Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Blair

" I loved coming here when I was a child," I narrated as I descended the stone stairs, "I know that this is not the most luxurious hotel in the world, but that was the impression I had.”

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, the stone courtyard, filled with flower beds, opened up before us. My mind was invaded by countless memories, and I followed it to the iron guardrail that surrounded the place and prevented any accident with the cliff just ahead.

I watched the sea waves breaking on the rocks and tried in vain to catch sight of the beach hidden by the trees.

" I love this place " I sighed " if I were here alone I would send you a picture.”

Dimitri seemed to have had the same thought as me, as he held up his cell phone, trying to get a good angle.

" Definitely worth a picture," he winked.

" How are you liking California? " I smiled, turning around and leaning on the guardrail, staring at him. God, how handsome he looks!

Dimitri looked relatively plain in his jeans and black polo shirt, but looking at that moment, I felt my heart skip a beat. He was more handsome than all my ex-boyfriends put together, and his beauty wasn't just external. I had never met someone as intelligent, dedicated, caring as him, and all this admiration caused a whirlwind of feelings inside me.

What's going on?

" Are you all right? " he came closer, trapping me between him and the railing.

I ran my hands up his chest, thinking about his question for a second. Yes, I was fine. More than that, I was incredibly happy for his presence among my friends. But was that a normal reaction?  How would I finally introduce him? A friend?  More than a friend? A would"be boyfriend?

My mind flashed back to our moment together on the beach hours ago. No one had ever made such an intense statement about me, and the way it made my legs tremble and my heart race.

Maybe my mother was right about everything she said, but it would be hard to reconcile everything, wouldn't it?

" Okay, cat got your tongue? " he looked at me with amusement, making me realize that I never got to answer his question.

" I'm fine," I assured him, smiling, "I'm glad you're here.”

Do I make you feel the same way that I feel? Maybe now it's time to talk objectively.

" And my tongue is still in the same place as always," I returned before showing it to him with a smile.

Dimitri leaned toward me, bringing his lips close to my ears and causing that wave of chills and anticipation to return.

" And what is that tongue…”

" Hey, you two," Claire called to us from the other entrance to the courtyard, "we're going to be late if we don't leave now”.

Dimitri sighed, still wearing a half smile, and turned away from me.

" Hey, save that thought for later," I warned him, "are you ready?”

He indicated the stairs that would once again lead to our room with his head. We climbed up together and I just grabbed my purse before leaving.

We met the rest of the guys at the entrance to the cottage, and wasted no time. In a few minutes we were already on the road to the Goldbergs' house.

The girls were enchanted by the charm of the town that seemed to be straight out of a European period movie, even Dimitri, who was used to visiting historical towns, found it very beautiful. As for me, my mind was stuck in the most diverse memories of the summers I spent there with my parents, both wandering around the city and enjoying its beautiful beaches.

Those memories were affective and I liked to cultivate them, and certainly, if one day I had children, I would help them create their own memories there.

It didn't take long before we arrived at the beautiful Goldbergs' house, I took the car to the driveway and parked it.

The house was a two-story in a beige shade, filled with windows, ornate glass doors, and flowered and manicured outdoor patios.

" Welcome to the Goldberg hideout," I joked before getting out of the car.

" Did you grow up in this town, Blair? " Joe asked, attracting the attention of his cousin, who seemed interested in the information.

I opened the small gate that would take us to the backyard, being followed by everyone else. It had been at least two years since I had visited, and I had to admit that I missed it.

" No, Abby and I grew up in San Francisco, we were practically neighbors and our parents were friends. This was the Goldbergs' summer home.”

" That sounds interesting " Dimitri commented.

" Yes, they introduced this place to my parents and they loved it, we always spent our vacations and holidays here.”

" It's a good place for vacations " Alisson affirmed.

" But what about you? Miller is a common surname, how did you end up with a Russian cousin? " Claire seemed quite interested in anything to do with Joe Miller.

" My mother is his father's sister. She is American, but won a scholarship to go to college in Russia.”

" Aunt Joanne met Uncle Yaroslav in college, and some time later, Dimitri Yaroslavovich Voitovich came along " Joe pointed to his cousin.

" Ya-what? " Alisson blinked in a daze.

" Yaroslavovich, that's my patronymic, " Dimitri clarified.

At least he thought so, because I was still as lost as before.

" Is that a second name? " I frowned “Because if it is, couldn't your mother have chosen something easier to pronounce?”

" Not exactly. It's a difficult concept to explain, in free translation it would be as if I were called "Dimitri son of Yaroslav of the Voitovich family.”

" If you find that complicated, you need to see the female version," Joe scoffed.

" There's a female version? " I alternated my gaze between the two of them.

" My sister's name is Maria Yaroslavovna Voitovich.”

For a moment I just stared at him speechlessly, no wonder he introduced himself only as Dimitri Voitovich.

" Anyway, you spent your vacations in this city, I spent my vacations in Russia with him," Joe pointed out.

" Well, I also spent many vacations in Turkey with my parents, " I remember how excited my schoolmates got when I told them I was going to Turkey.

" Blair Ozkan," Claire pointed out as she saw the confusion on the guy’s face.

" So, you're Turkish?”

" No, I'm American. My father is Turkish.”

" Actually, you were born in Istanbul," Alison reminded me.

Abby and Noah noticed our presence and came towards us, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg.

" And I grew up in San Francisco, so I'm American," I rolled my eyes, "and if one day I have children, they will be too.”

" They can be born in Europe, you spend too much time there," Dimitri returned.

I stopped walking, crossing my arms and staring at him while our hosts greeted the others.

" I guess the country of birth of the baby is easy to program.”

" What baby?  " Abby frowned, making me realize that I was having that discussion in the middle of many people.

" Blair and Dimitri's future babies? " Claire looked confused.

" Are you two planning on having children?  Isn't it a little early for that? " Noah greeted Dimitri.

" Babies? Me? No way," Dimitri was emphatic, "she's still trying to convince me to marry her, but I've already told her it's not going to happen.”

I glared at him as our hosts seemed surprised by this comment.

" I told you to give up that idea, Commander," I forced a smile, holding back my urge to kick him.

" So, Blair. Good to see you again," Aubrey greeted me, alternating her gaze between the two of us, "aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?”

" Dimitri Voitovich," he introduced himself shaking hands with the couple, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg.”

" Dimitri is my friend," I stated, though I wrapped my hand around his arm, receiving an understanding look from Aubrey, "and he secretly dreams of marrying me.”

" That's very understandable, Blair. I bet he's not the only one," John scoffed, "come on, since you guys are already here, we'll serve dinner.”

Dimitri walked beside me into the dining room, seemingly unperturbed by the man's response.

We settled down at the large table, and I greeted the other people there with a polite smile.

" Blair, it's been a long time. How are your parents? " Frank Turner, Abigail's uncle and owner of the hotel, asked as soon as we sat down.

" They are fine, Mr. Turner. They've been living in Istanbul for the past eight years," I smiled.

" They will come for the wedding, right? " he insisted before his gaze fell on Dimitri.

" They wouldn't miss it for anything," I assured him, "Mr. Turner, this is Dimitri Voitovich, he's a friend of mine.”

" Friend?  So he's single? " Julie, Frank's daughter, who was sitting next to Dimitri, asked Abby.

I gave her an unpleasant look, but what could I say?  I'm not really with him, in fact, I'm introducing him to everyone as my friend.

Abby looked at me unsure how to answer the question, and Dimitri seemed to gauge my reaction. For a moment I thought about responding appropriately by shoving her face into the dish of pod casserole, but that would not be acceptable. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Dimitri replied.

" Yes, I am single, despite Blair's attempts to convince me to marry and have children with her," he sneered, turning me red.

If before I wanted to sink Julie's face in the casserole dish, now I'd really like to hit him with the roast turkey!

" That's far from the truth, Commander," I offered him a menacing smile before the eyes of everyone present.

" You brought up the subject in Amsterdam, Blair," he insisted.

" And you, in that cathedral in Vienna," I retorted.

" Amsterdam, Vienna... How did you meet? " Aubrey interrupted our little argument.

" That was my fault," Noah sighed, looking sorry, "I gave him her number.”

" I am a pilot, I had just landed when Blair bumped into me at the airport and dropped Matcha on my uniform.”

" Noah gave him my number to charge the dry cleaning bill and we ended up friends," I took a deep breath, momentarily forgetting my irritation at Julie's onslaught.

" It's a good story," John assured me, "and you're really Russian?”

" Yes, sir.”

" Wow, a pilot " Julie brought up the subject again " and how is that?”

And to my dismay, Dimitri began to devote his attention to explaining to her every detail of the damn profession she was never interested in.

Even though she wasn't the only one interested in the subject, everyone ended up asking one question or another, but she still insisted on getting his attention the whole time.

" Hey, Commander. Next week I'll be in Paris, do you want to show me around? “

" I can show you many places to go," he assured me with a smile on his face.

I was pleased to get his attention, but it didn't last long. To my displeasure, Julie held his hand and spoke again.

" How well do you know Paris? I've always wanted to visit, can you tell me a little about the city?”

Dimitri seemed as surprised as I was, but he began to say something about the Eiffel Tower, captivating the girl's attention once and for all, who looked at him enchanted. She seemed to be the only one at the table who didn't notice my irritation; all the other guests were casting uncomfortable glances in our direction, even though I tried to keep up appearances.

" Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom," I forced a smile, getting up without giving anyone a chance to speak.

I had to get away, or I would really sink her head into the bowl of mashed potatoes.

Why did he have to pay so much attention to her? And why was it bothering me so much? It wasn't supposed to be like this. In a friendship something like this was not supposed to happen. I have to learn to control myself! But this was easier in theory, because in practice I am on the verge of incivility.