London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 38. Alex

The sun's rays light up the room, giving me no chance to get any sleep on my day off. While I'm struggling to sleep, Daniel's hand presses me to the bed. He's so funny in his sleep. So young and harmless.

I lift his arm and climb gently out of bed. They had a nice bachelor party last night. Daniel came to me in the middle of the night, waking up the neighbors. When I opened the door, he practically barged in. Satisfied and happy. What was I supposed to do with him? I should give him his own key already, he practically lives with us anyway.

I brush my teeth, tidy myself up and pour a glass of water. Wake up, Sasha, you've got two days before Daniel leaves for the long haul. Wake up.

I walk to the window. The autumn city doesn't want to wake up either, overhanging with black clouds. Rain pounding on the rooftops, interrupted by the sirens of cars. A grey, slumbering city. And only the umbrellas of the townspeople like bright droplets paint the dreary picture.

The ringing of the phone pulls me out of my thoughts.

- Alexandra, hello,- a familiar voice sounds.

- Anton, hello! How nice to hear you. How are you doing? - I ask.

- Things are... Em... strange... and nasty, - Anton's voice sounds unusually muffled and distant.

- What's going on with you? Wait, are you drunk? Since morning? What happened? It's not typical for you to be drunk, - I couldn't imagine what would have to happen for Anton to be drunk this early in the morning.

- Olivia's pregnant, - he says.

- Oh, that's great news. Congratulations! - How happy I am for them! Another baby by my friends, wow. It's like a wind of pregnancy sweeping through London.

- And we're getting a divorce, - he says with a sigh.

- What? Wait, what? Why? - Well, this is a surprise.

- It's not my baby, Sash. She tricked us all, - he says.

- What the hell are you talking about? Olivia? A woman who looks at you like you're God? - There's no such thing. No, no, no, no.

- Yeah, a lying bitch. She had an affair on her business trips. And when she got pregnant, he said no. And we were about to get married. And she thought it was the best thing to do. The other day, this guy came to her, came to his senses and called her back to build a family. And she chose him. Bitch. - Anton practically spits out every word. So much pain I can hear in his voice that my heart sinks.

- I... I don't even know what to say. How can I help you? Do you want me to talk to her? - I really want to be supportive.

- DON'T! Promise me you'll never speak to her again! I can't even pronounce her name. She ruined everything! Everything we built, everything I did for her. Heh... We made plans for the future and then she ran to him. Laughing at me, I guess. I'll never forgive! - Anton breathes loudly and then I hear something rattling in the background. It's not good.

- I'm so sorry,- I can't bear to hear him like this. - Shall I come and see you?

- What for? You want to feel sorry for me? Ha! I'm fine! Better than anyone! Or do you want to remind me what a mistake I made when I left you for London? I know that very well, Sanya. Don't even try, - what a strange line of thought.

- I... don't... - I don't know what to say to him for the first time. All I know is that I have to be there for him right now and help him. He's clearly crushed. And this defensive reaction of his - the attack is even more alarming.

- I'm fine! I'm a grown man, I'll get over it. I didn't call you to whine, I called you to tell you what's up. That's it, Sanya, I have to go. Good luck with your boy. Don't be the same bitch to him.