Preston
I'm sweating bullets as I wait for Vadim to make his entrance. Mom is overjoyed, and Dad's still mumbling to himself about needing to cull more photos to not use up all his tablet's memory. As I reach for my lemon soda, I notice my hand is trembling.
Okay, I need to get it together.
I'm doing it, this is happening, there's no going back now. Vadim seems like a calm, nothing gets to him type of guy. I need to tap into that same energy. So I start playing the lie over in my head a few times because if I believe it, it's not really a lie, is it?
We've gone on a few dates. It's very early days.
He was just out at a work thing. Or, wait, was he out with friends?
Shit. I already can't remember what I said to him.
That's okay, that's okay. I'll let him take the lead on where he was tonight.
And on pronouncing his family name. I should have asked where it was from. That would be a useful tidbit to know.
"Oh, look, there he is," I announce when I see him walk through the door. I push to my feet, and my mouth falls open.
"What is it, honey?"
Mom still has her back to the entrance so she can't see Vadim as he makes his way over to us.
But I can.
I slouch into my chair. "Nothing."
Just the fact he's already managed to beat my two previous meet-the-parents exes, and he hasn't even joined us yet. Where was he able to buy flowers in the last five minutes?
"There you are."
His deep voice is unmissable as he approaches our table. Mom practically leaps out of her chair and gasps—audibly—when her eyes land on Vadim. "It's so nice to meet you, Vadim. That's such a lovely name."
"Thank you. It's nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Miller."
"Please, call me Christine."
"I hope you like sunflowers, Christine."
He holds them out, the hard lines of his face easing as he turns to her.
Mom's whole face lights up. "I love sunflowers."
Dad finally tears himself away from his iPad and stands. He gives Vadim a once-over then sticks his hand out. "Eric Miller, nice to meet you, son."
"Vadim Piotrowski."
They shake hands. I can tell Dad is impressed with Vadim's grip by the way his eyes sharpen, and he straightens up, shoulders back.
"Where's that name from?" Mom asks as we take a seat.
"It's Polish, from my dad's side."
"And where were you born?" Dad asks, sliding his iPad off the table and onto the spare chair.
"Washoe Medical Center, a few blocks from here."
Both my parents gush, and I can already tell they like him far more than they've liked anyone I've brought home before.
He's good.
Vadim turns to me, smiles, and it softens him instantly. The dangerous edge lifts to reveal something almost disarming. "Hey, you." He wraps his arm over my shoulder, which is entirely appropriate in-front-of-the-parents contact.
I swallow and smile back. "Hi. How was your…" Work thing. Friends thing. Work thing. Friends thing. Shit. Which is it?
"The work event was fine." He covers for me without missing a beat. "Everyone went out, but I couldn't miss out on meeting your parents. Not when I've heard so many good things about them."
Oh, he's really good.
Mom already has wedding rings in her eyes, and Dad keeps looking between Vadim and me with a huge grin on his lips.
"Can I get anyone a drink?" Vadim offers, and when he looks at Mom, I swear she blushes.
This is so embarrassing.
"I'm fine, thank you. I have to say, it's so nice to meet you, Vadim." She then turns to me and smiles. "You know, Pres, I was starting to think you'd made up a story about seeing someone just to get me to stop pestering you about it."
My cheeks ignite, and I scoff. "As if I'd be that desperate." Then I shoot Vadim a pleading look. "Vodka double, please. Triple, if that's a thing."
Vadim winks. "Coming right up. And you, Mr. Miller?"
"A lite beer would be great." He glances over at Mom. "What? I can have one. We're celebrating. Preston's finally found—"
I kick him under the table. Dad scowls at me but, more importantly, zips it.
"I'll be right back."
Vadim leaves, and the second he's out of hearing range, I lean over and whisper-plead to my parents to play it cool. Mom talks over me, peppering me with questions about Vadim and wondering why on earth I've been so reluctant to introduce him to them.
Uh, maybe because I've known him for a grand total of three minutes longer than they have?
Vadim returns with drinks in hand, including something dark and neat for himself. I gulp down enough vodka to set my throat on fire and slump back in my seat as the inevitable Mom question-bombing raid begins.
It turns out not to be the worst thing in the world because it gives me a chance to get to learn a bit more about him, too.
"Do you have family in Reno?"
"Immediate family, yes. Extended family are all back in Europe. Half in Poland, half in Ukraine."
"Have you got siblings?"
"I do. Two brothers. One older, one younger."
"Are you close to your parents?"
He hesitates, and it's the first time he's looked anything less than completely composed, his shoulders drawing in ever so slightly.
"My brothers and I work for our father." His voice lowers, his chin drops, and a heaviness settles around his eyes as he focuses on his drink. "My mother isn't with us anymore."
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry."
Vadim's fingers tighten around his glass, and he gives a single nod, slow and tight.
I feel terrible for him about his mom, and it's not lost on me that he sidestepped the question about his dad, too.
Him saying he works with his family doesn't actually answer what Mom was asking, whether he's close to his father or not.
Dad thankfully reads the mood shift and lets a few beats pass before chiming in. "What is it that you do for work?"
"My family owns Zlota Casino & Hotel, as well as a handful of smaller casinos around Reno."
Mom's jaw drops.
Her head turns toward me slowly, like she can't quite believe that Vadim is real. Oh, yeah. I'm going to be hearing about this for a long time.
I bring the highball glass to my lips.
Why couldn't I have picked a college dropout, or a conspiracy theorist, or a podcaster to be my fake date? But nooo, I had to go and pick someone hot, successful, and filthy rich, didn't I?
"Does the casino have a day spa?" Mom asks.
"It does, yes. It's one of the best in Reno. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason."
I take another gulp, wince as it scorches its way down my throat, then stare at her wide-eyed, pleading silently for her to stop talking immediately.
"Haven't you been complaining about work lately, honey?
" she asks me, deliberately oblivious to the crazy face I'm pulling.
"Maybe you could work as a massage therapist at the spa at Vadim's family's casino rather than the Desert Rose?
" Done with me, she leans in toward Vadim.
"Apparently, some of the clients want him to get a little… handsy."
Vadim manages to nod, keeping his features schooled, but I've had enough.
I slam my drink down on the table. "You know what, guys?
It's getting late, and Vadim has a thing tomorrow.
Super, super early. You've met him. You can see that he's real.
That I'm not some pathetic loser who would make something like this up.
" Cue nervous laughter and cheeks heating. "How about we call it a night?"
It's a heavy-handed step-in, that's for sure, but if I don't put an end to it now, they're not going to back off.
Especially Mom.
I can tell she doesn't want Vadim to leave, but I shoot her a you've had enough look, and she concedes with a deep exhale. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Vadim. Thank you so much for the flowers. They're lovely."
"And the drinks," Dad says, lifting his beer, and I make a mental note to add the drinks Vadim bought us to the two hundred I already owe him. I don't care if he needs the money or not. I said I'll pay him, and I fully intend on honoring my word.
"It was a pleasure meeting you both, too. Hopefully we can catch up for longer next time you're in town."
Excuse me, what did he just say?
Next time?
Next time?
Dude, I'm calling it a win scraping through this ordeal. My brain can't begin to fathom there even being a next time.
"Oh, absolutely. One last question." Mom doesn't wait for permission and opens her mouth. I swear, if she's about to ask for Vadim's Instagram handle, I am going to lose my shit. "How did you two meet?"
My eyes shoot to Vadim. I remember telling him I'd take the lead on any 'us' questions, but who am I kidding? I can't lie to save myself. But I can't expect him to come up with anything either. He's already played his part perfectly. A little too perfectly if anything.
He cuts a smile my way that does nothing to settle my nerves as his long, thick fingers work the last button of his jacket closed. He winks at me, and my stomach drops. Oh god, what is he about to say?
"Funny story, actually. Preston accosted me outside the men's room at a bar. Said he spotted me across the crowded bar, couldn't take his eyes off me all night, then he asked me out on the spot."
I stop breathing, slowly turning from Vadim to my parents.
Dad frowns.
Mom blinks.
They turn to look at each other.
One beat.
Two.
Three.
And then…they're both gone, laughing like it's the funniest joke they've heard in a long time. I resume breathing, plaster on a smile, and shove the guy who almost gave me a heart attack toward the front door.