Chapter Twenty-One Sarah #2
The corners of his lips quirked. “No. But I am familiar with t-the KGB.”
At Sammy’s questioning look, Maksim said, “My family is from Russia, and I speak t-the language. I guess I sometimes have a little accent.”
“That’s cool.” Sammy’s gaze then spun to mine. “Why did you yell at me?”
Nibbling my lip, I replied, “Oh, um, I’m sorry. I thought you were making fun of the way he talked.”
Sammy’s dark brows furrowed. “'Cause he talks Russian?”
A nervous laugh fluttered from my lips. Sensing I needed help, Maksim said, “I have something called a stutter. It means I have t-trouble saying certain letters.”
“A big and strong guy like you?”
With a slight smile, Maksim replied, “Yes.”
“Wow…you’re like a superhero.”
Maksim chuckled. “T-Thanks.”
Grabbing Maksim’s sleeve, Sammy tugged him to his side. “Come on. I want to introduce you to my roommates.”
“Um, okay,” Maksim said.
As Sammy dragged him up the front walk, I followed behind them. “Do you like ziti?”
“I d-do.”
“Good. That’s what I made for dinner.” Tilting his head at Maksim, he asked, “You are staying for dinner, right?”
“If it’s okay with Sarah,” Maksim answered diplomatically.
Sammy threw a pleading look over his shoulder after we got to the front door. “Can he stay, Sarah? Please.”
“Yeah, Sarah, p-please?” Maksim teasingly asked.
I laughed. “Yes, he can.”
“Oh boy, wait until you see my room. It’s all Batman.”
“That sounds so cool,” Maksim replied genuinely.
When we got inside the house, Sammy yelled, “Guys, come here!”
Pandemonium ensued with the running of feet. “Is Sarah here?” Kyle called.
“Even better,” Sammy replied.
As Maksim snorted, I swept my hand to my hips. “Excuse me?”
“No offense. But we see you all the time. Maks is new.”
“Ah, he’s the shiny new toy,” I remarked while Maksim shot me a look.
The guys came sprinting into the room. Their eyes lit up at the sight of me, but then the moment they saw Maksim, they skidded to a stop. All eyes were riveted on Maksim.
Kyle’s wide-eyed gaze traveled up Maxim’s body. “Whoa.”
“Are you the Hulk?” Jason questioned.
Quint rolled his eyes. “Duh, he’s not green.”
“Maybe he’s blending in and not using his colors,” Jason challenged.
“Nowhere in the comics or movies is that canon,” Quint replied.
The corners of Maksim’s lips quirked. “Sorry, b-but I’m not the Hulk,”
“Sarah, is he your boyfriend?” Quint asked while pointing at Maksim.
I squeaked in horror before replying, “No, no. He’s just my friend.”
He furrowed his auburn brows at me. “So you don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Not at the moment.”
His face lit up. Then will you be my date to the prom?”
“Of course, I will.”
I’d almost forgotten that a Night to Remember–the Special Needs Prom–was coming up. I’d been Sammy’s date the first two years they held it, and then I’d gone with Kyle one year.
Quint wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed tight. “I’ll have the prettiest girl there.”
“Aw, you’re too sweet,” I replied.
When I glanced at Maksim, he had a soft smile on his face. “I would agree.”
Quint shook his head. “Uh, uh. No flirting with my date.”
With a horrified look, Kyle said, “Don’t threaten the Hulk, Quint.”
While I giggled, Maksim shook his head. “I’m not the Hulk, and I’m not flirting.”
Rolling his eyes, Quint replied, “Dude, you look at her like you want to kiss her.”
Heat tinged my cheeks as Maksim stared earnestly at me. “Was I?”
When his eyes flicked to Quint, I felt the warmth of his gaze leave my body. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Quint replied.
At the ringing of the doorbell, Quint extricated himself from me just as Sammy and Jason yelled, “THE GIRLS ARE HERE!”
“The girls?” Maksim questioned curiously.
I clapped a hand to my forehead. “Oh no, I forgot they were coming tonight, too.”
“From your reaction, should I b-be worried about these girls?”
I laughed. “No, it’s not like that. They’re the residents of a girls’ home just like this one. Once a month, the boys host them, and then they host the boys.”
“Then what’s the p-problem?”
“I didn’t get enough cupcakes.”
“I’ll send Oleg for more,” Maksim suggested.
“Really?”
He nodded. “You call ahead and place the order.”
I creased my brows in worry at the thought. “But is it safe for him to go back into the territory? Especially without you?”
“I’ll text D-Desmond just in case.”
“You’re my hero,” I teased.
Maksim grinned. “That’s a change from what you usually call me.”
“Ha, ha,” I replied as I pulled my phone out of my bag.
While I started to call O’Brien’s, Maksim headed outside to talk to Oleg. He barely got out the front door before he was overtaken by the girls. Shrieks and squeals assaulted my eardrums. It wasn’t every day that they saw a man who looked like a superhero, and they were enjoying the view.
The fact that Maksim whipped his head around with a panicked expression and fear blazing in his eyes sent me into a fit of laughter. Of course, that fact earned me an exasperated look from Maksim. “Sarah,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
I decided to put him out of his misery. Clapping my hands, I quickly got their attention. “Hey girls, this is my friend, Maksim.”
A chorus of giggly “Hi Maksim” echoed around us. “He’s going to have dinner with us tonight if that’s okay.”
After more squeals and giggles, I said, “So, let’s give him some room and be respectful of his personal space, okay?”
“Okay!” came the response.
They then scattered to go talk to the boys, who at the moment were looking less enthused about Maksim’s visit. The moment he was free, Maksim darted out onto the porch. I had to hurry to catch up to him.
“T-That was intense.”
“Says the man who has faced actual danger from scary men.”
He loosened his tie. “But I’m t-trained for that.” Slowly, he shook his head from side to side. “I was fucking clueless b-back there.”
“You have two sisters.”
With a scowl, he countered, “They d-d-on’t act feral like t-that around me.”
“Surely you’ve had girls swoon around you before.”
“Not swarming me like a pack of hungry dogs ready to devour me.”
“Oh no, did you just feel objectified?”
“Sarah,” Maksim growled.
I held up my hands. “Okay, okay.”
Oleg, who had gotten out of the SUV at the sight of Maksim, had been volleying back and forth between the two of us. “Did you need something, sir?”
“Something I’m ashamed to ask you.”
Frowning, Oleg asked, “What is it?”
“Cupcakes.”
As Oleg looked almost stricken, I turned and started back to the house, trying to hide my laughter.