Preston
"You gave him the finger, didn't you?" I guess once Vadim's footsteps fade away to nothing as he goes inside to join the rest of his soccer-mad clan.
"I did," Ellie confirms. "But, in my defense, it was behind his back. He didn't see it. Proof I can be nice to him."
"Yikes, if that's your idea of being nice…" I say, poking my tongue out in his direction.
For all his outward bluster, I know Ellie only wants what's best for me. Even though I could hear the hurt in his voice when I told him I was moving out, especially since there's no love lost between him and Vadim, he was also, thankfully, pretty cool about it.
At the end of the day, he's a true friend.
And as any good friend should, he respects my decisions.
Even when he doesn't necessarily agree with them.
Guess it doesn't hurt that he's witnessing firsthand Vadim's commitment and dedication to me.
Him providing a constant narrative soundtrack to our lives.
The changes he's made to his apartment to accommodate me.
Supporting me financially since I have no source of income at the moment.
The hundred and fifty K he paid for our camming session went toward Dad's hospice care, his funeral, and keeping Mom's lawyer on retainer.
Whatever's left, Vadim insists is mine to keep, and he won't hear otherwise.
As much as those things have helped, I actually don't think it's anything that Vadim's been doing for me that has made Ellie get off his case a little. I think it's more about Ellie seeing me accept someone's help the way I am.
I refused to let Ellie pay even a dollar more rent on my behalf, and now here I am, letting Vadim help me in all the many ways he is.
Not going to lie, it hasn't been entirely easy. A lifelong independent streak doesn't vanish overnight.
But Vadim is right. We're a team. We're in this together. And what sort of a teammate would I be if I didn't lean on him? It'd be like refusing to pass the ball in a soccer game and then being shocked when your team loses.
Oh, wow. My first soccer metaphor.
"Ugh. You've got that Vadim smile on your face again," Ellie says around a mouthful of something.
He's still eating?
"What's a Vadim smile?" I ask.
"It's the one you get whenever you're around him. Or thinking about him." He stops eating. "I can tell you're really happy."
"I am."
"I'm glad." He starts chewing again. "And I want you to know that I'm happy for you.
Truly. All my personal issues with Vadim aside, he treats you well, and that's all I care about.
He's attentive. He adores you. And I know where he lives, so if he ever does anything to hurt you, I'll set that whole motherfucking building on fire. Parole be damned."
I smile another one of my Vadim smiles. "I adore him, too."
"I know." Ellie lets out a sharp breath. "You deserve this, Pres. After everything you've been through, you deserve to be happy." There's a slight pause. "You guys are actually a great couple."
"Thank you. I know that mustn't have been easy for you to say."
"It wasn't." I hear a plate or bowl being scraped out. "That's why I'm gonna eat the rest of this vegetable salad. How can veggies taste this good? Seriously. More Americans would hit their daily veggie servings if they tasted like this."
"It may be a salad, but it is coated in mayonnaise and mustard. Think that helps," I offer.
"You're probably right. Still…"
Words get replaced by the unmistakable sound of Ellie demolishing the Polish vegetable salad.
I let my thoughts drift. I don't think today could have gone any better. I love Iza. Marek's girls are great, but Lukasz is totally my favorite.
Pavel has also been very nice. Insisting I drop the formality was not something I expected to happen today. Or even for a long time based on the distance Vadim speaks of having with him.
Kamil has stayed quiet and kept to himself. But he's very polite, and he has just come back from a warzone. I'm going to give the guy a break and show some grace. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors he's been through.
There's just one tiny piece of the puzzle left to solve. And I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy putting it together.
I wait for a break in Ellie's eating then ask, "So what the hell is going on with you and Marek?"
A pause.
I really wish I could see his face because Ellie pressed and speechless is as rare as my bedroom being neat and tidy.
He clears his throat. "Nothing's going on."
"Bullshit. You're here."
"So are you."
I pull my best you've got to be kidding me face. "Yeah, because I'm with Vadim."
"I realized my mistake as soon as I said it," Ellie mutters, biting down on something crunchy.
"If you don't want to tell me, then just say that. But don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. I mean, you told him your real name. I didn't find out about that until senior year in high school."
He sighs.
"I get how it may appear, but trust me, nothing is going on." He clears his throat. "Admittedly, I may at one point have developed a teeny tiny crush on him, but Marek isn't interested in me."
I wince. "I'm sorry, El."
"It's fine."
It doesn't sound like it. I can hear the hurt in his voice.
"Is it because he's, you know, straight?"
"It's because he's interested in someone else."
"No way. Who?"
"He made me swear on my life not to tell another soul. Normally, I'd betray that trust for you, but… I know for a fact no one else knows about this apart from me. I don't want to be the guy that closes him off even more than he already is, if that makes sense?"
"It does," I concede even though I am dying to know everything. "I totally respect that."
"Don't even tell Vadim about Marek's situationship, okay?"
"What situationship?"
"Thanks, Pres. You're the best."
With that settled, Ellie resumes his enthusiastic assault on the food.