33. Lena
CHAPTER 33
Lena
T wo weeks have gone by since I last saw Alek, and I still count every fucking day. I’m furious with him for putting her first, and pained at myself for falling for him when I shouldn’t have. I’m also confused that he had such an impact on me, and if anything, it’s put a fire under my ass. I’ve gone for two auditions for roles on Broadway in central Manhattan. I didn’t get either part, but rejection is my thing right now, so I suck it up and get ready for the next one.
However, sitting at dinner with my parents, the mention of rejections does nothing to boost their confidence in my chosen career. I know they’re only here in the city because Archer is still here. They’ve been oddly quiet and skeptical of my apartment and the new furniture in it.
I also notice Archer hasn’t told them he plans on moving to the UK, and it’s not my place to tell them. But it’d be nice if they could focus on that instead of my failings.
Archer hands me the bottle of wine, and I pour myself a glass. It’s my third one to help get me through this dinner.
“I saw Lena sing the first week I arrived. It was truly a beautiful thing to witness,” Archer says, and my heart fills with the compliment, but I cringe at his obviousness. “While you’re in town, you should go see her,” he says to my parents, and I sit there gripping my glass of wine as neither speaks.
It’s hard to describe parents who were there for you but were never really emotionally supportive. It felt like I’d become a chore to them when they realized my aspirations in life didn’t go past singing. I’m not my brother, and I will never be my brother. We are two completely different people. Yet he treats me better than my own parents do, when he’s the one with all the shiny papers and accreditations. They own their own accounting firm and can’t see past numbers. They see an income and judge worth purely on that.
“Maybe tomorrow night, we can all go,” Archer offers. “Mother?” he asks as she looks up.
“Yes, sweetie,” she agrees with a tight smile.
“Do you not want to witness Lena’s talent?” he asks her. Her gaze shifts to me, and I see the disappointment in her eyes.
“Yes, sure, of course. I left my schedule at home, but I’m sure when I check it, I’ll have availability,” she answers, and my father continues to eat.
I have lived a pretty clean and normal life. The only risks that I’ve ever really taken have been with Aleksandr.
That man was a bad choice.
But a very good one at the same time.
Right now, I wish I’d made a million mistakes so they could fault me for those instead. At least then I’d have done something truly worth their disappointment.
Or maybe I should really not give a fuck at some point.
“How did you get the money to afford those things in your apartment?” my mother asks. I know it’s been on the tip of her tongue since Archer made them come to my place for coffee before dinner.
“My job pays well.”
My mother scoffs. “Singing pays well?”
My father glances in her direction.
“Yes, very well,” I say. Thanks to my new contract, I’m earning double, and I haven’t even had to do any of the side work since things between Alek and I… ended.
“Not as much as being a doctor, though, I suppose,” my mother adds.
I nod and down the rest of my wine.
“Mom,” Archer chastises, and she simply shrugs as if she didn’t mean to offend me.
My father watches but says nothing.
They’re about to be really disappointed when I order another bottle of wine just for myself in order to get through fucking dessert.
“Lena.” The harshness of my name grabs my attention.
I look over my shoulder to find Anya behind me, River standing next her. She’s perfectly popped her hip, hand resting on it, as her watchful gaze glances around the table. When it lands on Archer, her eyes narrow, and I’m terrified he’s going to go up in flames just by the stare alone.
“Anya, great to see you. This is my brother and my parents.” I wave a hand around, quick to dispel any tension or hatred she might have for them. I certainly didn’t expect to see her at a middle-class Mexican restaurant, but it’s recently become my favorite.
She turns her gaze to me, and she offers me her version of a smile, which is quite forced but generous, considering who it’s coming from.
“I haven’t seen you around lately.” No hello. No “what’s been happening in your life.” Just pure Anya. But she does surprise me when she addresses my parents. “Your daughter truly knows how to sing, and I hate musicals,” she adds.
“It is an interesting hobby,” my mother says with a charming smile.
Anya’s perfectly manicured eyebrow perks up. “Hobby? I think if one cannot see clearly that singing is Lena’s calling and her purest form of joy, they’re narrow-minded or dim-witted. Potentially both.”
My mother’s jaw drops, and River bites his bottom lip.
“What my wife means to say is she’s very passionate about the arts and supportive of Lena’s performance,” River interjects.
My brother’s holding in a smug expression, and my mother seems flabbergasted.
Anya simply waves him off.
“No, they seem intelligent enough for the insult if they can so callously throw it at their own daughter. Pitiful, really.”
“These are the type of friends you make in New York?” my mother asks, shocked, as she points at Anya. And I realize she can’t even hold Anya’s gaze. If I had an older sister, I would definitely want it to be Anya.
The family beside us looks at my mother, and she shrinks back into her chair, running a hand over her dress indignantly.
“Tough crowd,” Anya says. “Lena, please call me when you’re done here. We have much to discuss.” And just like that, she walks off. River offers a polite smile and dips his head in goodbye.
“Who on earth was that?” my mother demands, and I can’t help but notice my father hides a small smirk.
I try not to mirror it.
“Investors,” I reply.