Page 136 of The Failed Audition

Timo laughs, and all three siblings step into the light. Literally. “Thora James,” Timo exclaims with a wide, dazzling grin. He carries a half-eaten apple pie and a bundle of forks. Luka has a pumpkin one in hand. Katya, a chocolate.

“Hey,” I say, a smile growing. “How was the family feast?”

“Boring,” Luka says, sitting next to Nikolai.

Timo plops next to me, slinging his arm around my shoulder. “Entertaining.”

“Draining,” Katya adds with a sigh. She chooses the spot between me and Nikolai. Which is really the only free place in the circle, since I face him.

Boring. Entertaining. Draining.

“In that order,” Nikolai says to me, lightness in his eyes. I’m having a hard time not smiling right now, even sweaty, muscles achy and heart on a slow descent.

Timo passes me a fork. “Luka’s pie is the worst.”

Luka looks uncaring. “No one taught me how to cook.”

“No one taught me how to cook, but mine still turned out edible.”

Katya pushes the chocolate one towards me. “Mine is actually the best.” When I first met her, I doubt she’d ever consider herself better than her brothers, in any arena.

I believe it.I try a small portion, the taste richer than I expected, making me smile. It’s really good. I give her a thumbs-up, and her orb-like eyes brighten. After another bite, I ask, “So who’s this boy?”

She groans. “You heard that?” Her eyes flicker nervously to Nikolai. What is he going to do? I think about all his rules with me and training. Yeah—I’m sure he has an equally long list for Katya and dating.

“How old is he?” Nikolai layers on theno bullshit, no humorexpression to the millionth degree.

“He’s no one,” Katya refutes. “I met him in the hallway.”

Nikolai almost chokes on a bite of pie.

“The hallway?” I say. I don’t get it. Is that a meeting spot for people in the circus—like code forunder the bleachers?

“He was just here for the weekend,” she clarifies.

It clicks. “Like a bachelor party kind of thing?”

“Yeah.” She nods.

Nikolai starts, “You didn’t give him your number—”

“I know the rules. Okay? I wouldn’t do that.”

“And plus, she was oblivious.” Timo points his fork at Katya. “You need to take my class: Timofei 101. I’ll teach you the ways of men, little sister.”

I don’t see all three siblings together often, only because they spend more time together than they do with Nikolai. And I’m usually with him. So I eat silently, my eyes pinging between the Kotovas.

“She’ssixteen,” Nikolai says sternly.

Katya sighs like she’s heard this all before.

Luka rips open a packet of Junior Mints, exiting the conversation and stepping away from the spotlight that his little brother adores.

Timo gives Nikolai a look, as though he’s living in the wrong decade. “And I lost my virginity at fourteen.”

Nikolai pinches his eyes. “I don’t want to know this, Timo.”

Timo redirects his attention to me. “Thora James.” His grin seems to twinkle in his eyes, in a sprightlyevilway. “When did you lose it?”

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