It is said that shared trauma can bring two people closer together. But this felt like more than just sharing a traumatic past.
Reid had always cared for Nikolai. Ever since the first day they met, Reid had always looked out for him and made sure he was taken care of.
Staring out his bedroom window, Niko thought about all the times Reid had been there for him, even if it was just to lift his spirits whenever he was feeling down or missing his family.
Nikolai had been in America for just over two months. Mikhail had been keeping him busy, entertaining four to five clients a week.
Initially, Nikolai loved it. What eighteen-year-old wouldn’t enjoy getting as much pussy as he wanted and getting paid for it? But to be honest, he was starting to miss home. He missed his sister and his mom. He missed his mom’s homemade cooking and his sister’s constant teasing. He talked to them every few weeks, but he was finding it harder and harder to do so, knowing that he was nothing more than a high-priced prostitute. But the job was only temporary. Once he paid off his travel debt, he would be free to leave and find a job doing something else… perhaps in construction. He was good with his hands and enjoyed building things. Then at least he would be proud to tell his mom what he was doing with his days.
But for now, it all had to stay quiet.
“Hey, buddy. What’s going on?” Reid asked, leaning against the wall next to his bedroom.
He wasn’t sure how long Reid had been standing there watching him.
“Not much. Just missing Mom and Misha.” Misha was his sister.
Reid pushed off the wall and walked toward him.
“When was the last time you called them?”
“Two days ago. They keep asking how I’m doing and where I’m working. I keep telling them I’m still looking for a job. I don’t want to tell my mother that I fuck women as a job.”
“I know what you mean. But you got to admit, the money is good,” Reid said, always trying to see the bright side of things. He placed his hand on Nikolai’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Reid was always sweet like that.
“I guess I just miss home.”
Reid checked his cell phone.
“Tell you what. Go get dressed. I’m taking you out somewhere.”
“What? Where are we going?” Niko asked, looking at him like he had suddenly lost his mind. “What if Mikhail needs us?”
“It’s ten in the morning. No woman is horny at this time of day. Don’t worry, we’ll be back well before nightfall.”
An hour later, they stepped off the subway in Brooklyn. Brighton Beach, to be exact.
“What?” Niko gasped as he looked at all the shops around him. Many had signs written in Russian.
Blue and white and red splashed the backdrops of many of their signs. As Nikolai took a step forward, a mother and her little girl passed them, speaking in Russian.
“Where are we?” Niko asked, mouth hanging open as he took in the smells of freshly baked goods he recognized from home.
“This, my friend, is Brighton Beach, also known as ‘Little Russia.’ It’s got one of the highest populations of Russians in New York. I thought you might like a reminder of home. Come. Let’s check out this bakery.”
Reid slapped him on the shoulder and led him into a small mom-and-pop shop.
Niko took in a deep breath and let the smells of home invade his senses.
“God, this smells amazing.”
He walked over to the display case to check out all the sweet-smelling baked goods.
Niko’s eyes went wide. “Oh, you have to try this!” He quickly waved at an elderly woman sitting on a stool, hoping to get some assistance.
The elderly woman was sweet. She smiled at Niko and began conversing with him in Russian, laughing and explaining more about her shop. She ran it with her daughter and her husband. She did the baking, and her daughter did the selling.
Niko quickly discovered that the woman came from a small village a few hours north of his own. Feeling that sense of community warmed Nikolai’s heart.
