by A. E. Wasp
“Or leave them here, and we’ll feed them. You need a two-minute break,” Sonya said. “Trust me. I know. Go get a pretzel or something.”
“I want a pretzel,” Zane called.
“Me, too,” Daisy added.
“How about you guys stay here and help me feed the babies? I have to feed,” Sonya looked around, making a show of counting, “four babies. And I only have two hands.”
“Can we, Mom?” they asked in unison.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Allie asked.
“You’ll be doing me a favor,” Sonya assured her.
“It’s true,” Annette added. “There’s nothing babies like better than bigger kids.”
“If you’re sure,” Allie said.
Suzanne waved them away. “Go. Both of you. We’ll call Alex’s cell phone if there is a problem.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
They walked silently down the crowded mall. Wilting bouquets of red roses and discount heart-shaped balloons reminded Alex that his first Valentine’s Day with Sergei had come and gone and neither one of them had noticed.
“So, Charles got a new boyfriend,” Allie said without looking at Alex.
“Allie,” Alex said helplessly.
She shook her head. “Don’t. At least…at least when…” She trailed off.
“When it was me?” Alex stopped walking. Behind him, a fountain shot jets of water into the air. Copper pennies and shiny dimes gleamed up from the black tile basin.
Allie nodded.
“You knew?” he asked, even though it was obvious.
“Yeah. I knew. You weren’t the first.”
“Oh, Allie. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was married, you know. Until the night before I saw you last.”
“Yeah, I know.” She sat down on the edge of the fountain. “It’s not your fault. He did the same thing to me, right? He’s a really good liar. I’m a trophy wife. Like literally a trophy wife. He just uses me to help his sales. I called his first wife. She left him for the same reason.”
“So, not to sound like a dick, but why now? Why not leave him before?”
Allie shrugged and dug through her pockets. Pulling out a handful of coins, she tossed them in the water, watching them sink to the bottom. “I liked you.”
Well, that was unexpected.
“And I could tell you weren’t a gold digger,” she continued. “You were sweet and nice, and thought you were in love with him too. This new boy toy is a dick. He’s definitely after Charles’s money, and he’s bold. So bold. He calls the house. If he was thinking Charles was ever going to leave me, he was delusional. Actually, I bet Charles has dumped him already.”
“I liked you, too. Charles told me you were a huge homophobe and that was why I shouldn’t tell you we were dating.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“Yeah, he is.” To Alex’s surprise, Allie smiled at him.
“It’s going to be okay, you know? I’m more than willing to testify in divorce court that he’s a cheating bastard. I have all kinds of proof: texts, photos, emails.”
“I still can’t afford a good lawyer.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll help out with that.” Sergei would loan him the money, Alex knew that.
“I can’t let you.”
“And I can’t let you and the kids get screwed. So, shut up and don’t try to fight me on this.”
“I wish I didn’t have to, but, well.” She inhaled and turned to Alex. “I really want to screw his ass to the wall. I have stuff from this new kid, too. He’s been blackmailing Charles, threatening to tell me about them, like I don’t already know. I think this kid is even younger than we are. Maybe twenty-one? He works at the coffee shop near Charles’s office, and likes to smile smugly at me when I come in.”
“Dick.”
“You got that right.” She stood up. “How about we get those pretzels now? If we walk slowly, I can eat mine before I get back and have to share it with the kids.”
Alex stood. “Oh, sneaky. I like it. Teach me your parenting ways.”
“I’ll teach you everything I know.” She hooked her arm through Alex’s as they walked.
“I have a confession,” Alex said as they waited in line in front of the pretzel stand.
“Besides the fact that you were sleeping with my husband?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
The guy in front of them snorted a laugh, not even bothering to hide it.
“Worse,” Alex said. “I’m not twenty-three. I’m actually twenty-seven. I lied to Charles.”
Allie burst into laughter that didn’t stop until Alex shoved a piece of cinnamon-sugar pretzel into her mouth.
David and Tatyana were sleeping in their stroller when Alex got back. One of the women who had older kids was gently rolling the stroller back and forth.
“I’m so sorry,” Alex said, running up to her.
“It’s no problem,” she assured him. “I haven’t gotten to play with babies in a while. We fed them, changed their diapers, and then they seemed fussy, so we walked them around until they went to sleep. They’re darling.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“No problem. The boys come home tomorrow, you know. We all need to be rested.” She smirked, and Suzanne laughed.
“Yeah. I don’t get a lot of sleep that first night back. Alex, this is your first time living through a road trip, right?”
“Yes. But it’s not like that.”
Annette snorted. “Not like what? You guys are, you know, right?” She looked meaningfully at Zane and Daisy who were sitting quietly and playing with Sonya’s twins.
Sergei blushed. “Well, yeah.”
“Told you,” she said to Suzanne. “Pergov, man. I mean, I love Gabe, but…” She turned to Alex with a smile that made him nervous. “So, rumor is that your man has a, uh, really big goalie stick.”
Alex groaned and blushed even harder.
“Is it true?” She leaned forward.
Covering his grin with his hand, Alex nodded.
“I knew it! Damn. You are one lucky bastard.”
“Size queen,” Suzanne taunted.
“You know it, honey. Don’t believe the hype,” she said to her baby. “Listen to your momma. Size matters.”
Allie snorted. “I like your friends, Alex.” She elbowed him in the side. “What’s with the face?”
Checking to make sure the babies were still sleeping, Alex dropped down onto the bench. “It’s just that, well, I mean. Theoretically, we’re ‘playing hockey,’ but lately, I’m so tired. I can barely find the energy to, uh, shoot the puck. Know what I mean?”
“I think even Zane knows what you mean,” Allie said.
“Find the energy, honey,” Suzanne said firmly. “It’s important.”
“Now you sound like my mother. She was giving me tips on how to keep your man happy.”
“Oh no,” Annette said forcefully. “It’s not about keeping him happy. It's about you and him keeping each other happy. Ain’t momma happy, ain’t no one happy. You are a sexy young thing, and you can’t forget it. This life will run you ragged if you let it.”
Alex realized that if anyone would understand his situation, these women would. He knew Suzanne and Annette had both left families and jobs behind to follow their men back and forth across the U.S. and Canada. They’d dealt with having to pack up the kids alone after their husbands were flown out on last-minute trades with twelve hours’ notice. They’d started over multiple times, trailing behind at the mercy of their husbands’ careers.
“You know what I hate the most about it?” he said.
“What?”
“Not having my own money. I feel pathetic,” he admitted. “I can’t take care of myself. I turned down a good job because I would have had to travel and one of us should be home with the kids. I can’t even fit in my skating lessons, and I loved doing those.”
“Find a way,” Suzanne insisted. “Not for the money. Face it, our men make
enough money for all of us. Do it for your sanity. So you remember you are a person with mad skills and a lot to offer the world.”
“And for God’s sake, hire a damn nanny. Hire a team of them. Hire an extra nanny for nights sometimes. And don’t be afraid to leave the twins with the nanny for date nights, or even overnight. Get a chef.”
The thought of spending so much of Sergei’s money pained Alex. It must have shown on his face because Suzanne took his hand. He knew Dan Lipe had recently signed a contract worth almost six million dollars a year. That was still less than Sergei’s contract. And that didn’t even take endorsement deals and all kinds of bonuses into account.
“Sweetie, I know this is a strange life. And if you’re like me, grew up maybe middle-class in a good year, it feels wrong, somehow. Wasteful. But don’t be stupid. Use the money. Sergei has been single his whole life, and he barely spends anything on himself. Money doesn’t do any good in the bank. Let yourself have a life. Don’t deprive yourself.”
“I’ll think about it,” Alex promised. It was the best he could do. “So where are you staying?” he asked Allie.
“At a hotel for now. I’m going to have to rent an apartment.”
“Come stay with us,” Alex said impulsively. He and Allie had so much in common, and the thought of going home to that big, empty house was suddenly unappealing. “We have a guest house with two bedrooms. It would be perfect for you and the kids.”
“I couldn’t.”
Alex could tell by the sagging of her shoulders that she wanted to. “Please? Do it for me? I’m kind of lonely in that house with only babies and cats to talk to. I love them, but all four of them are terrible conversationalists.”
They went back and forth for a bit, but by the time they had all four kids wrangled and strapped into their car seats, Allie had given in. She was going to go to the hotel, get their stuff, and meet Alex at Sergei’s house.
Alex had dealt her a low blow by asking the kids if they wanted to live with him and the babies for a little bit. Daisy asked if she could pet the cats.
“Of course,” Alex assured her. “I’ll tell you something funny about them.”
“What?” she asked, eyes wide.
“They have no hair!”
Her eyes bugged out. “No hair?”
Alex shook his head. “Nope. No hair.” Alex could tell she didn’t believe him. He tried to hide his smile. “If your mom brings you over, I’ll prove it to you.”
“Can we, mom? Please?” Daisy implored.
“I hate you,” Allie said to Alex. “You suck.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Yes. Sure. Fine.” Daisy cheered.
“Excellent!” He hugged her tight. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Allie looked relieved and skeptical at the same time. “Seriously, Alex. Thank you. You really don’t have to. I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will be. And now, so will I.” He waved goodbye to the kids. “I’ll call you later.”
Making a mental note to text Sergei before he came home, Alex pushed the stroller to his spiffy red minivan.
Life sure was funny sometimes.
30
Sergei
Sergei pulled the car into the garage. Being on the road was tiring at the best of times. Now that he wanted to be home with Alex and the twins, it was losing what little luster it had left. Not that he was ready to retire anytime soon, he was just beginning to see the appeal of it more than he had in the past.
He put thoughts of what he was going to do after retirement on the back burner. Maybe he’d get a hobby. He remembered the light back in Los Angeles and how it had made him want to stop at the art store.
To his surprise, the back porch lights were on. It was after eleven, and he’d expected everyone to be asleep, but between the moonlight and the glow from the porch, he could just make out an oddly bulky Alex skating slowly around the small artificial ice rink he’d had installed when he’d bought the house.
As he got closer, he could hear a baby fussing and Alex singing something in French to the tune of Brahms’ Lullaby. Sergei could see now that Alex was wearing one of the twins in the baby sling as he skated.
If he hadn’t already been madly in love with Alex, this sight would have cemented it. The moonlight turned Alex’s blond hair silver; his body was lithe and graceful as he carved lazy curves on the surface. Even the distant blinking lights of the boats crossing the bay added to the atmosphere.
It was perfect. And Sergei wouldn’t have had this home, this sanctuary, to come home to if it weren’t for Alex.
Alex gave him back the world. Without Alex, he would have missed everything. He would have missed his own children.
Gradually, the words Alex was singing worked their way past his love-struck musings.
“Dents stupides,
Dents stupides.
arrête d'être un trou d’cul
Dentition est stupide
je perds la tête”
Stupid teeth
Stupid teeth
Stop being an asshole
Teething is stupid
I’m losing my mind
Sergei burst out laughing. He slapped a hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Alex had heard him.
Patting the baby’s butt through the sling, Alex glided over to the side of the rink, still humming. “If you wake her up, I will kill you,” he said in a sing-song tone. “No, worse. I’ll give her to you to take care of.”
“I will take her if you want,” Sergei whispered, reaching out for Alex’s hand. Alex took Sergei’s hand and let Sergei lead him through some twirls. He skated away backward, eyes on the baby. He did a few more swooping turns around the small rink, then glided to a stop in front of Sergei.
“I think she’s down,” he whispered, pulling the cloth away from her face to check. “She should be good. I gave her some Tylenol a little while ago. Teething sucks.”
“So I gathered from your lovely song.”
“Oh, did you like that?” Alex sat on the nearby bench and untied his skates with one hand. “I wrote it myself.”
“You are multi-talented.” Sergei took Alex’s skates.
Sergei looked around for the baby monitor. He wanted to ask if Alex had left David alone in the house and if he thought that was okay, but he didn’t want Alex to think he was second-guessing his parenting choices.
“Allie is on baby monitor duty,” Alex reassured him before he had to ask. “She said she’d keep it all night.”
“That is very good news.” Alex had told him that he’d offered Allie and the kids the small guest house. Sergei had thought that was a great idea. She would be company for Alex during the day, and it got Allie away from that asshole Chuck. Anything Sergei could do to help piss off Chuck was a plus in his book.
They walked into the house in a comfortable silence, enjoying the unseasonably warm night. Alex handed Sergei a sleeping Tanya when they got inside. “Night, sweetie,” Alex said with a kiss to her head. “You put her down, and I’ll meet you in the bedroom,” he told Sergei.
Torvill and Dean followed Sergei into the nursery. They considered themselves self-appointed baby guardians and wouldn’t rest until they knew both babies were asleep. Torvill stretched out to her full length to look through the bars of the crib. Dean preferred to jump up on the dresser in order to check things out. Sergei scratched between his ears.
Sergei carefully put Tanya down in the crib. She was so deeply asleep, he probably could have dropped her in, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Having Alex awake was an unexpected bonus, and, if he hurried, Alex might still be awake by the time Sergei got undressed.
The twins were both usually dead to the world when they slept.
“They both sleep now, okay?” he assured the cats, picking Torvill up so she could see better. She put one foot on the rail as if to confirm his statement. Dean leaped from the dresser and stalked out of the room, tail held high. Torvill purred and rubbed her head ag
ainst Sergei’s beard as he left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Sergei smiled when he saw Alex sitting cross-legged on the bed wearing one of Sergei’s oldest t-shirts, from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, his Quebec Major Junior team. The Pergov and #30 on the back were scratched and faded.
Torvill jumped from Sergei’s arms directly to the mattress. Dean hopped up on the bed and curled up in Alex’s lap.
Sergei bent over for a quick kiss. His eyebrows raised when Alex tugged him down with a hand on the back of his neck, deepening the kiss. So far, his homecoming was going much better than he’d expected.
Sergei rested one knee on the bed so that he could kiss Alex better. “I missed you,” he said. Five days felt a lot longer lately.
“I missed you, too. Go get undressed and come to bed.”
Sergei went into the walk-in closet and hung up his suit carefully. He would be able to get another wearing out of it at least. He left his boxer shorts on. “I cannot believe that you still have that shirt,” he commented as he came out of the closet.
“I should write a letter to the shirt manufacturer congratulating them on their quality.” Alex looked down at his bare knees peeking out from the hem and the cats curled in his lap. “Maybe I’ll send them a picture, too. What do you think?”
Sergei scowled at Alex, hands on his hips. “I think no one gets to see you like that but me.”
Alex grinned brightly. “Oh, sexy, possessive, half-naked caveman. I love it. Come here.” Gently pushing the cats out of his lap, he waved Sergei over.
“Do you need any help cleaning the kitchen or laundry?” Sergei asked as he crossed the room.
Alex reached for him and pulled him onto the bed. “Nope, all done. The housekeeper is awesome.”
Keeping hold of Sergei’s arms, Alex toppled slowly backward until he was flat on the bed with Sergei straddling him on hands and knees. Alex dragged his palms slowly up Sergei’s arms and down his back. Sergei shuddered, arousal flooding him at that simple touch.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult lately,” Alex said, looking into Sergei’s eyes.
