I pass him back the bottle and he takes a swig.
“It was Wills.” He says, not looking me in the eye.
I know I haven’t known him long, but seeing him so down like this instead of his usual happy self is hurting me.
“If it was mutual then why are you both so miserable. Just get back together!” I throw my hands out in front of me and Lev just continues to stare at the ground.
He takes another drink and hands me back the bottle and I’ve lost hope on how to cheer him up or even make him feel the slightest bit better.
The door to the lounge opens and I look out the office door to see if it’s finally Dragna coming back, but it’s just Ivan.
The music from downstairs blasts into the room through the open door and the next song starting has piano keys that I would know anywhere and suddenly I have a lightbulb moment.A drunk lightbulb moment but I still think it might make Lev feel better.
“Come on. Get up.”
I stand and kick his feet and he doesn’t move.
“Lev, as your sister which you once called me, I’m telling you to get your ass up.”
He looks up at me and since I’ll take what I can get and he isn’t staring at the floor in pity anymore, I grab his hand and try to pull him up.
“God why are you so big! Help a girl out here, get the hell up!”
He chuckles as he starts to stand up
“Alright, calm down. I’m up!”
“Come on, let’s go and quickly before it’s over.”
I pull him out from the office and break into a run out of the lounge and down the two flights of stairs to the main floor, bumping into everyone and dragging a drunken Lev behind me the whole time. When he realises the song pumping throughout the place, ‘Next To Me - RÜFÜS DU SOL’, a smile breaks out on his face and I laugh up at him as we both start dancing.
“How the hell did you know I love them?” He asks while playfully picking me up and spinning me around.
“Dragna told me when I was blasting them in the apartment one day.”
He sets me down and we both dance side by side.
“And you remembered?”
He hip bumps me and throws an arm over my shoulder.
“Of course! You mean a lot to Dragna which means you mean a lot to me too…brat.” I exaggerate the last word and Lev lets out a full blown fit of laughter at my terrible Russian accent and use of the word brother.
“Ah Willow tree. You’re something special to have broken the chains on Dragna’s heart you know.”
“He the one who’s special.” I reply and Lev smiles at me before breaking out into song, singing to me and spinning me around and I can’t help but sing at the top of my lungs along with him.
———————————————————
“He’ll be in his office.” Lev says as we stumble up the stairs.
What was originally supposed to be dancing for one song to cheer him up, turned into us dancing and drinking for another two hours together but I feel like he needed this tonight, and I’ll never say no to having a good time.
“How do you know?” I ask while trying to steady myself against the wall.
“I know him. I bet he’s been brooding in his office watching us all night on the cameras.”
“Shut up, he isn’t broody.” I hiccup and Lev pulls me in front of him by my shoulders, practically marching me to the lounge doors.
