Blog Novel 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

Alexei called when Greg was in the middle of his usual Saturday routine of boring but unavoidable housework and answering his mails.

"Hi Alex! How's your dad, and how are you?"

Alexei sounded like he was standing in a church. "Everything takes its time. They do different exams and they’re quite long waiting lines. I'd like to talk to the doctor before I go. I just wanted to let you know you don't have to wait for me."

Greg tried not to sound disappointed. "Can we maybe still see each other later tonight?"

"Yes. I think so!"

"Would you like to have dinner with me?"

Alex thought for a moment. "I'll bring something. You just need to set the table. Okay?"

"Yeah, that’s fine. What time?"

"Eight o'clock, maybe later, I probably won't make it sooner than that."

"Alright. I'm looking forward to seeing you."

"I'm looking forward to it, too. Hey Gregory, I just wanted to tell you ..."

He paused. "Thank you, for this morning. That was really nice of you."

"No need for thanks."

"Thanks anyway. See you later."

"See you, bye Honey."

It had slipped unconsciously across his lips, and now Greg hoped Alexei didn't hold it against him.

 

The last unread mail on his list was from Elena Ramirez. She was looking forward to her unexpected trip to Russia and the new challenge and asked if Greg had any wishes she could fulfil for him at the duty-free store on her way. He did: a blonde Barbie with a long dress and all the chichi. You'll get the money back. Don't skimp, it's a gift for a special little girl. Elena would certainly enjoy this purchase. She had grownup sons and rarely had the opportunity to shop for dolls. Greg wished her a good trip and texted her that everyone was looking forward to seeing her and that he would pick her up from the airport on Tuesday.

 

The cell phone next to him beeped. Alexei wrote:

>You know that I think about last night all the time, malysch?>

Gregory had to ask the translator in his cell phone to tell him that malysch means baby. Male baby, to be exact. But the meaning of the word went in as many directions as it did in his own language. He replied:

>And are you thinking about tonight too? Any special wishes?>

Greg had to wait for the answer. He feared he had been too offensive.

>Too many wishes for one night.>

Gregory did not think. He just wrote:

>I'll fulfil them all for you!>

 

Alexei sat on an uncomfortable chair in the corridor outside the X-ray department of the trauma clinic and stared at the screen of his phone. He swallowed and had to take a few deep breaths, but Gregory couldn't have guessed that.

 

Greg went over his schedule for the upcoming week and quickly realized that he probably wouldn't have much free time. Last night, they had gone home immediately after the sauna session without talking to Popov about the contract. Gregory decided to go to the studio again today and fix that.

First, his muscles were sore and in need of a casual work-out. Second, he liked the gym and could see himself becoming a member there quite easily. It was just about noon and Alex wouldn't be there until eight. So, he had plenty of time. His own gym clothes were still in the laundry basket mixed with Alexei's. Clean, dry, and fragrant of fabric softener. Greg folded everything and packed his own clothes.

Alexei’s, he put neatly in his friend's gym bag. It was a bit like before when he had done this for his brother. And just like before, he also put a bottle of water and an energy bar in each bag. He already missed Alex. The training yesterday had been so much fun. Even if they weren't allowed to show their true feelings publicly, it still felt incredibly good to do something together, to have a friend.

Popov greeted Greg with a sympathetic nod of his head and a grunt that was probably meant to be a friendly greeting. Next to him at the reception desk sat a busty blonde in an incredibly tight skirt on red pumps. She appraised Gregory from top to bottom and apparently liked what she saw. Her bright smile revealed a perfect set of teeth and she asked in a surprisingly pleasant, dark voice: "Helloo! Who do we have here? Can I help you?"

"Hello. My name is Gregory Burton. I did a try-out here yesterday and now I'd like to sign a contract."

The blonde immediately turned serious and replied, considerably less beaming, "There must be some mistake. We never take on foreigners."

Gregory gulped. Before he could get to an answer, however, Popov slid a document across the counter and growled, "My wife doesn't know who recommended you."

Gregory read the contract and tried to understand what Popov and his too-young and far-too-beautiful wife were quietly discussing. He heard Alexei's name once or twice, but otherwise he understood nothing. The contract was fine. How Popov knew the exact date when it ended, however, remained a mystery. Greg filled in the blank spaces, signed, and handed Popov the original. The copy disappeared into his gym bag.

The blonde turned back to Gregory, turned her smile back on and said, "Sorry, Gregory. I didn't know you were a friend of Alexei Urbanokov. My name is Ludmilla. Ludmilla Popova."

She handed him a small, soft hand adorned with fire engine red nail polish to match the red of her shoes and several rings. "And where is Alexei today?"

Greg answered curtly, "At the hospital. His father had a fall."

From behind came a cuttingly sharp, bitterly wicked comment from Sasha, who came to practice today without his brother Anatol: "I hope he finally croaks, Ivan the Terrible!"

Greg winced and Ludmilla scolded loudly, "Sasha! Don't you have any respect for old age at all!"

She got only a snort in reply, then Sasha disappeared behind the door of the men's locker room. Ludmilla did not elaborate. Gregory would have loved to know what this outburst of hatred meant, but he couldn't ask Sasha. Ludmilla hooked up with him and announced a tour of the entire studio. "So, my dear. As you're already a member with us now, even though you're from America and you really and truly pride yourself on that, then I'm going to show you everything in person."

Resistance was futile. Greg went along and was shown the gym, the boxing hall, the sauna, and the massage rooms. Ludmilla was proud of her operation, and it quickly became clear that she was the creative head behind the renovation of the house. Gregory praised the conservatory with the sauna and pool, and he could see she was pleased.

"So, you want to work out with weights? Or do you feel like boxing too?"

Gregory answered truthfully, "I've never boxed."

"Oh, then you should try it at least once! Alexei is a good boxer. A little heavy maybe, but good."

The tour was over, and Greg could finally start with his workout . He fought his sore muscles from yesterday with very moderate effort, though.

Sasha didn't look at him for the entire hour. Greg wasn't sure if he should just ask what the hateful comment had meant or if it was better to just ignore it. Later in the shower, Sascha was suddenly standing next to him. A little too close for Greg's taste.

"Will you have a cup of tea with me?"

Greg was surprised by the question and impressed by the Russian's perfect body. He seemed like an untamed animal, better not to tease. The underlying aggression was clearly noticeable, although his voice was friendly, and his mouth smiled. The dark eyes fixed Greg. He felt scanned from top to bottom.

Gregory Burton, however, had mastered this game as well. He thrust his chin forward, looked Sasha straight in the eye, and replied just as kindly, "I'd love to. Where would you like to go?"

Sascha withstood the gaze from Greg's ice-blue eyes longer than most men, but he finally lowered his lids. A smile almost slipped from Gregory's lips.

"You know Cafe Govinda?"

Greg gleefully rinsed the soap from his body.

"I've driven by. I've never been inside."

"They have good cake."

"Okay. I'll drive up behind you."

BMW's car key was clearly visible next to Sasha's pocket. Not only the Russian could observe well.

The café was busy, but they still found a free table. The waitress took the order and when she had gone, Sascha began to talk to Gregory in a somewhat edgy but correct English. "Not everyone needs to understand what I have to say right away."

Gregory nodded and continued to listen.

"Alexei and I have been friends since we were both kids. I lived with my parents in the house next door. We went to school together and Alyosha was always the smarter of us. When we were in the graduating class, the only thing that really came into question for us was studying. Alexei wanted to become a pilot or an aircraft designer or something. Ivan the Terrible knew how to prevent it. Just as he always prevented everything that would have brought joy to Alyosha. His mother didn't die, as he probably told you. She took her own life. Alexei was in military service and Ivan took out all his malice on his wife. As long as he was still working in the refinery, it was endurable, but when he became a pensioner, life was no longer bearable for Olga Urbanokova. She fell in front of a freight train in the main station. Alyosha is a good son and a good person. I certainly don't want him to be disappointed. His life is hard enough already! You know Gregory, I had a good career and Alexei could have done the same. But his father has been a burden and a threat to him all his life."

Sasha interrupted his speech briefly as the waitress brought tea. Gregory asked, "Why threat? Did he beat him?"

Sascha snorted. "Punches we all got, didn't we? No, Ivan the Terrible locked him up or starved him. As a child, of course. When Alexei came back from the soldiers broad as a bear and Mother Russia had exorcised all softness and weakness from him, the old man didn't dare touch him. But now he's been terrorizing in a different way for years."

He stirred sugar into his tea.

"But I wanted to say something quite different. Yesterday when you were training, I watched you."

Gregory stirred his cup as well, trying to remain calm.

"You know Gregory, Alyosha was looking at you with a look I've never seen on him before and I'm afraid for him. You're a foreigner and you'll be gone soon. He's a policeman and he can't leave here. I don't want you to plant false dreams of another life in his head and he ends up disappointed once more."

Gregory looked Sasha in the eye and didn't know how to respond. After a sip of tea, he said softly, "You like Alexei very much, and you worry about him. That's a good thing. That's what friends are for. But Alex is an adult. He can take care of himself. Don't you think?"

Greg didn't want to be any clearer, although he sensed that Sascha suspected or even knew more than he was saying out loud.

They drank their tea. Not only Greg's hands were shaking a little.

Sascha struggled with himself because he sensed what kind of 'friendship' was connecting his best friend with this blond stranger. He didn't know for sure, but he suspected for a long time that Alexei was not attracted to women. He hadn't slept all night because the intense looks the two had exchanged didn't let him rest. Sasha had never seen Alexei so in love and that scared him a lot. The word gay wouldn't cross his lips, not even in English, but he warned the American, "Gregory just remember one thing: I'll kill you myself if you push Alexei to disaster!"

He had said it softly, but he had meant it. 

Gregory nodded, waved to the waitress, paid, and left without another word.

 

tbc

 

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Reg Dixon