Blair
We got back to the apartment in the late morning, and soon I was sitting on the balcony, looking at the view opening up in front of me.
Not for the first time, I found myself thinking about what my life would be like if I moved to Istanbul, tried a transfer, or something like that. But at the same time it was hard to think about leaving my whole life behind like that, all my friends were in New Jersey, my apartment, everything. And besides, I seriously doubted whether I could get used to the conservative customs of that country. It was one thing to visit my parents there, but it was another thing to start living under that culture.
" Is there a problem? " Yusef asked, sitting down next to me.
" No, none at all," I smiled before looking down at a package in his hands, "what is it?”
" I bought it last week at the big bazaar when I heard you were coming," he reported, placing the package on my legs.
I busied myself in tearing open the package under the man's watchful eye, and then lifted a colorful handkerchief.
" Dad…”
" I know you think you have too many scarves already, but I also know that women like variety," he justified himself.
I rolled my eyes before resting my head on his shoulder.
" I love it, Dad. Come on, help me put it on.”
I straightened, turning toward him before handing him the scarf. Yusef wrapped the fabric around my neck before moving up a section, partially covering my hair. His hand went down to my face, caressing my cheek.
" You look even more beautiful this way," he commented, drawing a small smile from me.
The sound of my cell phone interrupted us, and I turned away from my father, looking at the unknown number on the screen.
" Aren't you going to answer it? " he asked.
" I don't know who it is.”
" There is a simple tactic to find out. One that doesn't involve telepathy," he sneered, causing me to glare at him.
I accepted the call and held the handset to my ear.
" Hello?”
" Blair? " a deep voice with a slight Russian accent sounded, causing me to frown.
" Yes, who is this?”
" Dimitri Voitovich," he declared, as if I really should know who this was.
" Dimitri?" I blinked dazedly, not risking pronouncing that last name, while my father stared at me curiously.
For a moment something crossed my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought aside. It would be ridiculous.
" Voitovich " he added in an amused tone.
" OK... Can I help you with something, Dimitri Voitovich?”
I plopped down on the couch I was sitting on, still not really understanding what was going on.
" Well, actually yes. We both need to settle the laundry bill. It was hard to get that green drink out of my uniform, you know?”
I blinked in astonishment at this information. How did he find me?
" It's you! But how?”
My father moved beside me, looking even more interested in the conversation. As for me, I was too stunned to pay attention, until the answer came into my mind.
" Noah!”
" He said I needed to contact you somehow, and he was right.”
" So, you want me to pay for your uniform? And all that talk about how everything was fine and I didn't need to worry?”
I bit my lower lip in a smile, forgetting for a second about my father's presence as I remembered how handsome that man was.
" Maybe I've changed my mind," I could feel a smile in his voice, and I would give anything to see that image.
" Maybe?”
" We can settle this once and for all, we can go out for coffee and talk about my uniform," he returned in a smug tone that made me laugh, almost laugh.
" I am sorry, Commander Voitovich, but I don't consider your uniform to be such an interesting subject.”
" Dimitri, please. And if you want, you can choose a subject that interests you," he didn't seem willing to give up.
On the one hand I was flattered by his insistence, and on the other I was somewhat disappointed to know that I could not accept. This meeting could have been interesting
" Unfortunately, the subject matter is not the only obstacle, Dimitri. I'm not in the States, Noah didn't tell you?”
" No, he didn't," he sounded disappointed.
Of course he didn't, the bastard probably really thought that Dimitri would charge me for washing his uniform.
" I'm sorry," I smiled in spite of everything.
" We can try another time, maybe one day you will fly to Russia, or I will come back…”
" My God, are you really going to keep the laundry bill all this time? " I raised my voice in fake surprise, making him laugh, "I said I was sorry!”
" Actually you said it was my fault.”
" That was before I realized that you were a commander, and…”
I turned away, finding my father's watchful gaze locked on me, causing my face to heat up. I had forgotten his presence.
I couldn't believe I was flirting with someone in front of my father!
" I have to go," I stammered, trying to act natural.
" Oh sure, can we talk later? " he questioned.
" Yes, of course. Bye," I returned, ending the call without expecting any response.
My father raised both eyebrows as he stared at me, and I quickly stood up, fixing my scarf on my head.
" Are we staying home for dinner? " I tried to change the subject, walking into the apartment's living room.
" A Russian? Out of all the people you had to get a Russian? " he teased, following me.
" I can help in the kitchen if you want," I insisted.
" So besides allying yourself with the enemy you want to burn down my house? What did I do to you, girl? " he returned.
I went into the kitchen, past the dining room where my mother was sitting using her laptop.
" What happened? " she asked, seeing my father following me.
" Blair has a Russian boyfriend," Yusef pointed out, making me take a deep breath.
I turned toward him trying not to let him provoke me.
" He's not my boyfriend, he's the commander I spilled coffee on," I explained, "and he's not the enemy.”
" Have you forgotten the Russian-Turkish war? " he dramatically threw his hands up in the air.
" That war happened more than a hundred years before I was born, so yes! I forgot! " I returned " Russians are friends now.”
" We are at war with them in Syria," he smiled triumphantly.
" I'm not at war with anyone, so he's my friend," I gave the final word, "friend, not boyfriend.”
" I'll keep an eye out, miss," he winked before returning to the living room, leaving me only under the watchful eye of my mother.
" Friend? " she smiled.
" I don't even know if I can call him that, I just found out his name.”
I sighed, holding back a smile as I sat down beside her. My relationship with my mother had always been great, she was my biggest confidante and I felt great about that.
No one would be a better friend than my mother!
" And why was your father picking on you?”
" He invited me for coffee. But I'm here and he won't be in Newark that long," I reported disappointedly.
" It's a real shame. Is he handsome? " she devoted her full attention to me.
" So handsome that I want to get on a plane right now," I groaned, leaning my forehead against the table.
" Come on, you'll find other handsome guys, preferably one who isn't at war with your country," she teased me.
" I'm not going to have this conversation with you either," I muttered, getting up, "he's not at war with anyone, least of all me.”
" It's a joke, you know that," she laughed as I walked away.
An involuntary smile came to my face as I watched her walk toward my father. I loved being with them.
DimitriIt was almost midnight and I was walking through the halls of my building dragging my suitcase. After a long thirteen hour flight I was glad to be home, walking into the apartment, I carried my suitcase into the bedroom and headed for the shower.When I got out I picked up my cell phone and went into the living room, settling down on the couch before noting the message from Blair wishing me a good flight. After I had called her two days ago, the two of us had been texting each other constantly. It was nothing major, I was just bored at the hotel on Wednesday night and asked her for directions to a bar, which she promptly answered, and I ended the night watching Wednesday Night Hockey at a sports bar near the hotel.After that, we started talking regularly. Blair entertained me with her routine in Istanbul, and when she heard that I was going back to St. Petersburg she wished me a good trip and I couldn't help but reciprocate, knowing that she would be boarding a few hours lat
Dimitri Joe did not delay me at all, and at the appointed time we were in the car on our way to the city where my parents lived, about three hours away from St. Petersburg. I didn't visit them that often, but I tried to keep in touch regularly. " Tell me cousin, how is Maria? " Joe teased me. " What I told you back then still applies, Joe. Stay away from my sister," I threatened, referring to a time during Maria's adolescence when she found herself in love with him. Joe never got involved with her, but he liked to tease me about it. I knew that despite his fame, he would never hurt his little cousin. But that didn't stop me from threatening him every time he brought it up. " I'm just saying, I saw her pictures on the internet and the years have only done her good," he insisted. " You know what else has improved over time? My aim," I glared at him, earning a laugh from the guy. " I don't think you'd have the guts to do me any harm, cousin.” " Do you really want to find out? Besi
Blair" Come on, did you see the picture? I won that one, Commander," I couldn't help but smile. I was lying on a sun lounger on a beach near San Juan enjoying my free time before boarding." Blair, we are talking about the Duomo in Milan," Dimitri returned, exuding amusement in his voice, "you have to accept that it is a good picture." I'm not denying it, I'm saying mine is better," I returned.It had been two weeks since Dimitri and I had started keeping in touch, and practically every day we exchanged pictures of the places we were, competing to see who had the best destination." It's a beach, Blair." It's a beach in Puerto Rico, Dimitri," I returned, "Caribbean. Have you ever been to the Caribbean?” A laugh rang out on the other end of the line, causing me to bite my lower lip, feeling a growing wave of excitement rising inside me. I loved talking to him, it always made my day more interesting." No, Blair. I've never been to the Caribbean." Then we need to fix that, Comman
Blair" I don't understand, we had your engagement dinner a few weeks ago," I stared at Abby.We were both seated at a table in a restaurant near the airport where I was waiting to board my flight to my next destination. Initially I left home thinking that I would board at 10 o'clock for Argentina, but in the end, due to a flight attendant who had the flu and obviously could not fly, I would board at 3 o'clock for Amsterdam." Yes, but my parents didn't like not being there and want to have a reception," she explained, "you are my maid of honor, Blair, you have to go.”I checked my cell phone for any sign of Dimitri. Yesterday he hadn't texted me for the first time since we met, and I was finding the silence strange." Did you hear me? " Abby frowned." Yes, I just think that going across the country for a second engagement dinner is overkill! " I looked away from my cell phone, turning my attention back to my friend." It's not just about that, Blair," she returned, "I have to talk t
BlairDimitri came toward me with a restrained smile on his face. My hand was wrapped around his as I held it out to greet him. My own smile was more spontaneous in his presence, although I wasn't sure how to act now that we were finally face to face." Hey commander, I almost didn't recognize you without the stained clothes," I teased him. " You're not carrying any cups, so I think my clothes will be safe. At least until we get to the restaurant," he assured him, "I'm staying at the Sheratom, do you want to go there?”The Sheratom was one of three hotels within the airport complex, which also had a train station that would take us to the center of Amsterdam in about fifteen minutes." Are you kidding? We're not staying in a hotel with an incredible city to visit, Commander," I denied." I already know Amsterdam," he laughed." But you have never visited it in my company, I assure you it will be a completely new experience," I wrapped my hand around his, pulling him toward the train
BlairWe finished eating, deciding to leave that subject aside. After splitting the bill, we were soon back on the streets of Amsterdam." What I mean is that getting married in the same church as her parents is important for your friend," he resumed the initial subject as we walked side by side." Again? " I groaned " I shouldn't have told you.”" But you did," he teased me.To my relief, I spotted something that could distract us from the subject." A market! Let's go shopping, Dimitri." I ran ahead, leaving him behind.He shook his head with a half smile on his lips before following me. I passed all the stalls, scanning the products for anything of value.This was one of my favorite parts of every trip. I loved to find souvenirs that reminded me of the destinations I had already visited, and usually it was some decoration for my apartment. Which perhaps would eventually turn me into a sort of international hoarder." Look, Commander. I need those boots! " I exclaimed, picking up a
Dimitri I was making the payment with my credit card while watching Blair with the doll and the flowers I gave her in her hands.She was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable. More than that, she was funny, intelligent and witty. Everything that I had already realized in the past few days had been confirmed in these few hours we had spent together up to this point." Do you want me to wrap the bouquet or is your girlfriend going to carry it? " The lady who attended me indicated the flowers that I was still carrying." Here, you can wrap it. But she is not my girlfriend," I explained, handing the bouquet to the woman." No? You act like a couple, maybe you should think about the possibility," she smiled, picking up a long acetate box and placing the flowers there, "a pretty girl like that doesn't stay available for long.”I just smiled as I picked up the package. I knew she was right about Blair, and if the situation was more favorable, I might try something serious with her. But I
DimitriI came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and went to the bed of the hotel room I occupied in Vienna. It was past seven in the evening and I felt exhausted from all the excitement of that day. First thing in the morning I flew back to St. Petersburg and after a few hours of rest, I boarded the plane for Vienna. I turned on my cell phone, leaving it on the bed before going to the window, looking at the bright street full of old buildings where countless people were walking, despite the bad weather. My mind wandered to memories of the previous day, when Blair's company had been so present. I walked back to the bed, picking up the cell phone that vibrated with the new messages that came in.I ignored Joe's messages threatening to move to St Petersburg for good and opened the message Blair had sent me in the morning."Commander, I don't think you understood that the flowers were for your mother."I had left the bouquet at the hotel reception in the morning t