London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 36. Alex

Three weeks later.

Daniel has practically moved into our flat. He and Max somehow unexpectedly got along, and it warms my soul. I watch them arguing or joking about things, watching matches on TV, or just talking about something. Max started opening up to him, not very quickly, of course, but anyway. He's stopped fighting him. And that gives me a chance to breathe easy.

I think about how interesting my life has turned out. A year ago I was in Moscow, sitting in a cinema watching Daniel, and I couldn't imagine that I would move to another country and the guy from the screen would be kissing me at night.

I pour myself some tea and start cooking. Although cooking has never been my favourite pastime, sometimes inspiration comes.

- What are you doing, - Daniel pressed his lips to my neck, - do you need some help?

- Do you want to cook a meal with me? How romantic. Oh no, not like that, - I pause, - finally! I don't really like cooking, you know, it's all for you boys.

Daniel spreads a smile.

- Alright, ready to help. What to do, chef? What are you going to cook? - He's looking over the food I've laid out on the table.

- We're having Russian food days at the house. We're going to make borsch, - Dany's face stretches in surprise.

- What's "'borch"? - he asks again.

- You're "borch", borsch. The 'Sch' on the end, - his pronunciation is very funny. I wonder if my English sounds as strange to him?

- That's what I said, borch, - he corrects himself, but it still comes out funny.

- Shh-shh-shh, - I correct. It's such a simple sound.

- Ch-ch-ch, - his face is red with tension, he's trying so hard!

- Your Russian is terrible, - I can't help laughing. - Here's your vegetables, you're going to rub them.

- I would rub them now, of course, but not the vegetables, - I immediately feel the atmosphere between us changes.

- You're a vulgar man, - I throw a towel at him, - I adore your jokes.

- What are you cooking? - Max asks, entering the kitchen. - Oh, borsch? Finally! It's like being home again.

- What is the joy in your borch? - Daniel is truly surprised.

Max and I burst out laughing.

- What? I got tickets to the game, by the way, - Dany says. - For all three of us. We're going tomorrow.

- Wait, where are we going? Football? - I'm surprised. - I don't know anything about football. When you guys play, I just stare at you, Dany. Sorry, son.

- I'll explain the rules to you, - Dany says.

- Ooh, good luck, man, I've tried that more than once. - Max rolls his eyes and grins. - Okay, you guys are fun, but I'm off to run some business. I kind of have friends, so I'm going to continue exploring the city. Bye.

Max kisses me on the cheek, pulls on his sneakers and leaves.

- So, imagine this is a field, - Daniel makes a wide gesture as he clears the table. - We have two teams. Wait.

He moves jerkily into the room.

- Here, - he says, displaying Lego men on the table.

- Wait, wait, wait, why would there be Lego in my house? Max has been through this age for a long time, and I gave it all away - I don't remember getting them. Where did he get them from?