Page 5 of Whiskey Promises
"Me either," she admits in a whisper. The sadness in her eyes squeezes my heart in a vise. She's thinking about Teo again. He was traded to the football team here in Los Angeles recently. For the first time in years, the two of them are in the same city again.
Nadia and I have carefully danced around the subject since my plane landed, but I know she's thinking about him. Half the damn songs she sang tonight were about him. Just like always.
"I sent videos to Mom and Dad," I murmur, dancing around it yet again. "They're proud of you."
"I miss them so much," she says.
"You know they'll fly out again soon. There's no way Dad is going to let you be out here by yourself for more than a few months at a time without showing up to check in."
Her expression softens into a smile, but it doesn't really reach her eyes.
"Are you happy here?" I slip my hand into hers as the question spills out. I can't help but ask, though. After everything she's been through trying to survive without Teo, I worry.
Now, they're in the same city again.Of courseI worry. But talking about him has always been strictly off-limits. She doesn't want to hear anything about him, especially not from the people who know her best.
"Yeah, I'm happy here."
Her answer is too quick, too…fake.
"Truly happy, Nadia?" I press, eyes narrowed on her.
The truth is right there in her eyes. She still misses him.
The bartender appears before she has to answer, sliding our shots across the table. I pretend for her sake that he's distracted me, but I already have my answer. She isn't happy here. She's just faking it like always.
But we learned long ago that we can't force her to face it. We tried that. She ran off to Los Angeles. We tried it with him, too. He got in a bar fight that nearly ruined his career. Now, we do this. We dance around it and pretend they aren't both miserable.
Fake it til you make it, right?
I scoop my shot up, arching one brow at her.
She groans, reluctantly grabbing hers. "You aren't getting me drunk tonight, baby sister."
"We'll see about that," I smirk.
"I'm serious! I have to be at the studio early."
"Then you better drink your weight in water because you're about to drink it in vodka." I bat my lashes at her. "Now, drink."
She scowls at me, tipping the shot back. The grimace on her face is hysterical. She hates the taste of vodka. I quickly down mine, letting the alcohol burn its way down my throat. It's strong, but I like the flavor.
"Gah!" Nadia shudders, slamming her shot glass down on the bar. "I don't know how you and Dad drink this!"
"It's not that bad."
"It's awful."
"Don't let him hear you say that," I say, giggling. "You can insult Russia all you want in front of him, but never let him hear you insult their vodka."
Nadia chuckles because she knows I'm right. Dad may hate his country of birth on account of them trying to assassinate his father, but he's passionate about their vodka.
"How are he and Mom doing?"
"Fine." I roll my eyes, fighting a grin. "He's driving her crazy like usual. I don't know what possessed him to retire. He's terrible at it. He just follows her around, annoying her all day.Your He-Man will do that for you,kisa.Kisa, come, let me do that.She said if he doesn't find a hobby soon, she's going to strangle him."
"Taking care of her is his hobby."
"No, that's his purpose," I correct, motioning for the bartender. "Chasing her around is his hobby."
