Page 62 of The Long Game
The three-year-old stared at him with wide, wet eyes, then nodded.
“If you like plastic food,” Hayden said, “you’re in luck.”
“Better than what Shane eats,” Ilya said, winking at Shane.
Hayden actually laughed at that.
“Sparkles on all of them?” Ilya asked.
Ruby nodded without hesitation and Ilya got to work. He’d already painted her nails a bold combination of dark purple,neon pink, and light blue, but obviously the sparkles were necessary.
“How’s it going?” Shane asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Amazing. Look at this great job I am doing.”
Shane bent over the table and inspected Ruby’s manicure. “Wow. I’m jealous.”
“I’m next,” said Ruby’s twin sister, Jade, claiming her spot before Shane tried to butt in line.
“Is Amber asleep?” Ilya asked.
“Yeah. Conked right out after a solid hour of preparing food for us.”
Ilya smiled, remembering how seriously Amber had presented each of their plastic meals. “Was surprised you ate the hamburger. Red meat, you know.”
Shane lightly punched his shoulder. “Idiot.”
“That’s not nice,” Jade said.
“You are right,” Ilya agreed. “That is not nice, Shane.”
“Sorry.” He sat at the table between Jade and the middle child, Arthur. The Pikes’ only son was a remarkably quiet kid, seemingly content to watch whatever was happening around him. He seemed to be fascinated by his sister’s nails.
“Do you want nail polish, Arthur?” Ilya asked.
The five-year-old blinked at him, then nodded.
“He can’t!” Ruby insisted. “He’s aboy.”
“Boys can wear nail polish,” Ilya said. “Watch.” He carefully brushed a coat of the pale blue color on his thumbnail. “See?”
“Dad said it’s just for girls,” Jade said.
“Well,Dadis a—”
“Your dad doesn’t know a lot of boys who wear nail polish,” Shane cut in just in time. “But plenty do.”
Ilya painted the rest of the nails on his left hand and admired his work. “This is nice. I should have sparkles too maybe.”
“Here,” Shane said. He took Ilya’s hand in his, then grabbed the bottle of glitter polish. “It’s easier if someone else does it. Probably.”
Everyone watched as Shane bent over Ilya’s hand, concentrating intensely as he brushed polish on each nail. Ilya’s heart fluttered at the sweetness of it.
“Is he your husband?” Ruby asked.
Ilya flinched, nearly making Shane’s brush slip. “No.”
“Are youhishusband?”
