Page 3 of Announcing Love
Sacha laughed. Even that was gorgeous. He looked too much like Artem. “Don’t mind her. She enjoys being scandalous.”
“I’m old. I call it like I see it. You should try it. It’s fun.”
Sacha patted her shoulder. “I haven’t earned that right yet, Baba. When I get to your age, I swear I’ll be outlandish as hell and make you proud with my eccentrics.”
“That’s a good boy.”
Sacha flashed him a smile. “How are you?”
“Good. I was just grabbing something to drink before I head up to the booth.”
Sacha nodded along. “Artem just went to get something too. You should run along. Maybe you’ll catch him.” There was no missing the laughter lacing Sacha’s Ukrainian accent.
“Let’s go. If we don’t walk away, he’ll deny wanting to chase him. The boy looks like a runner.”
At Baba’s words, Sacha immediately obeyed. He winked as he walked away. Tip waited a few seconds before hurrying toward the nearest concession booth. He spotted Artem immediately. As Artem grabbed his cup, Tip scooted in behind him, ready to surprise him.
Artem turned.
Their bodies collided.
Cold soda poured down Tip’s stomach as the cup squashed between them. Tip jumped backwards.
Artem followed, keeping the space between them small. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. Here.” He tossed his cup toward a nearby trash can. Tip didn’t look to see if he made it. He was too engrossed in the way Artem attacked him with napkins. “I can’t believe we keep meeting like this. First my phone. Now your shirt. Just let me know how much it cost so I can give you the money to replace it. Jesus.”
Tip set his hand over Artem’s, stopping his frantic scrubbing. “It’s okay. I’m sure it’s nothing they can’t handle at the dry cleaners.”
Artem’s shoulders fell. He didn’t pull his hand away. “I’d swear I’m not usually this clumsy, but I am. My head is always in the clouds. Sacha told me it would be the death of me.”
Without thinking, Tip smoothed away the line between Artem’s eyebrows with his thumb. “Stop. I’m always happy to see you.”
Artem visibly relaxed. “Wow. I don’t know if I had to buy a fifteen-hundred-dollar phone and got my shirt soaked in just two days’ time if I would be too happy to see me.”
Tip couldn’t stop smiling. It was always that way with Artem. Fifteen hundred dollars was nothing to him and he had never been happier to have his shirt soaked. “I guess I’m weird like that. Why is your accent not as thick as your brother’s?”
Artem rolled with the subject change like he was accustomed to flighty people. “I was a toddler when my parents came here. The accent I have is purely from picking it up at home and Ukrainian being almost all my parents spoke for many years.”
Tip nodded along. He wanted to know everything. Music cut through the speakers, reminding Tip he had to work. He glanced around, remembering they weren’t alone in the world. “I have to get to work, but may I take you to dinner tonight?”
Artem’s expression fell. “Oh. I actually have to work from five to nine thirty tonight.”
“Where do you work?”
“Crafts Appeal. It’s an art supply store right off campus.”
That fit. “Okay. I’ll pick you up afterward. Would you rather I come at nine thirty where you work or wait to get you from home?”
The way Artem grinned proved he wasn’t immune to Tip’s audacity. “I’d say the store to avoid Baba’s goading, but I’m always a paint-covered mess after work and she should be asleep that late. My place? Like ten thirty? Or I could come to you? Or we could wait until tomorrow?”
“Ten thirty is fine.” The music got louder. “Damn. I really have to go, but I’ll see you tonight.”
Artem nodded, and Tip reluctantly headed for the booth. He would get a beer girl to grab him a towel and a drink since he was out of time. Being wet mattered not at all. He had a date. It felt fucking amazing.
Artem watched Tip walk away while screaming like a twelve-year-old girl inside. He had a date. With Tip Ramos, of all people. He couldn’t believe it. Artem made his way to his seat with his head in the clouds.
“I thought you were getting a drink.”
Artem nodded at Sacha’s words. “I did, and then I spilled it all over Tip.”
