Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 35 - Buy the Damned Shoes!

Dimitri was kissing me awake.

"Come on Roza? Let's go train!"

"Ugh," I groaned. I was so tired.

"Come on baby, you know how good you'll feel afterward," he promised.

Opening one bleary eye, I saw Dimitri in his workout pants.

"I've got another idea how you could make me feel good," I teased.

Dimitri chuckled. "Wasn't last night enough for you?!"

Last night had been fun. He'd been in such a playful mood, which was surprising given the information we'd just received. We'd had sex, laughed, at one stage he decided to tickle me, and finally we'd fallen asleep relaxed and happy.

"Alright then," I grumbled, rolling out of bed and walking to the bathroom and then to our closet, emerging minutes later in workout clothes. Coming out of our suite we bumped into Alberta and Mom who were also in training gear, and the four of us headed downstairs to the gym. After warming up, we spent an hour helping Dimitri run the Guardians through spar maneuvers. If the Guardians felt embarrassed having three female Dhampir, one not yet promised, running them through their paces under Dimitri's watchful eye, they knew better than to mention it.

Mom and I decided to do some weights while Dimitri and Alberta were sparring with some other Guardians. Mom was lifting, and I was spotting her.

"So. Another bombshell last night. You're having a lot thrown at you at the moment," she observed.

"Yeah, I know. In some ways, I'm not surprised. I mightn't have known what it was called, but I already had a feeling that what Dimitri and I have is exceptional. And it kind of makes me feel better to know that giving in to being with him wasn't selfish or weak. We really do belong together," I finished, smiling.

Mom looked up at me appraisingly.

"You know the more I see you two together, the more I can appreciate that," she admitted.

"So what's going on with you and Baba?" I asked her, after carefully looking around to make sure there wasn't anyone else within earshot. "You were both very friendly last night?"

"Well, that's complicated, too," Mom sighed. "He's asked me to consider retiring and coming to live with him," she said.

"Wow! Are you considering it?" I asked, very surprised.

"Yes, I am. He only asked me last night, so I haven't had a lot of time to mull it over. I've been a Guardian or training to be a Guardian my whole life, Rosemarie. It's hard to imagine any other future. But I'm also starting to feel the need for a change," she said. "And I still love Abe very much. Our timing wasn't right eighteen years ago, but maybe it's the right time now?"

"It's a big decision," I said encouragingly.

"It is. And not one that needs to be made quite yet. I told him I'd let him know my decision after your graduation. Speaking of which, your father is making arrangements for us to visit the school and work out the details for your return to classes. The plan is we'll all fly in on Friday, meet with Kirova, and then return here with your friends. We'll celebrate your birthday over the weekend, and we'll fly back in time to resume classes on Monday."

"Do you think she'll go along with the plan? Kirova I mean?"

Mom laughed, "Rosemarie, you've obviously never seen your father in action. He's quite the negotiator when he wants something." Thinking back to my initial meeting with Abe, I could see Mom had a point. At that moment Dimitri came over and wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my head and nodding at Mom.