Preston
I walk Vadim and Marek to the door, my mind racing with everything that's going on.
These past few hours feel surreal, like I've stepped into one of the Bourne movies or something. I've been telling myself to keep breathing and to deal with one thing at a time.
Oh, and I've been trying to keep Ellie under control. He went off when Vadim left us alone to go speak with Marek, blaming him for this entire mess and yelling at the guard—multiple times—to let him out when he was only doing his job.
Marek opens the door and turns back to me for a handshake goodbye. He is so not what I was expecting Vadim's brother to be like. His demeanor is warm, naturally charming, and he carries himself with a steady calmness. I get the feeling it'd take a lot to rattle him.
The family resemblance is there; he's tall like Vadim but broader through the shoulders, with the same dark hair and the same intense eyes, though his are a deep brown. He's a good-looking man, but I have to say, he's got nothing on Vadim.
I'm biased, obviously, but despite everything—the danger we're in, the craziness of how we met in the first place, the fact that nothing more can develop between us—I just want to keep looking at him, soaking him in, burning him so deep into my memory that even when I lose my sight, I'll still be able to access the memory of him.
"We'll be in touch," Marek says. "And if there's anything that you or Ellie need, anything at all, please let us know."
"Thank you." I glance over my shoulder at Ellie who's sulking-slash-processing in his own way on the lounge. "I mean it. We both really appreciate your help."
Marek flashes a wide smile. "Not a problem at all. I'll leave you to it," he says to Vadim then takes off.
Once he's gone, Vadim steps in closer. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
If I were alone, I'd ask him to stay. But Ellie and I need some time to figure out what our next steps are going to be.
"I'm all good for now. Thanks."
"Okay." He pulls out his phone and jabs away at the screen. My phone buzzes in my pocket. "Now you've got my number. Call if you need anything, day or night, Pres."
I smile.
It's not the first time he's abbreviated my name like that, and lots of other people in my life do it as well. Mom, Dad, Ellie, Andre at work sometimes. But I never get the tummy giddies when it comes from anyone else.
"I will. Thank you."
Aware of Ellie's gaze burning into my back, I step in and press a quick kiss to Vadim's cheek. Something unguarded flashes in his eyes for a brief instant, disappearing all too quickly. He gives a quick nod, and then he's off, passing the guard and striding down the corridor.
I close the door and plonk myself down next to Ellie.
"What a fucking day," he says on an exhale.
"At least we're alive."
"Yeah."
I turn to look at him. "How are you doing?"
He shakes his head. "I don't know. It's a lot to take in."
"I hear ya."
"What about you?"
"Same. Processing. An idea did just pop into my head, though."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Would you be okay if I went to stay with Mom and Dad for a while?
" With tears in my eyes, I explain Dad's most recent prognosis and how he's down to his last few months.
By the time I finish, I'm crying, Ellie's eyes have welled up, too, and he's scooched over and wrapped his arm around me.
"What happened today was truly awful, but I might use it as a chance to go home and spend some quality time with Dad. "
"Oh, Pres. I'm so sorry about your dad. Go, go, go. I'll be fine on my own."
"You sure?"
"Of course. But wait. What about your studies? Your placement hours? You're so close to finishing."
I shrug. "What's the point? It's not like I'll be able to work once I lose my vision."
A frown settles on his forehead. I've confused him. For months I've been plowing ahead, acting as if everything were fine and normal, postponing the unavoidable decisions I'll have to start making.
The events of today have well and truly shattered that approach. The future isn't some vague point far away. It's here. It's now. And I have to start facing a very bleak reality I can no longer keep putting off.
A silence falls between us.
"Your face looks a lot better," he says softly.
"Thanks."
"How's your arm?"
"Way better."
"What are you going to tell your mom and dad about what happened today?"
I shrug. "Not sure yet. I don't want to burden them any more than I have to. They've already got plenty to deal with. But at the same time, I don't want to lie to them. So I'll play it by ear when I get there."
"When do you want to go?"
"Don't know. I'll call them later and have a chat. Maybe the day after tomorrow?"
Ellie nods, and all I can think about is that awful feeling when our house exploded and I thought he was inside.
I clutch his hand and give it a firm press. "I've got an idea. How about we both grab a shower, order room service, and then you can tell me all about how the conference went?"
"Sounds like a good distraction."
"And also, I do actually want to know how everything went."
"I'm just teasing." He grins as he gets up. "Just so you know, I'll be ordering tomahawk steak, lobster, anything with truffles, and the most expensive bottle of red…for every meal."
That makes me laugh.
"Go right ahead."
And with that, I get up and take a long, hot shower. We spend the rest of the afternoon in hotel bathrobes, eating, drinking, and chatting away, doing everything we can to not think about how close we both came to dying today.