Katya loops her arm through mine like we’re old friends. “So. Tell me everything. How did you meet? Where was your first date? When did you know he was the one?”
I silently curse Kirill for leaving me alone without so much as a script to follow.
“Seriously, Kirill told you nothing about us?” I ask, stalling while I figure out what’s safe to say.
A server materializes with champagne and Katya presses a glass into my hand and takes one for herself. “You know my brother, he’s not the most forthcoming about his life. You met at work, right? And it’s been a whirlwind romance and all that. Oh,and I’m not supposed to breathe a word of this to our father.” She makes a face, her feelings about Ruslan clear. “As if I’ve exchanged more than a few words with that man in the past year. We basically inhabit separate wings of the house.”
My heart goes out to her. I can only imagine what it would be like having a monster like Ruslan Baronov as a father.
“We met at Velour,” I say, deciding to stick as close to the truth as possible. “I was working there as a server and he, well, he noticed me. I’m not sure if we ever really dated. There was this cosmic pull that kept bringing us together. Always. Like we were meant to be or something.”
As soon as I say them out loud, I realize every word is true.
“I know this is fast,” I start, but Katya waves me off.
“When you know, you know, right? I’m so happy he finally let himself fall in love. After our mother died, Kirill became the parent. Raised us, protected us, never let himself want anything for himself. I thought he’d be alone forever.”
Her words resonate. I understand the impulse to push away love. The need to protect yourself by never letting anyone get close. But he had siblings to look after, I had no one.
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” Katya says, grasping my hand in hers. “Our mother died when I was a baby. I grew up with all guys, and don’t get me wrong, I love my brothers, but it’s not the same. Except, now I have you.”
My throat closes. I know exactly what she’s saying, which is why guilt is eating me alive. Because I’m going to leave. Eventually, as soon as I can, I’ll disappear back to my real life and Katya will be left with another loss.
I can’t think about that right now.
“I lost my mother when I was young,” I say. “So I understand. I know what it’s like to grow up without that.”
Katya’s eyes soften with understanding before brightening with a new thought. “What do you like to do? We should goshopping. I can show you all the best places in the city. Oh, and there’s this incredible bakery in the West Village that makes these Russian pastries that taste just like the ones our cook used to make when I was little.”
She keeps talking, her words tumbling over each other in her excitement, and I feel something crack open in my chest.
Across the room, Kirill is deep in conversation with his brothers. Their expressions are serious, their voices too low for me to hear. But every few seconds Kirill’s eyes find mine, and what I see shining back at me isn’t a threat or warning, it’s tenderness. It’s something that I’m not prepared for.
“So what do you do?” Katya asks, pulling my attention back. “Besides work at Velour, I mean. What are you into?”
“Oh. I’m a student at MTI. It’s really boring computer stuff, to be honest. What about you?” I ask, desperate to change the subject. “What are you interested in?”
“Music, mostly. I’ve been playing the piano since I was seven. I want to go to Juilliard, study performance there, but…” She trails off, her expression clouding. “My father has other ideas about what a Baronov daughter should be doing.”
I know the realities of her world far better than she can imagine. But I also know she probably has little power. “Maybe I could hear you play sometime? Do you perform often?”
“Sometimes. And I’d love that.”
Kirill appears at my side, his hand settling on my waist like it belongs there. “As much as I enjoy seeing you bonding, I need to steal my bride.”
“Already?” Katya pouts.
“You’ll have plenty of time with her later.” He presses a kiss to the top of his sister’s head and the gentleness of it makes my throat tighten.
Matvey and Demyan join us, both of them giving me measuring looks, probably because they know the truth.
“You better not keep her all to yourself,” Katya warns, giving me a final hug before embracing Kirill and waving a final goodbye.
Then it’s just the two of us in the suddenly quiet penthouse and the reality of it all crashes down hard.
“That was fucked up,” I say, swaying a little. The many glasses of champagne and high emotions of the day are finally getting to me, and despite myself, a tear falls down my cheek. What’s wrong with me? I should be stronger than this. It’s embarrassing to break down in front of him.
Kirill’s arms wrap around me, and he holds me steady. I shouldn’t allow him to comfort me, but it feels too good to pull away.
