Chapter 37: Chapter 37
Blair
I was cleaning my apartment after returning from my vacation in Istanbul. After spending New Year's Eve with Dimitri, I stayed with my parents for another week before returning to Newark. I picked up the egg Dimitri had given me, sighing at the memory of the exact moment I had won it, at least before that woman ruined everything.
I sighed, placing it on the nightstand next to my bed. A notification came on my cell phone, distracting me for a moment.
"You need to come here now"
That's what Abby's message said. With a frown I stood up, she was supposed to be busy with Noah moving into her loft. Her wedding would be in two weeks, but since his lease would expire before then, they thought it best to move the move ahead.
"Is there a problem?"
"I got my first wedding present, get ready and come see!"
I smiled at her excitement, wondering if I would ever feel that way. Lately I had been ignoring all the negative feelings about my relationship with Dimitri, I could afford to just enjoy it.
"What is it?"
"Get ready and come, we'll order pizza."
I rolled my eyes, determined to stop arguing. I combed my hair and put on a comfortable sweater and knit pants before heading out to meet my neighbor.
My surprise was complete when I walked through the open door to find Joe Miller standing in the middle of the room.
I hadn't seen him since Thanksgiving, I knew he kept in touch with everyone in the group, but I didn't know he was in town.
" Blair, come look " Abby waved excitedly.
" Blair, it's a pleasure to see you again," Joe winked.
I hugged the boy, feeling glad to see him. Even though I had only spent a short time in his company, I liked him.
" I didn't know you was in town.”
" From now on, I'll always be in town," he joked.
" He moved in earlier this week," Noah descended the mezzanine stairs.
It seems that I was not so well informed about what was going on among my friends.
" Claire helped me get a job in an art gallery here," he explained, "I'm not a great artist yet, but it's the first step towards that.”
That information filled me with satisfaction, so he finally got rid of that evil entity that is his father and got a job!
" He is a great artist and the painting he gave me proves it," Abby exclaimed.
" So you were responsible for the great gift? " I stared at him.
He winked at me, indicating an abstract painting, or at least I thought it was at first, but looking closely, I could identify a landscape amidst so many spots, fascinating me.
" Wow, Miller! It is beautiful!”
" It is the best wedding gift I have ever gotten.”
" This is the only wedding gift we've gotten so far, honey," Noah warned, making me laugh.
" I'm going to hang it on that wall," Abby ignored her future husband.
I looked around, trying to find myself in all the mess caused by the move.
" You said you were going to order pizza, are you going to eat here?”
" I know, it's a bit messy," Abby grimaced.
" Come on, we can eat in my loft," I warned.
Some time later we were gathered in my living room, talking while eating.
" I want a special painting, to put on that wall, Miller," I warned my new friend, pointing to an empty wall in front of the sofa.
" Your wish is my command, sweetie. I know exactly what to do for you," he joked.
" Sweetie? " I stared at him.
" I bet Voitovich would love to hear about this new nickname," Noah sneered.
" Tell me about New Year's in Russia," Abby asked, ignoring the two of them.
" Did you go to Russia? " Joe stared at me.
" Yes.”
" I have two things to ask you. How long did Putin's speech last this year and did Aunt Joanne give you Kompot?”
I laughed before answering, of course he knew well what I had to put up with, at least in parts.
" The New Year was officially celebrated at ten past midnight, and that drink was the worst thing I have ever tasted!”
It was his turn to laugh at my answer, apparently we both had similar opinions.
" Don't let my cousin find out about this. I almost got kicked out of the family the day I said it tasted like sadness," he told me, drawing laughter from everyone.
" That is a great definition.”
" It can't be that bad," Abby teased us.
" That wasn't even the worst part of my night," I sighed before starting to recount everything that had happened.
The reactions varied widely as I recounted everything in detail from the moment I arrived at the Voitovich house.
" She did this in the middle of everyone? " Abby stared at me in shock.
" As if it were the most natural thing in the universe!”
" You must really like this guy, I've seen you blow up for a lot less," Noah declared.
" Wow, I never thought it would come to this, she wouldn't even look at him after they broke up," Joe commented.
" How were they as a couple? " I decided to satisfy my curiosity.
Joe thought for a moment before answering me.
" If you expect me to say that they were a horror and were better off apart, you will be disappointed. They were the kind of perfect couple that everyone looks up to. It was a big shock when they split up," he reported.
How can a model couple not be able to stand each other in such a short period of time? Something serious must have happened.
" And what happened? " Abby asked.
" No one knows for sure. Dimitri never told anyone, not even when Olga told everyone that he was a selfish bastard who only cared about his work.”
That didn't sound at all like the Dimitri I knew!
" I guess it doesn't matter, the big question is when will you two see each other again? " Noah decided to change the subject.
" Next week we are going to Singapore together.”
" Singapore? You don't usually go to Asia," Abby commented.
That was true, I couldn't speak any Asian language, so I ended up not visiting any Asian country.
" Dimitri was invited to the birthday party of his former mentor, he decided to introduce me to his friends, so I was able to exchange my stopover with some favors.