Page 65 of Ice Block

vladi

“I’d like to make a toast,” Bougie says as we pour shots in Hayes’ hotel room.

“NO!” we all yell in unison, still not over the trauma of the bachelor party poem.

“What?!” His eyes dart around the room, one hand raised in mock innocence. “I’m going to behave today. This one doesn’t even rhyme!”

We all look around, rolling our eyes at one another.

He steps forward anyway, raising his glass. “Larsy, I just wanted to say I’m so happy for you! Despite being an old man, you found an amazing wife, and I’m so honored to be here to celebrate your happiness. I can only hope to find love like you found with Olivia one day,” he says with a slight sadness in his voice as he trails off, a rare moment of emotion. He clears his throat as he continues. “Congrats on your wedding day! May many years of happiness follow. Cheers!”

Hayes walks up to Bougie and gives him a hug. “Thanks. That was actually very…thoughtful. And heartfelt. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for you,” Bougie says, hugging him back.

“That’s a side of Bougie I haven’t seen,” Zack leans over to say. “Not a hint of cockiness or arrogance about him. That was actually kind of sweet. What the fuck is going on with that kid?”

“My thoughts exactly,” Larsy says as he joins us. “Maybe he’s growing up? Zack, you have kids; is he finally exiting the toddler phase of life?”

“Maybe our ‘old man’ ways are finally rubbing off on him,” Zack replies, nudging Larsy with a smug grin.

I look between them, confused. “What does a ‘rub off’ mean?” I ask. They both look at me with wide eyes before bursting into laughter. “What? What does it mean?”

“It means when you spend a lot of time with someone, they start to act more like you. However, when you say rub off just by itself, it means jerking off.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Why does everything have to mean more than one thing in English? In Russia, a word is a word. End of story.”

A loud knock suddenly comes from the hotel door. My heart pounds in my chest and my throat tightens.Is everything okay? Where is Magdalina?

EJ stands closest to the door and walks the couple of steps needed to open it.

“Everyone decent in here?” a familiar, cheery voice pops around the door. “Just wanted to come see my son before his wedding!”

“Hey, Mom,” Larsy says, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek as Kristi enters.

“Boy, you kids all clean up nice! You’re all so tan too; it’s nice to see you getting some Vitamin D instead of being cooped up under fluorescent lights every day.”

Muffled snickers come from around the room as she speaks.

“I don’t know what the inside joke is, boys, but I’m not having it today!” she yells in a half-annoyed mom voice.

The room echoes with guys saying, ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘sorry, Mrs. Larson’. I don’t understand this joke either, but I’ll have to get clarification later.

The photographer sneaks in behind Kristi, taking photos of us, then Hayes and his mom while she pins a flower on his jacket. My throat tightens, something pulling behind my ribs as I try to take a deep breath. The momentary distraction provides me an opportunity to get a few minutes of peace, and I head to sit on the couch by the window in this suite. I need a few moments to myself to look out at the endless sea and quiet the thoughts plaguing me. To find the strength to make it through this day.

After a few minutes with no interruptions, I feel the weight shift on the couch next to me. “You doing okay, Vladi?”

My heart lifts at the sight of the maternal figure beside me. “Hi, Kristi.”

“You didn’t answer my question. I’ve known you since you and Hayes met. You’ve always been like a son to me. I heard what happened,” she twists her hands in her lap, “And I wanted to check in on you after everything. You feeling okay? Are you up for this today? You know Hayes will understand if you’re not.”

I nod in response, showing her a small smile at her thoughtfulness. “I am…I will be fine. I honestly don’t remember a lot of it.”

Kristi grabs my hand, holding it with both of hers. I flinch at the reminder of my mother doing the same when I was just a boy. “I’m here for you if you ever need anything. We are all here for you. I can only imagine what all that brought back up for you last night. For Pete’s sake, I’m still shaking just from hearing about it all!” She takes a moment to compose herself, blinking to hold back her tears. “But you need to know you are a good man, Vladimir. What you did last night to protect Maggie, that’s…that’s love.”

I shake my head, my gaze falling to the floor. “I don’t know about that.”

“Lucky for you, I do know. And I’m the closest thing you have to a parent, so you are going to listen to me,” she says, as I roll my eyes with a wry grin. “I know I haven’t been hanging out with you kids all week, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching. I can see how smitten with her you are. It’s written all over your face. The minute she walks in the room, your entire demeanor changes. The way you look at her? It’s honestly the same look I see Hayes give Olivia.” I scoff, convinced the heat is warping her vision. “It’s the same look Walt and Johnny give each other. You love that girl, whether you want to admit it or not.”

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