Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“What are you two doing here?!” snaps the man with his arm around me. “This was so not the do svidaniya to the year I wanted.”
Artyom’s curious gaze is attached to his quirked eyebrow. “You haven’t told him yet?”
“Told me what?!” He bites a little fiercer.
“Can we leave the pantry first?” Our eyes momentarily lock. “It’s getting a bit cramped in here and if Bella sees what happened to her Fruit Loops, you’ll both end up with a major misconduct for fighting.”
“She does have your temper,” Artyom mirthfully points out.
“And your son has yours,” Anna sing song reminds.
The four of us nonchalantly relocate deeper into the kitchen beside the island, and the instant we’re there, Igor searches for answers rather than rebuts to his parents. “What haven’t you told me, Joeski?”
“I’ve spent the last couple of weeks arranging it so that the Slayers can accompany the boys for the final two games of the year. We will fly out with you this afternoon, stay for both games, be around for both team dinners, and then fly home together, all on the team plane.”
As I hoped, his jaw cracks open in disbelief.
“Everything has been approved with the GM, the head coach, and the business office. Extra travel accommodations that are necessary for rookie players were approved – because we know sharing a room when you’re not sharing a bunny sucks – and any help with providing extended childcare for those that don’t have closer resources available has also been covered thanks to the help of two backup ice girls who are already helping host some kid adventure for the weekend at an Airbnb with a couple of NBA wives. They have a whole the more the merrier mindset. I helped coordinate and suggest some extra activities and vet two additional helpers, so no one gets overwhelmed during the stay. The GM is covering their wages. Apparently, Slayers should be doing more together, especially for the media to see, so this checks that box as long as we let Hoss take a ton of pictures and post a ton ourselves – all ‘appropriate’ of course.”
His mouth slips even lower.
“I also ordered us all Slayer jersey sweater dresses to wear to the New Years Eve game and roped off a section at the rooftop bar of The Frost for the team.”
“Holy shit,” he airily grumbles. “Ser'yezno?”
“Da.” It’s impossible not to grin wide. “And let me just preface this whole weekend by saying, coordinating shit for adults is ten times more frustrating than arranging it for children. I have never had this much trouble picking out hairbows in my entire career. Not even when I was just before school babysitting for gas money.”
“Some women become the biggest divas over the smallest things,” Anna casually chimes in. “One woman I was arranging to have a business brunch with refused to eat anywhere that didn’t have bottomless mimosas, which is a lot harder to find than you would think. Probably because it was a fucking Tuesday.”
Light laughter is shared between us prior to me meeting Ig’s still glowing gaze. “I love that we get to end and start the new year together.”
“I thought you might.”
“Thank you.” The softest smile slips into place. “From me and the boys… Spasibo.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How come you didn’t tell me sooner?”
“Well, I was going to tell you this morning, but then Princess Bella busted into the room with her bowl of ‘color circles’ demanding to watch The Proud Family-”
“Which we also love.”
“-and asking to share our space.”
“She’s handling the two of you in the same bed together okay?” his mom cautiously inquires. “No questions? No pushback? No drawbacks?”
“Other than the obvious having to sneak off to have sex,” Artyom needlessly points out.
“Actually no.” My grinning wider thoughtlessly occurs. “She sort of treats it like it’s always been this way between us. Part of me think that’s because when Ig’s away, most nights one or both of us end up sleeping there.”
My boyfriend releases a subtle happy hum.
He fucking loves it.
Pretty sure he might love coming home to the two of us cuddled in his bed more than finding me naked alone in it.
“Hopefully she does alright not sleeping in Daddy’s bed that long,” Anna nervously states.
“And hopefully you two can have sex in a bed that long,” Artyom playfully interjects, banishing his wife’s worries while simultaneously stirring up his son’s shame. “Ponachalu eto mozhet byt' stranno…” he waggles his eyebrows, continuing to tease, “but with enough practice, you’ll get used to it.”
“And on that note,” Igor does his best not to sneer, “I’m gonna go pack my daughter’s bag.”
“Done.”
He swings his attention back to me.
“Plus, I’ve already emailed your mom a copy of our itinerary, areas of education we’re working on besides Russian, and tips to avoid food digression during our absence.”
“What about-”