45. Lena
CHAPTER 45
Lena
I snuggle into bed, exhausted after my first week of performances. I’m waiting for Alek to get back from getting us breakfast. I don’t expect him to cook me breakfast, because I’m certain the only thing he’s touched in a kitchen is a knife, and not for the good reasons. It’s just that my favorite bagel place down the street doesn’t deliver. And when I told him I was going to walk down the street, wearing my short pj’s, he was suddenly dressed and rushing out the door because he didn’t want anyone else to see what’s his.
I smile thinking about that. I yawn and am startled by a knock on the door. My eyebrows furrow. I doubt Alek would ever forget anything, let alone his keys.
I walk to the door and my heart sinks as hear my mother on the other side. Fuck .
“Maybe she’s not here,” she says.
“Archer said she should be home this weekend,” my father replies.
I glance around my apartment, making sure Alek and I haven’t left out any of our toys that I’ve recently come to love.
I open the door with fake enthusiasm. “Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?”
My mother looks me up and down. I’m wearing a crop top and booty shorts.
“Why are you dressed like that?” she asks disapprovingly.
“I was sleeping,” I tell her.
“It’s the middle of the day,” my father says.
“I work nights, did you forget?” I leave the door open and turn to walk into the living room. “Why are you here? I didn’t know you were in town. Archer isn’t here anymore, is he?”
His contract at the hospital was only for a month, and he called me the day he was leaving.
“Well, you haven’t been answering my calls lately,” my mother says, rather disgruntled. “And your brother sent us something interesting, so we wanted to check it out ourselves.”
She pulls out her phone and shows me a picture of myself standing in front of the cast of the new show. “We were walking Times Square to find this. Honey, this is huge.”
I freeze at the compliment. Waiting for the backhand to come. “You’re famous,” my mother adds, and when I look up from the phone, I see her smiling. An actual smile directed at me and not my brother.
At first I like it, but then I let it sink in and know it’s as fake as our relationship.
I’d been hoping for this moment for so long, but now, it’s not as satisfying or as fulfilling as I thought it would be.
“Lena.” Behind my parents is Alek, standing there with his shaved head, wearing his gloves and a black suit. God, he looks like a killer.
“Who is that?” my mother asks in disgust, much like the first impression Archer had of him.
I cringe. Alek doesn’t seem to care, though, as he pushes past them with a bag of bagels in hand.
“Lena, who is this man?” my father asks, eyeing him. If there was a poster boy for bad-boy-do-not-mess-with, Alek’s it. Even if he does dress in Versace. He’s a killer who oozes the predatory atmosphere of being exactly that.
Alek is unfazed by them as puts the bagels on the counter, ignoring them. Most likely leaving me to my own decisions.
But fuck it. This whole time, the person driving me to rehearsals in the city was either Alek or Clay—Anya having offered up her bodyguard for the job. The commute was too long, and they refused to let me on public transport because I’d catch the plague, in their opinion.
They might be scary, and for good reason, but they care. And they helped me get this role. My parents did nothing but frown upon me. They’d never even come to any of my shows.
I walk toward Alek and grab his hand, tugging him toward my parents. I swallow hard. “This is my boyfriend, Alek.” He hides his smirk as he casually throws his arm around my shoulders, looking all the more like a stereotypical bad boy.
I can feel my heart in my throat. Alek and I haven’t put a label on ourselves, but he’s not denying it, and in my way, I want Alek to know that I’d like him to stay.
My parents look affronted.
“You don’t have a boyfriend. You would have told us. And don’t you think you should go for someone more…” My mother clears her throat as Alek stares her. “Are you going through a rebellious stage?” she whispers quietly to me.
“In that I’m twenty-four and making my own decisions? Sure, call it what you will,” I say.
“I think what your mother means is perhaps we should go out for breakfast and discuss the direction you’re heading in life,” my father says earnestly.
“I already have breakfast here,” I say with a smile. “I want to clarify something. Did you come to congratulate me or remind me yet again how I haven’t reached your standards?”
It feels freeing. Liberating in every sense to finally say what’s been on my mind all this time. Alek’s hand on my lower back anchors me and gives me strength.
I’m not ashamed of Alek. I don’t necessarily agree with what he does, but he’s a part of my life. More supportive than my parents have ever been.
My mother is flabbergasted. “We’ve only ever wanted the best for you.”
I nod. “No, you’ve only ever compared me to Archer. You’ve never much liked who I’ve become as an adult, and I actually like myself a lot. So when you’re ready to accept me and my life choices, then we can celebrate my success together,” I say, confidence filling me. “Until then… I love you both and safe travels home.”
My mother’s jaw drops open before she snaps, “I can’t believe how disrespectful you’re being. Barry, we’re leaving.” Then steps into the hall outside my door.
I’m torn. I’m sad to see her go but also delighted. Had Alek not been with me, I most likely would have taken her condescending comments without a fight.
My father glances at her before he leans in. “Congrats, sweetheart,” he says and presses a kiss to my cheek, and it fills me with a bittersweet feeling because I know he’s not referring to Alek.
“Look after her or—” He gulps, not able to finish the half-hearted threat aimed at Alek .
“Barry!” my mother shouts from the top of the stairs.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say, because I know deep down he’s happy for me. It’s never been him with the scathing tongue. He follows her down the stairs, and Alek’s arms wrap around me, his hands on my bare stomach.
“Am I your boyfriend now?” he whispers into my ear while pressing kisses down my neck.
I chuckle. “Depends if you got my favorite bagel. We’ll see how well trained you are,” I say as I close the door.
I know I’m going to hear about this from Archer, but I think a part of him will also be proud that I stood up for myself.
I’m sick of apologizing that I’m not enough. And if I wasn’t enough for them when I was doing my best to get to where I am now, then they don’t deserve me at my best. Especially when they’d intended to bring me down again because of it.