Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 104682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I still didn't know what had made me say yes to the idea of going to play basketball. But now I was glad that I had. As soon as we’d arrived at the courts, Nikolai had challenged four young men who’d already been playing each other to a game. The man didn't know how to do anything in small measures. Instead of just finding two other guys to play two on two with, he’d picked the four youngest and talented players to take on.
We’d won, but barely.
Thankfully, I'd managed to focus more on the game than on Nikolai as he’d played. The man knew how to handle a basketball. He was athletic and graceful and if I hadn’t been forced to play my part, I would've enjoyed just drooling at the sight of his shirt riding up to reveal a yummy treasure trail every time he made a shot.
We’d ended up working well as a team. The guys we’d been playing had been impressed and had suggested another game, but fortunately, Nikolai had insisted that he and I had to go. We’d played it cool like we really were too busy, but now as we limped our way back to the car, I was more than glad he'd had the foresight not to take on a second round with the guys.
"Thank you, Nikolai," I said. "I needed that."
Nikolai glanced at me and smiled that heart-stopping smile of his. "You’re welcome."
Once we were in the SUV, Nikolai asked, "Home?"
Considering he and I were both sweating and smelling pretty ripe, I nodded.
"And after?" he asked.
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he wanted to go someplace for lunch, but his ringing phone stopped me before I could ask the foolish question. Despite the morning's events, I needed to remember that I was still just a job to Nikolai. If anything, he just wanted to break up the monotony of escorting me back and forth to work.
Nikolai answered his phone and after his initial greeting, he began speaking Russian to the caller. I didn't need to know what was being said to realize it wasn't good news. He tensed up and sat forward as he spoke to whoever was on the other end. The urgency in his voice made my insides tighten. When he hung up, he seemed pale and shaken.
"Nikolai?" I said softly.
It was like he didn't hear me.
"Nikolai, is everything all right?" I asked. When he didn't answer, I put my hand out to cover his, which was gripping his phone hard. "Nikolai?" I whispered.
He finally looked at me. Fear was etched into his features. “I'm sorry, I have to cut our day short. I'll call Mike to have someone else take you to work," he murmured. Then he began fiddling with his phone. I moved my fingers so they were covering most of the phone and part of his hand. His skin felt cool and there was also a slight tremor in his fingers.
"Nikolai, talk to me. What happened?"
Nikolai swallowed hard. "My nephew’s in the hospital. That was my father on the phone. He says Maks spiked a fever and has been throwing up all day. My sister tried to wake him to give him his medicine a little while ago but couldn't."
I felt my heart drop out of my chest. "What hospital are they at?"
"Mount Sinai in Queens," Nikolai murmured. He seemed to be in a daze. I'd never seen him so confused, helpless even. I removed my seat belt and shifted to the bench across from me so I could sit next to him. I linked my fingers through his as I called over my shoulder to the driver. “Tony, can you get us to Mount Sinai in Queens as soon as possible, please?"
“Absolutely, Mr. Archer," Tony said.
I turned my attention back to Nikolai. His fingers were gripping mine hard. I leaned into him a little and said, "He’ll be all right, Nikolai. We'll be there soon and you'll see that he’s okay."
"He’s only two," Nikolai murmured. "He’s only two."
I could hear the panic and despair in his voice. I switched my hands so I was holding his with my right one. It freed up my left one so I could run it up and down his back. "He'll be okay," I repeated again.
Nikolai let out a harsh breath and then leaned into me just a little bit. The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever. The closer we got, the more anxious and restless Nikolai became. By the time we pulled to a stop outside the ER, Nikolai was already out the door. To my surprise, not only did he wait for me, he also held out his hand for mine. I took it, fully expecting him to drop my fingers once I was out of the vehicle, but he continued to hold on to me as we rushed through the doors of the ER. As we headed for the check-in desk, a man called out to Nikolai.