Chapter 4

"Hello Rose." Pavel greeted me while carrying a back full of presents to our car. When he retrieved he came towards me, lifted me up, only to throw me over his shoulder while spinning around in circles. I couldn't help the giggle that escaped me. When he put me down I got into a fighting stance and mock attacked him. After some attempted kicks we stuck our tongues out at each other and laughed, before he hugged me.

"Hi, uncle P." I greeted him happily.

Dimitri watched us the whole time and I kind of felt embarrassed, unsure what he'd might think about this greeting.

We did this ever since I could remember, our little uncle-niece-greeting ritual.

After letting go of me Pavel continued loading the car.

Standing next to the pathway I was unsure whether to help them or stay out of the way, so I decided to just go inside the cabin and pick up my own stuff. They would ask me for help if it was required.

In the kitchen part of the garden house I was about to pack my stuff in my bag, God knows how I managed to bring so much stuff and scatter everything around in the rather short amount we've spent here today. It was a talent of mine.

Suddenly there was Dimitri standing behind me, again might I add.

"Hay, I hope this didn't scare you away from us?" I asked, only half jokingly.

Laughing quietly he answered, "Oh no Roza, I'm already used to a lot of crazy stuff when it comes to your family. You won't get rid off me so easily." Smirking he left me there, with my mouth hanging wide open. I couldn't be imagining all these flirting comments he made this evening. This just couldn't be true. This meant he really was flirting with me. Must be because of the alcohol they all drank together today, I thought to myself.

When I got out, everything was packed inside the car. My father and Dimitri were having some conversation about the cabin and how Dimitri planned to renovate it in the next few weeks over the holidays.

"As someone pointed out, this could only identify as a cabin if it has a bedroom, so I'll just add another room for the bed when I renovate it." Dimitri explained with a pointed look in my direction.

"Don't know what you're talking about." I muttered.

"I'm sorry I can't help you with the renovation, but the company will keep me busy within the next few weeks. You know, since you're off for the next days and the plan for our conference with our German partners is due next month, I won't be able to take time to help you." My father excused himself. To be honest I couldn't see my father with his fine suits and ridiculous scarfs helping to renovate a garden house, so I said that much.

"How about you'll help Dimitri then, Rose. Since you can't see your old man helping around here. You don't have school, no other plans for a vacation as far as I know." If looks could kill, my father would've dropped dead in that instance. Not just that he offered, or more like demanded my help, he made it seem like I don't have anything else to do with my time.

"Baba, I don't have any knowledge about renovating and I have a lot of plans actually. My holidays are already packed with things to do." I tried to weasel my way out of it.

Before one of us could say anything, my mother of all people chimed in.

"That's a wonderful idea. Rose, you'll help Dimitri, and maybe if you ask him nicely you can celebrate your birthday here instead of at our house. This way Abe and I can stay at home and don't have to sleep somewhere else to give you guys the privacy you asked for." Who needs enemies with parents like these. They just managed to embarrass me further in front of Dimitri, with every word they said.

"Actually it sounds like you would profit more from this solution, so why don't you ask Dimitri if I can spend my birthday here, Mom." I glared at them, but they don't seem to care.

"It wouldn't be a problem to held the party here, after the renovation." Dimitri added friendly, but not helping my case in the slightest.

I really liked the possibility to spent more time with Dimitri, don't get me wrong, but I hated that my parents wanted to force me to help him renovate. It's not like it's something I know anything about, nor something I want to gather knowledge about.

"So it's settled then. Amazing idea, Janine." With a kiss on her cheek my father turned back to Dimitri.

"Now you have your help and we have the day to ourselves when Rose is celebrating her coming of age here." My father made the decision for all of us and closed the conversation.

Without acknowledging my protest, they headed to the car that had the whole back piled up with all the gifts and everything we would need to take back home.

Being left alone again with Dimitri, he turned to me.

"Give me your phone." He told me and without questioning him, I unlocked it and gave it to him.

Typing something in, he gave it back to me.

"Now you have my number and we'll arrange everything. I'll start renovating on Monday morning, since I already brought everything I need for it. Write me, so I'll have your number and we'll keep in touch." With the last word he gently touched my shoulder.

A little shiver rolled down my spine, but the good kind of shiver. The one where you want it to continue.

Taking me out of my thoughts, my parents waved for me to get inside the car.

We all said our goodbyes and then drove off. Replaying everything that happened today, I was daydreaming about Dimitri in a very inappropriate position… with me… both of us naked…

Before long we arrived in front of our house. "Let's unpack everything tomorrow." My mother decided and headed inside after hugging Pavel goodnight.

"Sure my love," my father answered. "Thank you for picking us up Pavel. I hope you had a good day with your family?"

The smile on Pavel's face told us everything. Normally he would have joined us at the party, but this years his family had arranged a barbecue since one of their relatives from abroad happened to stay for a few days.

"We had, thank you Abe. See you on Monday." He shook my fathers hand. "Rose." He nodded and with that he walked home. He lived a few houses down the streets.

Slowly I followed my father inside, unusually quiet while still imaging what I would want to do to Dimitri.

"Good night Kizim." With a kiss on my head he left me alone in our hallway.

"Night Baba." Deciding to go upstairs into my room as well, I took a quick shower and then picked out my phone from my back pack.

Should I write Dimitri? Discussing it with myself for quite some time I started typing before I could change my mind.

It's just so he'll have my number as well, I tried to convince myself that I texted him because of another reason than that stupid crush. I should really start forgetting about it. Nothing would ever come from this.

Hey, It's Rose. Sorry my father forced my help and birthday party on you. x

Oh no, why did I added the kiss? Now he is going to lecture me on why I shouldn't text him like this. I chastised myself. But after all the flirting this evening, you can't be so sure, an inner voice piped up.

No problem, really. I'm looking forward to your help, Roza. Now get some beauty sleep.

A moment later I received a second message.

Not that you really need it. Dx

That's not what I expected, at all. Pleasantly surprised we texted forth and back for some time.

The later the more inappropriate the messages got. We weren't sexting or anything, but we made it clear that we were smitten with one another, without outright saying it.

Now we really need to stop, It's 4 in the morning and I need to be at my nephews game in a few hours. I'll text you tomorrow. xx

Smiling, I laid down and fell asleep, dreaming about Dimitri and a certain shopping card.

The next day, I received no message from Dimitri. I was disappointed but reminded myself that all the alleged flirting was because of the alcohol he drank.

Still I couldn't help but be disappointed. This also meant that it would be ten times more awkward to work at his cabin than it would have been anyways.

At least I would have today to try to forget about what happened yesterday.

My parents were still asleep, no wonder when you took into account how much wine they've consumed yesterday. Once or twice a year my parents drink more than they should and usually their birthday party is one of these occasions.

Getting ready and having breakfast alone, I flopped down onto the couch and texted Lissa. She was getting ready for her uncles party and was looking forward to having breakfast with her family, or with the people that were left of her family.

Somehow I couldn't bring myself to tell her about Dimitri. It's not like I didn't trusted her, but I just couldn't talk to her about it.

One part of me wanted to keep my feelings to myself, since they were so inappropriate, but the other part was also embarrassed, I mean what if he wouldn't return my feelings now that he's sober? Then I would be the silly school girl crushing on an older guy. Anyway in this case it wouldn't matter what I felt for him. So it was better not to speak about this with anyone in the first place.

Just as I wanted to put my phone away I received a message. I wouldn't want to admit how my heart sped up when I read Dimitris name on the display. But the message itself put a bummer to my hyped up feelings.

I'm sorry about yesterday, the alcohol had a stronger effect on me than I thought. You're too Young. I shouldn't have done this. I'm sorry. D

Bla bla bla. I should have anticipated this kind of reaction. Seriously, why should a guy like him, want someone like me anyways.

If he reacted like this because of some more or less innocent conversations and texts, then I don't want to imagine how he would react if any of my daydreams would have happened in real life...

A/N: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews.

Sandy, thank you for your very long Spanish review :)

Again, DeepL helped me read it. I understand your 'fear' of making mistakes. I had the same fear but I somehow overcame it. Just post something in English. Even if it's not perfect (mine isn't either) but it's not my native language, so I won't stress myself about it.

But either way I'm always grateful for your reviews, no matter the language :)

I hope all of you are doing well and I'll try to update one or twice a week.