“No.” Clearly, by the way Sadie said the word, this was important to her. If it was important to her, then it was important to him.
“Hey, Babushka.” Roman couldn’t help it. He grinned.
“Roman,” Babushka replied, excitement in her voice. “You called for Sadie. She is not here. She’s out vith a man.” The last part was said low. “Very handsome. Good hair. Beard. Very manly.”
Roman glanced to where Sadie stood with her arms crossed, pissed as all get-out.
“Sadie’s here with me, Babushka.”
“Vonderful,” Babushka chirped like she hadn’t just been caught mid-lie. “Ask her over tonight for pirozhki.”
Roman held the cell away from his mouth. “She wants to know if you’ll have dinner with the family.”
Sadie tossed her hands in the air. “I already told her I have plans with a frozen microwave dinner.”
That didn’t sound fun at all.
“Seriously?” he asked. “Pirozhki is a huge upgrade from frozen whatever-you’re-having.”
“It’s true,” Brek added. “Babushka does good grub.”
“She switches out the milk for vodka in all her recipes,” Zach added. “It totally makes dinner with my family pretty awesome. You should try her mashed potatoes.”
Sadie made agahsound.
“Hold tight, Babushka. Sadie is considering your offer of cooking for her,” Roman said into Sadie’s cell.
“I am not.” Sadie shoved her hands into her hair.
“I don’t think you understand how Dvornakovs work.” Brek leaned forward conspiratorially.
“Nope, definitely not.” Jase nodded along. “Thanks to dumbass here, she’s going to need a crash course in Russian grandmothering.”
“I have no idea what any of this means.”
Roman couldn’t help it. The fire in Sadie was back and, yeah, it was pissed-off fire. But there was that kindling again. He was onto something.
“Tit for tat,” Brek replied. “They want you to come to dinner. Ask for whatever you want in return. It’s how they operate.”
The light dawned on Sadie as she turned toward Roman. “Will she stop answering my phone?”
“Now she’s getting it.” Jase sounded oh so very proud.
“Sadie wants to know if you’ll stop answering her phone if she comes to dinner?” Roman asked.
“Then who vill answer?” Babushka asked. “There is no von else here.”
Roman pulled the cell away from his ear again. “She wants to know who will answer the phone?”
Sadie closed her eyes. “It’s like I’m arguing with the doorknob.”
Roman knew the feeling. He’d lived in the same universe as his babushka all his life.
“You want my advice?” Jase asked.
“No,” Roman and Sadie said in unison.
“I am vorking. Vhat do you want?” Babushka sounded a touch annoyed.
