She said it as if we were a team. As if she would see me through. Like we were more than associates. Like we were friends.
It rippled like a bang right in the center of my chest. I valued friendship, especially as I hadn’t had it in such a long time. I realized I was no longer alone, and no one would ever understand how humbling a feeling that was. Most would take it for granted.
I never would. From the bottom of my heart, I vowed it.
Saturday arrived and, aware I would be attending to eight rowdy men, I dressed accordingly.
I wore my tight blue jeans, a white gypsy blouse that showed a tiny amount of my belly flesh, and strappy, white, leather flat sandals. The blouse was thin cotton, long-sleeved, and decorated in navy blue embroider flowers. Nas had given me a headband she had bought but had never worn that she informed me was boho chic.
I didn’t know what boho chic was, but Nas swore it would finish my gypsy look.
The headband went across the center of my forehead and over the crown of my skull, was made of a thin silver chain, had another strand of chain trailing down the middle of my part, holding it up, and had small coins attached to the sides by my brows. The coins jangled lightly, and it was a little distracting, but when I looked at myself in the mirror, it didn’t look as ridiculous as I thought it might.
Nas instructed me to apply three coats of mascara to lengthen my long lashes and finish off with the bright red lipstick she’d given me.
It took a lot of correcting to get the lipstick right, and I felt the need to run my tongue over my teeth a bit. The thought of smiling brightly with red-stained teeth was downright mortifying. I checked my teeth ten times before I made my way downstairs, coat in hand.
As predicted, Lev was downstairs in the kitchen, holding Lidiya. Only this time, when I stepped inside and she held her little hands out to me, I moved closer, took her from Lev, and cuddled her tightly. “Hey there, sweetie pie,” I cooed, pressing my cheek to the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent. I closed my eyes, taking in her warmth. “My goodness, you’re a big girl.”
Lev, who stood by, not an inch of concern from him watching me with his daughter, took a step closer. “Here, I’ll take her. I know she’s a little heavy.”
But I held her close. “Heavy? She’s adorably chubby, is what she is.” Lidiya sucked her thumb, leaning her head on my shoulder. A wave of mushiness took over. “Oh, you are winning major points with me, little miss. You’ve got me wrapped around your little finger.”
Every morning, when Lev disappeared to work out, I rose and spent some time with Mirella and Lidiya. We’d gone on walks around the complex together, played blocks and dolls together, had exclusive tea parties, and on the rare occasion, I even let Lidiya feed me.
A smiling Mirella told me I’d spoil her if I kept treating her like a princess. I responded that little girls shouldn’t be treated as anything but princesses. Something told me I’d officially won over the older woman with that remark, but it didn’t matter to me. It was how I truly felt.
The back door opened and Viktor came inside, followed by Anika and Nas. I was likely the only person who saw the flash of Anika’s eyes. We greeted each other, and the newcomers all doted on Lidiya, as per usual.
When Anika came forward and extended her arms to Lidiya, the little girl turned her head into my neck and held onto me. I saw the disappointment in the beautiful redhead’s eyes, and giddiness rushed through me. But shame followed.
She was visibly upset, after all.
I tried to make a joke of it. “She probably thinks we’re around the same age, being I’m the closest in height to her.”