“Come on!” Artyom says as he links his arm through mine. “Let’s get you a drink!”
“It’s noon,” I say flatly, but when he shrugs and I notice my other siblings get excited about this day drinking situation, I roll my eyes and play along. I accept whatever cocktail concoction Artyom and Fedor put together and take a sip.
I wince. “Strong.”
“We thought you might need it after the hell you’ve been through,” Fedor jokes.
I frown, and for some reason, the joke doesn’t land well. Lara notices my expression, and I watch as her face becomes gentle.
“I’m sure married life is treating you well,” she says kindly. Everyone watches me, waiting for an answer.
“It has its challenges,” I say with honesty. “But what marriage doesn’t? Overall, I’m adjusting.”
“How is it, really?” Natalia asks, her expression serious. She's always been the most direct of my cousins. “Are you okay? Because if you're not—”
“I'm fine,” I interrupt, surprised by how much I mean it. “Really. Agafon is... not what I expected.”
“What do you mean?” Dima asks, his face neutral in expression, but I know he’s forcing himself not to look judgmental.
I sit down on the sofa, and they all find a spot to sit or stand. “He was distant at first. But he listened when I put my foot down about certain things.” I don't elaborate on those things. They don't need to know about our personal affairs in depth. “He's respectful. And his family has been welcoming.”
“So, what—you're happy?” Nikolai asks, skepticism clear in his voice.
“I’m finding my way,” I admit. “But I'm okay. Better than I thought I'd be when this arrangement was first made.”
I glance around at their concerned faces and feel a surge of affection. “Don't look so worried. He truly is treating me well.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” says Sofia, twirling her ice around in her glass.
“Any idea when Lion might be back?” I ask, changing the subject to my eldest brother.
Nikolai shakes his head. “Your brothers are all deep in something big. Spoke to Benedikt and Sergey just last night, and they were thrilled to hear you’re visiting today. Samuil is back in Dubai. They miss you terribly so.”
“I miss them too,” I say, and I do. The Orlov business doesn't run itself, and my brothers are working hard to prove themselves. “Lion called two weeks ago to check on me and saidhe’d be going out of network soon. He feels bad about missing the wedding.”
The conversation shifts as lunch is served in Nikolai's sunlit dining room. We talk about everything under the sun—the kids, summer plans, and a bit about Agafon’s house and the redecoration I want to undertake. I don’t know why I was nervous coming here today. It feels normal, and I realize how much I've missed this easy familiarity.
As dessert is being served, my phone buzzes with a text. I check it discreetly under the table, expecting it to be Agafon asking when I'll be home.
Instead, it's from Tatiana, Agafon's younger sister:
Family gathering at Bogdan's right now. Pool party. You should come! Agafon's here with everyone. Address attached.
I stare at the screen, confusion washing over me. Agafon had said nothing about a family gathering today. Why wouldn't he mention it? Was it perhaps because he didn’t want to dampen my plans?
“Everything okay?” Anoushka asks, noticing my expression.
“Yes,” I say slowly. “It's just... Agafon's sister. There’s a party at Bogdan’s.”
“Are you going to go?” Nikolai asks.
I consider for a moment. If I decline, I'll always wonder what happens at these family gatherings. And if Agafon deliberately didn't mention it... Well, that makes me even more curious. It means he didn’t let me sacrifice my family gathering for his. That simple act, in itself, makes me want to show up for him.
“I think I will,” I decide.
After hugs and promises to visit again soon, I'm back in Agafon's car, heading to the address Tatiana sent.
I stare out the window, watching the neighborhoods change from the old money elegance of my family's area to gated communities bought up by newer money.
