by Lia London
“Gotta be Number One, huh?”
Viktor nodded. “Yeah. It’s first place or go home.”
“Well, I’m glad we won, so you don’t have to go home.”
He brushed his fingers over few blades of tall grass fringing a fence post. “He’s not all bad, you know. My dad. He’s really nice as long as I’m winning—”
“Which you do all the time,” interjected Angelika encouragingly.
“Yeah, except when you were around. He still remembers how often you beat me back in high school. It’s like it’s etched in his brain forever—every test, every match, every competition where you outranked me…”
Angelika deflated at the sorrowful lines on his forehead. “I’m sorry. That stinks.”
“Yeah.”
She leaned against the fence beside him. “Double stinks, actually, because it just means there’s one more person who defines me only as I compare to someone else.”
Viktor’s eyes moved across her crown of braids. His voice was hoarse. “I don’t know about that.” His fingertip brushed back a strand of hair on her shoulder. “But you stand out on your own. No comparison with anyone.”
Viktor – that evening around sunset
“Okay, what’s the verdict, Princess Annie-Aurora-Fae? Top up or down?” He leaned his elbows on the roof of his car, admiring Angelika’s sun-kissed cheeks and the sheen of golden light in her hair.
She grinned. “Top down, stereo up, and if I stand up and dance at intersections, don’t be surprised.”
Minutes later, they sped down a back road, blasting the radio station that still featured all the songs from their high school days. Strand by strand, Angelika’s hair released itself from order.
“Now you look like a fire goddess,” he shouted, laughing over the roar of the wind.
“Did I get sunburned?” She craned forward, adjusting the rearview mirror to check her reflection.
“No, I mean your hair. It’s got a life of its own.”
She swept her loose locks back with one hand.
Viktor watched her, finding her unassuming pose surprisingly sultry in the low light of sunset. Without meaning to, he added weight to the accelerator. This ride, this feeling, this view. It was everything car commercials promised but better, because Angelika wasn’t some random supermodel. She was his friend. A good friend, from the feel of it. The thought empowered him.
“Oops, sorry!” Angelika returned the rearview mirror to its original position. “You probably want to see what’s behind you.”
Viktor gave her a wry grin and slowed the car, pulling onto a dusty patch overlooking a shallow valley of recently harvested alfalfa.
“What’s up?” she asked.
He tapped the rearview mirror. “I already know what’s behind me. Where I’ve been.” His heart skipped as he searched her dazzling eyes. “I’m thinking it’s a boring road. I kind of like the new one.”
Her expression turned shy. “You mean the one we started on today?”
He nodded and shut off the engine. “I’ve got a proposal for you.”
“What?”
“No, no. Not that kind of proposal.” He licked his lips. “But related, maybe.” He tried to inch closer without cramming himself into the gearshift. “I haven’t met anyone I want to date seriously, let alone marry, but…” He reached a finger to brush a strand of hair from her cheek. “Maybe we could still check in regularly. You know, to see how each other is doing. Just because we’re kind of friends now.”
Her lips parted in a warm smile. “I accept your proposal.”
“Bet cancelled? No more race to romance?”
She met his gaze with intensity. “Maybe if we take the pressure off, we can both be winners for once.”
Angelika – two weeks later
Angelika slowed her pace, allowing Viktor to retrieve his phone. While he answered, she stole glimpses at the muscles in his legs as casually as she could. Their hike took them up through a small wooded area and now opened on a rockier promontory, rather like the recent progress of their friendship. They’d come out of the dark woods of animosity, but the path ahead still rose uphill.
Viktor’s posture grew defensive as he listened to the speaker. A crease in his brow shrouded his dark blue eyes, and Angelika ventured nearer to eavesdrop.
“How can you say that?” Viktor’s tone strained the limits of courtesy. “I’ve put in almost sixty hours this week, and I’m completely up-to-date on all my assignments.”
The person on the line sounded agitated, and Viktor winced.
“Your dad?” she whispered.
He shook his head and turned away.
She hesitated and approached him, rubbing a gentle circle on his back. Whoever was stressing him out picked a lousy time to do it. He’d just started opening up about the pressures he faced, and now she saw the reality of it in action.
“Yes, sir. I’m on it. I’ll be in tomorrow at six.” He hung up, frustration evident in the way he stuffed his phone into the pocket of his cargo shorts.
“Six in the morning?” Angelika gaped. “Got a big project due?”
Viktor let out a sound like a cat coughing up a hairball. “It’s business as usual if you want to get ahead…” He karate chopped his own palm. “Faster, faster, faster, more, more, more.”
“Aren’t you already ahead?” She tilted her head to one side, trying to see his downcast expression better. “You’re only twenty-eight, and already skirting the executive sphere—”
“But it’s never good enough, is it?” he snapped.
A pair of female hikers passed them, bouncing and chatting happily about someone named Dave. Viktor stared after them, and Angelika worried she wasn’t wearing the right hiking fashion or walking at the same perky pace. When his gaze climbed back up to where she stood, any light in his eyes had been snuffed out. “I hate to do this, but if I’m going to be in the office early, we need to head back down. I’ll need time for—”
“No, sure. It’s fine.” She held up a hand and gave her best reassuring smile. “Duty calls.”
“Duty stinks.”
She tugged at his sleeve. “Come on. Before you go back to the slave shop, at least go this last bit. We came so far.”
His lips curled upward. “I’ll race you.”
“I’ll beat you,” she said with a wink.
They ran up the path and came to rest at a low guard rail. Panting, she watched his reaction carefully. “Worth it?”
His eyes took on a hazy quality, and his shoulders dropped a degree of tension. “Yeah.”
“I always love how the light plays across this part of the land. The long shadows and all.” She pointed.
After a long, shared heartbeat of peace, he turned to her. “Thanks.”
“You don’t have to get ahead any faster than your heart wants to.”
He gave her a wry grin. “Are you suggesting my cardio endurance needs help?”
Angelika poked his belly. “I’m suggesting you don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
Sidestepping an incoming poke, he countered, “So you’re pushing all my buttons?”
“Oh, for crying out loud.” Angelika dropped her hands. “Could you be any punny-er?” With her palm on his shoulder, she steered him back down the path. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
Viktor hesitated, reaching for her hand. “You don’t think I should be more ambitious?”
“It’s not possible to be more ambitious than you are. But are you going after what you really want?” Their hands dropped, still gently clasped. “Set goals to make you happy.” She gave his fingers a squeeze.
His eyes regained a little of their sparkle. “I have a goal to beat you back to the car. Loser buys the winner a milkshake on the way home.”
Viktor – the next morning
Viktor awoke to a notification bell on his phone. Bleary-eyed, he read the text from Angelika: Chase *your* dreams today.
He smiled, remembering a hint of the dream fr
om last night. Something about a three-legged race with Annie taking him over a cliff, but instead of falling to their death, they floated hand-in-hand in the clouds, not saying a word. Too bad dreams like that couldn’t come true.
He texted back. You’re up early.
Chucho was demanding his morning tribute of kibble and seafood delight.
Yum. Fish breath. Not only does he act like a shark, he smells like one, too.
Angelika sent back a line of laughing emojis and a single heart. He stared at this, aware of his own heart beating in the quiet. What had she done to him? When did he become so feely? Surely he was setting himself up for an epic fail. He’d screw up somewhere, and she’d see he wasn’t good enough.
He tapped back a heart emoji and dropped his phone on the bed. Time to shower and shave.
Angelika – a few days later
Angelika couldn’t stop thinking about the heart. Guys didn’t do emojis, did they? Especially not driven over-achievers. This had to be a good thing, right? Except he hadn’t called or texted again, and when she tried to reach out, he responded with a hurried apology about needing to get back to work.
So there it was again. He saw her, knew she was there, but ultimately, if something shinier or more pressing came along, she was relegated to the sidelines. The Perennial Wallflower. It didn’t matter if she was playing second fiddle to Harrison and Zulema or a project at a business firm. Being Angelika meant being ignored.
As she packed up her office space to head out for the day, John, the receptionist called out, “Hey, Angelika. This came for you.”
Angelika ambled over, her feet sore from wearing heels all day in stand-up meetings. “What? This?” Three bright orange flowers wrapped with a ratty strip of cloth lay on the counter. “Who’s it from?”
John shrugged and scratched his beard. “It came by courier. No note.”
Angelika picked it up and studied the flowers, the color of Chucho’s fur. Three flowers. She fingered the ugly ribbon, wondering why it was familiar. In a flash, it came to her. It was the tie that fastened her and Viktor together in the three-legged race.
Suddenly, she grinned. He’d kept the cloth? Holding the odd bouquet to her nose, she hummed one of the songs they’d sung on the radio.
John sat taller. “Methinks you’ve figured out who your secret admirer is.”
She chuckled. “Me hopes I have.”
“Is he good enough for you?”
Angelika bloomed at his kind sentiment. “He’s probably too good, but I’ll take what I can get.” She pushed her way through the heavy double doors into the parking lot. Tucked under the wiper blade on her car, she saw a note. Dinner my place 8pm. Bring the centerpiece.
She knew the handwriting so well. Years of seeing it flaunted under her nose with red A+ comments made it unforgettable.
Texting one-handed so she could caress the flower petals with her cheek, she answered Viktor: CU 7:59.
Viktor – 7:59 that night
The doorbell rang, and Viktor groaned before laughing. “Coming!” He lowered the heat on the pasta, knowing it would be al dente in just a minute longer. He wanted the dinner to be extra nice, even if it couldn’t last long because of work deadlines.
“Right on time,” he said, swinging the door open.
Angelika stepped in looking like a million bucks in the fairy princess blouse again. She pressed the orange flowers into his chest with a saucy grin. “Isn’t this a quaint role reversal? You cooking, and me bringing the flowers.”
“I’m a modern man.” Except right now he like a teen again, hyper aware of a pretty girl brushing against him and smiling. “I’m glad you figured out the flowers were from me and didn’t go over to one of your other boyfriends’ houses.”
“I have so many nowadays.” Her laughter was musical. Twirling the cloth tie around her finger, she asked, “Any particular reason you still had this?”
Viktor’s ears warmed. “I might have kept it as a memento of our first combined victory.”
“First?”
“I think we should go back and win every year. Defend our title.”
Her eyebrows danced, and the shape of her lips hinted at a sexy pout. “You want to come to my family reunion every year?”
If it meant staying in touch with her during the interim months, the idea held strong appeal, but saying so would sound dumb, wouldn’t it? “Just keep me in mind if you ever need a three-legged race partner again.”
“Of course.” Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Maybe we can train throughout the year.”
“Yeah.” Was she flirting with him? He hoped she was flirting because his skin tingled with a crazy new sensation.
Her expression changed to one of mild disgust. “What are you burning?”
“Augh!” Viktor bolted into the kitchen in time to see the pasta foaming over with a loud hiss. He pulled the pot off the element and growled at the mess.
“Happens to the best of us, apparently,” said Angelika, peeking into the kitchen.
“I’ve never done that before.”
“Then you were way overdue.” She stepped forward as if to help.
“No, no. You’re my guest. I’m not going to make you clean up my disaster.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I’ve got it!” he snapped. Her wincing reaction was so immediate he tossed the pot into the sink and reached for her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted this to be… special.”
Her smile returned shyly, and she didn’t pull away. “It is special. I don’t have guys cooking for me every day, you know.”
“But I screwed up.”
“No you didn’t.” She lifted her hands to his chest and seemed to study his collar before speaking. “You got the most important part right. You made me feel special.” She raised her eyes to his. “I don’t get that every day, either.”
Viktor stared back at her, unable to blink. A grin took hold of one side of his mouth.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“I’m thinking if someone told me ten years ago I’d be standing like this with Angelika Aldrich, I’d have said they were completely crazy.”
“How are we standing?” Was that another flirty look?
Viktor didn’t answer, but his hands shifted to her shoulders. The whole experience was surreal.
“Viktor, I’m like that pot of noodles about to boil over. How are we standing?”
Taking a chance, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her. A jolt of unexpected desire shot through him, and he savored her lips as if they were the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted. When she responded in kind, her arms sliding up his back to pull him closer, something exploded inside of him. Another part of his psyche burst open, and he came up for air with a jubilant laugh. “Yeah, that never would’ve happened back then.”
Angelika nuzzled into his cheek. “I’m kind of glad we grew up, aren’t you?”
Angelika – a few days later
Angelika’s emotions swung on a pendulum between the giddy land of daydreams and a nagging concern that Viktor, though increasingly tender in his texts, was still busy trying to conquer the business world on his own. She knew the drive came from the life with an NPD parent, but that didn’t make it easier.
As she closed out her desk for the day, she sent him a text. Any chance you can break the shackles this evening by 6:30 and come for Pasta Take 2? She hoped he wouldn’t take it as a jab at his culinary mishap. They’d poured his chicken and vegetable sauce over some Minute Rice and laughed the evening away.
Is Chucho going to kill me?
I’ll trim his claws before you get here.
Is your weird roomie going to kill me?
Angelika chuckled. G is out for the night. Hence my invitation.
You have my full attention. CU@6:29.
She hurried home and checked the sauce she’d kept simmering all day to blend the flavors. After chopping up the salad and setting the French bread to toast, she had time to
bribe Chucho with some tuna and clip his claws before changing her clothes.
She paired a blue, shimmery blouse with snug leggings and set to work designing her hair. He’d admired her fantasy do, so she included a crown of braids, but she loved the way he’d run his fingers through her hair, so she made sure to leave half of it down to tempt him. She was part cat, after all. If he did it again—and kissed her like last time—she might even purr.
6:29 came.
6:50 went.
7:14 came, and with it a dark, creeping doubt. Was he pulling another stunt like he did junior year when he coordinated with a friend of his from another school to ask her out, supposedly meeting up at the mall? For two hours, she’d waited, hoping to have a date with the handsome Ryan Bell, but he never showed. Meanwhile, she’d given up valuable practice time, and the next day, she suffered a bitter loss to Viktor in the district Math Olympics. Ryan, the date that never showed, had been there cheering Viktor on.
Angelika wilted into the couch and called Viktor. If she was about to be bamboozled again, she needed to know and end the whole charade of their growing relationship.
Viktor answered before it rang once. “I’m outside.”
Re-energized by hope, she leapt to her feet and opened the door.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” He peeked over an enormous bouquet of orange blooms with an adorably penitent expression that melted her on the spot. How could she have doubted him?
Still, she had to tease. “My noodles are mush now. We can’t seem to get this pasta thing right.”
Viktor’s brows twitched. “I can’t promise that’s why I came.”
Angelika grinned and tugged the flowers to her nose, laughing when he continued to hold them. “Do you smell as good as they do?”
In one smooth move, he swept the flowers behind her back, tucking himself against her in a dance. His lips brushed her cheek, and the softness of his minty breath tickled new desires awake, dispelling all her doubts. As his mouth slanted over hers, she could hear herself purring. Or was it her pulse pounding in her ears?