Chapter 36 #2
I know how much Cosette loves raspberries; and when I was a kid, she sent me to the hospital quite a few times because of her obsession with that particular fruit and putting it in everything she could.
I like to think she didn’t do it on purpose; but when it comes to my stepmother, I really can’t put anything past her.
“The chocolate cake is delicious,” I say before scooping up another forkful to take another bite of the delicious dessert.
“Not too much, Savina,” my stepmother warns. “You know what they always say — a touch on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,” she singsongs.
“Oh, give it a break, Cosette,” Darby pipes up. “Let the girl eat her damn cake in peace.”
Cosette is aghast and swiftly clutches her pearls, and I have to stop from laughing out loud. Damn it. Well, I guess I lost that bet. Not that I really thought I’d win. If Cosette is anything, it’s that she’s completely predictable.
“I’ll Venmo it to you,” I tell Darby, who is sitting beside me and smiling from ear to ear.
“What is Venmo?” Cosette asks, trying to sound out the last word like it’s foreign on her tongue.
“Nothing,” Darby and I say at the same time.
The owner brings out the last of the cake samples, and I’m so happy we’re almost done here. I try the rest until I’m so overloaded with sugar that I can’t possibly take another bite.
“What is your favorite kind of cake, Savina?” Pavel asks, and I’m happy that he’s trying to strike up conversation and engage with me.
“I love black forest cake, but I know that’s not really typical for a wedding,” I surmise. In fact, the bakery didn’t even offer a sample of that for the tasting.
“Black forest cake? Oh, absolutely not,” Cosette says, shooting down my idea immediately.
“I’ve never tried it, but it sounds like it would be good,” Pavel adds, surprising me. Maybe he’s finally trying to make an effort with me.
I smile at him, hopefully conveying that I appreciate it.
“So, what did we decide?” the shop owner asks after what feels like two hours of tasting every cake flavor imaginable.
“I think I want the traditional white on white,” I say finally, and I can hear Cosette gasping in horror.
“After all of those samples, you choose the most basic one?” my stepmother cries.
I shrug. I don’t really care about the wedding…or the cake. Not like she does apparently. “I think everyone would like it,” I offer, and it’s the truth. You can’t go wrong with basic. And since I can’t have my favorite, I’ll settle for something everyone can enjoy.
Cosette turns to Helen and says, “We’ll think about it. Let Savina sleep on it. And then I’ll let you know.”
I roll my eyes. What my stepmother is basically saying is that she’ll pick the cake she wants behind my back. I simply won’t have a say in it even though it’s ultimately my choice because it’s my wedding.
“What was the whole point of today if she was just going to decide for you?” Darby whispers angrily beside me.
I sigh. “No idea.”
Cosette stands up and strikes a fork on her champagne glass, gathering everyone’s attention.
“But I think we’re about to find out,” I mutter.
“Since Dimitri and Pavel are here, I would like to announce my upcoming costume ball next Saturday,” Cosette starts.
“I throw it every year, and we donate a lot of money to charity. This year I’ll be holding it at a dear friend of mine’s home.
Charles has the most beautiful property and America’s largest hedge maze. ”
“A hedge maze? Is that really something people brag about?” Darby questions, and I shrug my shoulders.
“Everyone has to dress up and wear a mask,” Cosette says. “Don’t worry, Savina, I already bought your costume,” she whispers to me with a wink.
I inwardly groan. As Cosette goes on and on about the property and how many people will be attending, Darby and I take our paper plates and napkins to the garbage.
“She already bought your costume?” Darby grumbles.
“I’m sure it will be two sizes too small, just like when we went wedding dress shopping,” I mutter.
Dimitri is standing nearby, and I see him frown. Was he listening to us just now? He seems like his focus is on Cosette as she drones on about the party details, but maybe he’s just pretending to pay attention to her.
“Saturdays are my busiest nights at the bar,” Darby states with a wince.
“That’s okay. You don’t have to go,” I assure her with a dismissive wave of my hand. “It’s just some stupid party that Cosette likes to throw every year so that she can boast about how much money she raises for some bullshit nonprofit,” I explain.
Darby nods in understanding. “Speaking of the bar, I better get my ass to work.”
“Go. Your services are no longer needed here,” I say jokingly.
“Good. I’m so full of cake I could practically explode.”
I give her a hug before she leaves. I’m standing over by the half-finished wedding cakes, admiring their intricate craftmanship when I hear someone behind me.
Assuming it’s Dimitri, I turn with a grin on my face.
But my expression instantly falls when I realize it’s Pavel. “Oh, hi,” I say in surprise.
“Hi, Savina. I saw that you took a cab here. Could I possibly give you a ride home?”
“Did Dimitri tell you to do that?” I joke. But when I see Pavel’s smile falter, I realize that’s exactly what happened. “Uhm, sure,” I say quickly.
Seemingly relieved, he gestures towards the front door. I walk behind him, my eyes searching the store for Dimitri but coming up empty. He must have slipped out at some point without me realizing.
Pavel opens the door for me. And when we step out onto the busy sidewalk, I hear a motorcycle revving its engine down the block.
The sound instantly draws my attention, and I see the murdered-out bike with Dimitri nestled on the seat.
He flips down the visor of his helmet, and I swear I can feel his eyes on me even though I can’t see through the dark tint.
My heart beats a little faster as I watch him rev the engine once more before pulling out of the parking space and flying past us down the street.
He looks so cool and hot on that damn motorcycle.
It should be illegal for someone like him to ride one.
“Uh, right this way,” Pavel says, ushering me towards a car that’s waiting for us at the curb.
Now that Dimitri is out of sight, I can put my full attention on Pavel. There’s just something about Dimitri that makes me lose my head when I’m around him. It’s like all logical thinking goes straight out the window, and I’m left with only carnal basic needs.
We both get in the back of the car; Pavel keeping his distance on one side of the bench seat as I stick to the other. “Does the driver know my address?” I question.
“Yes, he does,” Pavel answers.
The car starts moving into traffic, and the tension in the back grows with every passing street sign. It feels like our first date all over again.
Pavel clears his throat. “Uh, do you like your new apartment?” he asks, clearly trying to strike up some sort of conversation.
Again, I’m appreciative of his effort. At least he’s trying, I try to tell myself. “I love it,” I tell him honestly. “Thanks again for agreeing to the contract amendment.”
“No problem,” he says with a smile.
Slowly, the awkwardness begins to return, and I hate it. It shouldn’t feel like this, right? He’s going to be my husband, and we can’t even keep up a conversation for more than a few seconds. How the hell are we going to spend the rest of our lives together when it’s like this?
“Have you…have you picked out your suit yet?” I ask.
“We’re going tomorrow.”
“You and Dimitri?”
“Yes.”
I try not to sound too excited when I bring up his brother, but I can’t help it.
The dynamics of our relationship have changed, and now I can’t stop thinking about him.
It’s worrisome, to be honest, but I can’t seem to help myself.
Even sitting in the car with his brother, my future husband, my thoughts stray to Dimitri.
“I picked out my dress,” I tell him.
“Oh, that’s great.” Pavel swallows hard and glances out the window. He almost looks like he’s getting physically ill over discussing my dress and the wedding.
The rest of the car ride is met with uncomfortable silence. I don’t bring up the wedding again, and he doesn’t either. In fact, he makes no effort to talk to me at all; choosing instead to look out the window.
And when we reach my apartment building, I couldn’t be happier to get the hell out of the car. I feel like I’m practically suffocating. “Thank you for giving me a ride,” I tell him.
He turns to look at me and gives me a small grin. “You’re welcome, Savina. Anytime.”
Should I kiss him? I can’t help but think. But when he turns away from me to look out the window once more, I know he could care less about me giving him any sort of attention or affection. Feeling miserable, I climb out of the car and slam the door shut before practically running into my building.
The elevator ride seems to take forever, and it’s only once I’m inside my apartment that I let out an exasperated sigh as tears fill my eyes. How can I possibly marry someone that I don’t love and will probably never be able to love? It’s just not fair.
My phone vibrates in my purse, and I’m quick to look at it.
Dimitri: Make it home okay?
And for some reason, it’s like a dam breaks open, and suddenly tears are streaming down my face. Sniffling, I type out a quick text back.
Me: Yes. Thanks.
I don’t hear anything else from Dimitri for the rest of the night, but it’s probably for the best. No matter how much I long for Dimitri, he’s ultimately not going to be the one that I marry.
And if I don’t get a hold on this obsession soon and stop it quickly, my heart will ultimately end up broken into a million pieces and beyond repair.