At her continued pouting, I said, “T-Thisp-party is just for grownups.”
“Not fair, Maksy.”
“I know.”
“Will you take me skating tomorrow to make it up to me?”
At Irina’s horrified shriek, I laughed. “Yes,p-pchelka.”
While she grinned triumphantly, Irina shook her head. “It’s not polite to guilt someone into taking you somewhere.”
“But Mamoushka,” Kira protested.
“Tell Maksim you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
With a whisper, I said, “We’ll still go skating.”
Kira giggled while Irina shook her head at me. “You’re a bad influence, Maksim”
“I’m sorry.”
Irina laughed. “No you’re not.”
A knock came at the door. “We have to go,” Dima said.
My siblings waved while Irina blew me a kiss. “B-Bye, guys.”
When the call ended, I called, “Yes?”
My mother poked her head in. “I just came to check if you were ready. It’s time to go downstairs.”
Her nose curled with disgust at the sight of Dima standing behind me. “What ishedoing here?”
“He’s my second t-tonight.”
“Aleksander should be your second,” she hissed.
“D-Dima’s t-two years older than Aleks.”
Mother’s blue eyes bulged with rage. “He’s a bastard!”
Dima glanced warily between Mother and me. “Would you like me to get him?”
“No!” I snapped before Mother could answer. When she started to open her mouth, I shook my head. “D-Dima is my second.”
Drawing her shoulders back, Mother huffed out a breath. “I refuse to argue with you tonight, Maksim.” After smoothing a hand over her updo, she said, “Be downstairs in five minutes.”
While I nodded, Dima replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
Once the door closed behind my mother, Dima groaned. “Bylat.”
At my snort, Dima slowly shook his head back and forth. “Seriously, your mother is scary as hell.”
“D-Da,” I agreed with a grin.
“Let’s get the hell out of here before she comes back and banishes me to the prisons.”
