Page 129 of Scarlet Vows
“Because it was six in the morning when I left.” He chuckles. “You just got up now?”
“Maybe.”
“Well,” he says with another laugh, “you must’ve needed the rest. I wore you out,malyshka.”
I can hear the note in his voice, the one that’s asking ifeverything is okay, if we’re okay, if he’s pushing me or not. It’s the same one he’s used when I’ve been upset and pretended things were okay.
Difference is, I think, apart from my small freak-out in the early hours before he went down on me, I am okay. I’m really okay.
“You can wear me out any day or night,” I tell him.
“I can?” Delight rings through his voice.
“Yes.” I grip the phone tightly, like I’m trying to pour paragraphs into that one word. “When will you be home?”
“Are you cooking tonight?”
I could, and I would, but that fridge is full. “If you like, but we have a lot of leftovers.”
“More pelmeni? I’m in.” He sighs. “But I don’t know when I’ll be home. Today’s a busy day. I’ve got a lot to sort out, so it won’t be for a while.”
“Translation, you might be late?”
“It comes with the job,” he says in Russian.
I smile. “Don’t work too hard. I’ll be here, waiting.”
“Good.”
When I hang up, I go inside and make a coffee right as Svetlana hurries in.
“Do you want lunch?” she asks.
“No, thanks, just the coffee. The house is yours for a few hours.”
I go back into the garden and text Isla to see if she wants to meet me at the shelter.
Then I text Eva to let her know I’ll be in to help out, this time with Albert.
Eva
Albert!!
She makes me smile.
“You hear that, Albert? Your fan base awaits. The one outside the house.”
His ears perk, and he runs up to me, clearly hearing the “go-for-a-walk” tone in my words. Or maybe he just understands. He’s that sort of dog.
I get ready to go. I think I’ll drive myself, so I don’t text Gus. Instead, I think Albert can enjoy some private car time since he likes the front seat.
Isla hasn’t texted me back, so I let her know I’m going to the shelter, and if she’s free, we can meet there, or even after if she’s at the office.
I clip on Albert’s leash and head out, my bag over my shoulder, when a car pulls up.
A man gets out. I guess he must work here since the guards at the gate let him in. He looks at the house and then at me.
“Ilya isn’t here,” I say.
