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, Commander," I returned, closing my eyes and feeling the delicious Puerto Rican sun bathing me, "I know some incredible beaches.”
" Is this some kind of hobby? Getting to know as many beaches as you can? " he asked.
I lay on my side on the lounger, watching the contrast of the sand with the extremely blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
He doesn't know what he is missing.
" Exactly, if I have the opportunity to visit the most diverse beaches, I won't waste my time.”
" I can't disagree, but didn't you say you were coming home today?”
" Yes, I landed five hours ago and I have to be back at the airport by early evening. It will be a quick flight, only four hours.”
" Shouldn't you rest?”
" I am resting while enjoying the sun. Are you going to tell me that you stay in the hotel all the time? " I sat up” You're lucky I'm not in Milan, or I'd drag you all over the city.”
" Really? This could be interesting.”
" Do you have any plans to return to the United States, Commander? " I asked hopefully.
" I already got next month's roster, but I'm not scheduled to go to the States," he reported regretfully.
" What the hell," I muttered in low Turkish, pouting as I watched the blue sky through the dark lenses of my sunglasses.
I was enjoying chatting with Dimitri, but I couldn't help the desire to see him, making it a little less mechanical and more personal. I was not born for virtual friendship. I liked to be present, to have physical contact, to be able to take the person to the places I like!
I was enjoying talking to him, but I was hating all the distance!
" Blair, I have to go. I was supposed to meet the crew later, and…”
" Sure, go have fun," I sighed, "enjoy Milan.”
" Have a good flight later, Blair," he wished before ending the call.
I sighed again, finally putting the cell phone aside, deciding to enjoy the sun.
" I thought you would never hang up," Evangeline, one of the flight attendants who had worked with me on the flight and decided to accompany me to the beach, declared as she reminded me of her presence.
" Sorry, just a guy I met a few weeks ago.”
" Just a guy? " she sneered " it didn't sound like "just a guy.”
I couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face. I had worked with her before, but never really got to know her, and I was enjoying spending time in her company. Even though after that we would spend another eight months without any contact.
" Unfortunately this is the reality," I looked in her direction, "he is just a guy who lives in Russia.”
" Russia?”
" Do you understand why he's just a guy? " I sighed, throwing myself back on the lounge chair and eliciting a small laugh from the girl.
" Okay, what do you say we forget about this guy and find a nice restaurant for lunch?
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
DimitriI ended the call until I reached the gallery. Blair loved every detail I showed her and I was glad that I could distract her at that moment, the only way that situation would improve was if I was closer to her. " Look, I'm just saying that the last painting.... WAIT.”I stopped my steps immediately, not knowing what had happened." What?”" Can you turn the camera a little? " she asked " to the left.”" NO " I turned in the opposite direction as I understood what she had seen.How can she find places like this?" Please, Dimitri," she pleaded as I backed away and headed for the flea market she had somehow spotted." I'm only going to buy one thing," I warned." Then I'll have to choose well," she hummed.I couldn't help smiling as I walked between the stalls, showing her everything on display." Dimitri, look at those old photos," Blair indicated." They are people you don't know, Blair. Don't even think about it," I warned." You have no creativity," she complained." I'm no
Blair " And then? What did you think? " I whirled around in front of the cell phone camera, showing my mother my outfit. " You look great with your new haircut," she complimented from the other side of the screen, "it should be easier to pin up now.” " Mom, focus please," I groaned. " Sorry, but I don't understand what you want me to see," she returned. " Mom, I showed you three different outfits," I threw myself on the bed in the hotel room I occupied in Madrid, "I have fifteen minutes to finish getting ready.” " You look nice in all the clothes," she returned. " You're not helping," I muttered. " I don't even understand what you want help with! Shouldn't you be back today?” " I am, but I have two hours before I have to go to the airport, so I can have lunch with a friend at the hotel restaurant," I hurriedly explained, "and I need to meet him in ten minutes, so if you can help.” I went through the options I had sorted out, trying to make a decision. Why couldn't I just cho
Blair " Let me get this straight, the guy you say is just your friend spent the day introducing you to a city in another country on his cell phone and bought you an old music box? " Abby asked sitting next to me on the couch the next day. " I know what you are thinking and you are wrong. Dimitri and I just have a lot in common. Maybe she wasn't so wrong, but I would never admit it. " Like what?” " We work traveling the world, we know many countries, we speak many languages," I listed. " This is all obvious, you met at an airport," she rolled her eyes, "but what about personal tastes?” " Well…” At this point I had to admit that we didn't have much in common. In fact, it seemed to be the complete opposite. I loved beaches and he loved historic cities. I liked to find flea markets and unknown places while he opted for museums, famous sights and classic restaurants. But still I had loved to let him plan a full day for us. " Well? " Abby insisted. " He's helping me discover