Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“It’s in rural Pennsylvania. Like, deep woods part—only two hundred people live there. It’s a little town outside a bigger one called Fellsburg, by the Youghiogheny River. I never knew the name of the town. They just called it Tiny Russia.”
“Tiny Russia?” Erik asks. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Neither had I,” Dimitri says. “But we’ve been in contact with the son of Austen’s Babu, and they seem really excited to see her.”
“That’s so nice,” Piper says. “You said she had passed, though?”
I nod, grief still raw even though it happened years ago. “Yes, we’re going to go see her burial spot and just reminisce, I guess. I haven’t been back since I left, so I’m excited.”
“That’s wonderful,” Piper says, just as Katarina sighs loudly.
I clear my throat. “Katarina, would you like to come with us?” I ask in Russian since she is still not speaking English.
Dimitri makes a noise beside me, but I ignore him as Katarina looks at me. “Oh no, that sounds awfully boring, and I only want to go to real Russia.”
“Okay, well, you’re welcome,” I add, and Dimitri shakes his head.
“That’s kind of you,” Piper says. “Also, I’m very annoyed that Austen’s Russian is perfect, and I lived there for years and mine is trash.”
Erik laughs. “That’s because you’ve got too much of a twang, baby,” he says, kissing her nose, and my lips curve.
“I love her Russian,” Dimitri says beside me before kissing the side of my mouth. It lingers for a second before he whispers, “Along with a lot of other things.”
I giggle as Katarina says, “Ew, get a room.”
“You’re just jealous no one is worshiping you, Kat.”
“Not at all. I’m just fine, but you may want to look in the mirror. You’ve gone from an extra in Top Gun: Maverick to now looking like an extra in the Princess Bride.”
I can’t help it; I sputter with laughter. So do his parents. “Yeah, laugh it up, peanut gallery. I’m shaving before we go tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget that top lip,” his sister calls, moving her fingers along her own lip.
“Check yours too,” he calls back, and I smack him.
“Dimitri,” I scold, and he just grins.
“She started it.”
“I’m finishing it,” I say, shaking my head at him, but he leans in, kissing my ear.
“We’ll see who finishes whom when I get you home.”
Oh, I can feel the flush burning my face. He kisses me again, and I look down in the hope his family can’t see my face.
“Are you enjoying the new job?”
His mom is a saint. I smile up at her proudly. “I am. A lot.”
“Remind me what a player coordinator is?” Erik asks me, and I feel so damn weird calling them by their first names. I’ve always read you call your boyfriend’s parents Mr. and Mrs., but they won’t allow me to.
“I’m in charge of each player’s stats, their press schedules, their general schedules. I meet with them to make sure they have what they need or desire—within reason. Basically, a babysitter for a bunch of stinky boys,” I tease, and Erik laughs.
“Man, I didn’t have that back in my day. Elli just told us what to do, and we did it.”
I smile. “I’m an extension of Shelli and Elli. I work closely with the guys, and while they still also work with the guys, they focus more on how to make the team bigger and better,” I answer, feeling proud of myself. I’m pretty sure Elli and Shelli made up this position, but I love it. I don’t have to deal with budgets or interviewing all kinds of people; I just take care of the players. It’s been really nice. “I enjoy it, a lot.”
“Good. That’s all you can ask for, honestly,” Piper says, and I smile.
“She does a great job, the guys respect her, and they appreciate that she always has the stats for anyone. Flynn bothers her all the time.”
I laugh. “He wants to stay the fastest on the team, so he makes sure he’s at least six seconds faster than everyone else.”
Dimitri’s parents laugh as he says, “He even started running more.”
Piper snorts. “That boy is insane, just like my sister.”
“Hell, I was going to say Phillip,” Erik retorts, and that has everyone laughing. I haven’t gotten to meet the rest of Dimitri’s family, but I’m sure if they’re anything like this family, I’ll enjoy them. It’s been a great time, and while Katarina obviously doesn’t want to be here, I don’t hold it against her. I’m sure she’ll warm up as time passes. Though, Dimitri doesn’t seem convinced.
When we’re done with dinner, I help clean up before starting the dishes.
“Oh, Austen, you don’t have to do that. Katarina can.”
“I don’t mind,” I say with a smile. “I want to. Dinner was spectacular.”
“Thank you,” Piper says with a wide smile. “I hear you’re quite the baker. Dimitri brought me over some of those Kartoshka cookie pops you made. They were delightful.”