"Are you kidding?" I say, spreading out the pink dress and wondering if pink will clash with red too much or if the contrast will be a fun mix. "I'm finally getting some peace and quiet now that you've taken Matvei away."
"What did you have for dinner? I know you. You'll eat a bowl of microwave popcorn and call it a gourmet meal," he asks.
"Cheese and chives. And it wasn't made in the microwave. I made it on the stove," I correct him. I drop the phone frommy cheek and press the speaker button, letting it sit on my bed between two of the dresses.
"Nikita, you have to eat real food. Didn't the chef make you something?"
"Of course he did. But I wasn't hungry. The popcorn filled me up."
"Did you watch a movie?" he sighs, picking his battles and deciding that trying to control what I eat is too much effort.
"No, I'm really into that newseries,actually. I'm watching that creepy one you told me about. With the circus people… "
"Oh, yes, that's a good one. But I don't recommend it when you're home alone," he laughs.
"Please, there are a hundred guards in every corner of this place. I'm sure the monsters under the bed won't be a problem," I roll my eyes.
Pink, black, or white?I toss the white dress aside. It's not my current vibe.
"You are being good though, right? Not up to anything I wouldn't approve of?" Diomid asks more sternly.
"I'm not doing anything you wouldn't do," I answer cheekily.
"Kit," he groans, frustrated that I refuse to take his worry seriously. I sigh loudly. "I'm being good, you don't have to worry about me, Dio," I huff.
"Ok, good. You know I'm just trying to keep you safe, right?"
"Yes, yes. Enough about me, though. How is everyone enjoying the cabin? Did you make a bonfire at the edge of the forest like we did last time?" I ask, guilt spiking into me as Imanipulate the conversation to change the subject. I don't like lying to my brother. He means the world to me. But I'm old enough to make my own decisions and control my own life. One day, he'll have to figure that out on his own. Until then, I have to hide a few things from him. It's just the way it goes.
He still thinks I'm this little girl who can't make her own choices. And like I said, I love him like crazy. My whole family… I love them all. But they really need to give me some space to live a little.
Finally, I settle on the black dress and toss the pink one aside, too. Let's go full sexy mode with head-to-toe black. I'll be like the midnight vixen, sneaking out on a secret mission.
"… and Stef got such a fright she dropped her marshmallow right into the fire," Diomid says, and I realize I've missed a whole story.
"Oh my word! That's hilarious!" I laugh loudly.
Diomid chuckles again and then sighs. "We're just chilling around the fire now. Watching the last few logs burn out before we go inside for hot chocolate. It's getting colder. What are you doing for the rest of the night? How's the weather there?"
"It's super pretty outside. It's misty and fresh. I think I'm going to make some salted caramel cappuccino and watch a few more episodes of the circus freaks before I go to bed," I say, staring at my shoe collection. Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers. That way, I can dance all night without my feet complaining.
I pull out my black high-top Nikes.
They'll look super cute with my tight black dress.
"Well, I just wanted to check in and see you were ok. Shout if you need anything. Or if you get lonely. I'm only a phone call away," he says.
"I know, and a two-hour flight if I change my mind," I giggle.
"Exactly."
"Love you guys. Enjoy that fire and the lake and everything."
"We will. Chat in the morning, ok. Sleep well," Diomid says.
"Bye, Nikita," I hear a chorus of shouts from everyone around Diomid.
