Love,
Evie
I send her a quick text, and I’m still grinning like an idiot when my brothers show up a few minutes later with their tuxes in garment bags and a bag of food. I let them in and grab one of the sausage biscuits that Katya’s sent them over with, taking a big bite as they follow me into the kitchen so I can make some coffee.
Volodya takes one of the barstools and nods when I hold up a mug to see if he wants some. He grabs one of the biscuits and shoots me a grin. “So do you need us to talk to you about your wedding night? Certain things will be expected of you, and I’d hate for you to let the Medvedev name down.”
I laugh and tell him to shut the fuck up. Vasily sits down next to him and takes the mug I offer. After I’ve added in some sugar, I lean against the counter and finish off the biscuit.
“So how’s she doing?” I ask.
“She’s at our house with all the other women. She looked excited and a bit shell-shocked,” Vasily says with a grin.
“Have you seen the dress?” I ask.
“We have,” Volodya says. “And we’re sworn to secrecy.”
“You’re my brother,” I remind him.
“Maddie said if I told you she wouldn’t let me chase her for a month. Sorry, little brother, these lips are fucking sealed.”
I laugh, unable to get upset at my psycho brother. “It’s probably for the best. I want to be surprised.”
“Nervous?” Vasily asks.
I grab another biscuit. “Not at all. She’s the one.”
“So all three of the Medvedevs are officially taken,” Volodya says, grabbing a bottle of vodka from the bag they’d brought. He lines up three shot glasses and fills them to the top.
“It’s ten in the morning,” I remind him, but he just laughs and scoots one over to me.
“I don’t give a shit what time it is. My little brother is getting married today.”
We raise our glasses as Vasily says, “To a long and happy future for you and Evie.”
Volodya adds with a wink, “And I hope she lets you chase her every now and then.”
I laugh and drink the shot. As soon as I set it down, he’s filling it again.
“Have you heard from Mom?” Vasily asks. “I talked to her a couple of days ago. She seemed okay. I think I might have convinced her to come over for a visit soon.”
“Seriously?” I ask, nearly choking on my drink. We’ve been trying to get our mom to visit or even move here for years, but she’s always refused, not wanting to leave the place that reminds her of our dad. She’s missing out on so much life, though, and it’s getting harder and harder to just stand by and watch it.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure when. I told her that we just found out we’re having a little girl, and she was very surprised when we talked about your wedding. She was convinced you’d stay a bachelor forever.”
“Yeah, yeah, join the club,” I say, swinging back the next shot, not at all surprised when Volodya immediately refills it. “I’m not walking down the aisle drunk,” I remind him.
“Please, you’re a Medvedev. You’ve got vodka running through your damn veins, and don’t be such a pussy,” he adds because he knows it’ll make me laugh. My brothers are the only ones who can call me a pussy and make me laugh about it.
We finish the breakfast and drink more vodka before it’s time for me to jump in the shower. I’m anxious to see Evie again, and I’m more than ready to hear her sayI do. My brothers laugh at my inability to sit still and the way I keep double-checking my tux to make sure everything looks good. They changed while I was in the shower and started letting people in so they could set up. We wanted to get married down by the beach. When I’d told Evie that my brothers were both married at their homes, she’d loved the idea and immediately wanted us to do it. Adding this memory to all the others we’re going to share here sounded perfect to me too.
I look out the bedroom window, watching the caterers and photographer get set up, and when I can’t wait a second longer, I say, “Okay, it’s time to go downstairs.”
Vasily laughs and checks his watch. “We’re still a little early.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Hang on,” he says, sending a quick text to Nina. He reads the reply and looks up at me from where he’s sitting. “They’re five minutes away. Time to go down and get you married, little brother.”
