“I know.”
“How am I supposed to do twelve more?”
“One day at a time. One hour if you have to. One minute if it comes to that.”
I lean my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for dragging me out here.”
“Anytime. Although next time, maybe showerbeforeI arrive?”
I elbow him. He laughs.
Then I see them.
Dima and Lev. Walking toward us through the park like they’re in a spy movie. Long coats. Serious expressions. Moving in perfect sync.
Everyone stares. A mom clutches her stroller. A jogger literally stops jogging.
They stop in front of our bench.
“It’s time for lunch,” Dima says.
Just like that. No preamble. No “sorry to interrupt.” Just a statement of fact.
Jasper’s mouth falls open. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“You’ve been gone ninety minutes,” Lev adds. “Dr. Vera said she needs to eat every three hours.”
“I’m not a hamster.”
“Hamsters eat constantly.” Lev grins. “You’re eating once a day. If that.”
Jasper stands, hands on hips. “Do you two just… follow us everywhere?”
“Yes,” Dima says.
“That’s deeply unsettling.”
“That’s the job.”
“I’m starting to understand why Mary’s losing her mind.”
I stand too. Slowly. Because moving fast still makes me dizzy. “You guys didn’t have to come all the way here.”
“Yes,” Lev says. “We did.”
And the way he says it—simple, final, no room for argument—makes something in my chest crack.
Because they’re here. Even when Anton can’t be. They’re here.
“Fine.” I sigh. “Let’s go eat.”
Jasper loops his arm through mine. “For the record, this is the most dramatic lunch invitation I’ve ever received.”
“Welcome to my life.”
“Your life is insane.”
“Tell me about it.”
