I give my nephew a smile and walk into the living room.
“Come on, Misha. The hockey game’s about to start,” I tell him and then laugh when he gives an excited squeal and follows after me in his walker, chubby feet pounding over the hardwood floor.
I find the game while Misha plays with the toys on his walker, wondering how long it’s acceptable to wait before texting Evie.
Chapter 3
Evie
I’ve just finished my 3 a.m. supper when my phone buzzes. Confused, I stare at it, wondering who in the hell it could be. I don’t get texts, especially not in the middle of the night. When I see Valeri’s name pop up, I let out an audible gasp that I’m thrilled Jerry isn’t around to hear.
Just wanted to make sure everything went okay with your dad.
I have no idea what to do or say. I’m sure he’s just checking up on me because I acted like a complete weirdo in front of him, freaking out about the truck and turning bright red every time he even looked in my direction. God, that whole encounter had been so embarrassing. Luckily, I’d managed to get home before my dad woke up, and he hadn’t noticed anything off about the truck. Valeri saved my ass.
After a ridiculously long time, I finally settle on,Everything went great. I can’t thank you enough for all you did. You really saved me a lot of grief.
I send it and then immediately wish I’d written something else, maybe something flirty or witty, anything other than the boring message I just sent. God, how do women do this? I see the dots moving, letting me know he’s writing something, and I swear I don’t breathe until the message comes through.
I was happy to help and I’m glad it went well. You working tonight?
I don’t have to think too much about the next message.Yeah, just got off my supper break.
When I read his next message, my heart stops and I break out in a light sweat.
