Page 136 of Kept in the Dark

Wesley clears his throat as James rolls his eyes. “In that case, we got an email from the General earlier. Maybe we should move this into my office?”

“This is a celebration,” I observe with a scowl. “At a celebration, we drink; we do not discuss work.”

James gapes at me, and even Wesley is a bit taken aback. “What is happening right now? You don’t want to discuss work? You’re the guy who always kicks off our meetings.”

“You also leave the instant the discussion of work is done,” Wesley chimes in, and I roll my eyes. “And you leave the group chat whenever we get off topic.”

“What is this, some kind of new Dimitri?” James continues, grinning ear to ear at my obvious annoyance. “FunDimitri?”

“I would not say that,” I object. “But perhaps I am… experiencing a shift in my perspective. The past designs us, but it does not define us.”

“Google doc,” Wesley sings.

“Actually, this is something Nicole said,” I inform him, pouring myself another drink.

James groans as he shifts forward to reach into his pocket and retrieve his phone. “Now there’s two of them? Fuckin’ Christ.”

I chuckle. “She is clever.”

“I think allowances can be made forDimitri-ismsto include the words of his equally wise and poetic lady.” Wesley smirks at me. “And I really do have something I want to show you in my office. Bring your drink; we can keep celebrating in there.”

I do not bother with another round of protests because his insistence is beginning to feel suspicious. Instead, I grab the unmarked bottle of homemade potato vodka and grip the ring of my glass in my other hand, and follow them down the hallway. The door to his office is closed as usual, but the usually unoccupied library across the hall has light shining from within.

“Lights are on,” James observes. “Weird.”

They approach the library instead of the study, and I follow in confusion. When I get to the doorway, I pause, impossibly more puzzled by the sight before me.

“Surprise!” three people chorus, in varying depths and tones of excitement.

“What is this?” I demand, gesturing to the decorations with my index finger lifted from the rim of my glass. Vodka sloshes, hitting my palm.

The first things I notice are the small, inflated cows littering the floor. About the size of cats, they cover the rug and occupy the couch, and James kicks one aside as he moves towards a tray of food set up on the low table. Next, I notice a string of metallic balloons hanging from the curtain rod over the windows, spelling outHoly Cow, D is 40 now!

“We didn’t know when your birthday actually is,” Eleanor begins.

“Nor will you,” I interject, then nod my head as if to say,go on.

Eleanor grins at me. “So, we randomly picked today. Happy 40th, Dimitri!”

“It was the girls’ idea. Unless you like it, in which case, happy birthday from all of us, big guy,” Wesley says, spreading his arms wide.

I frown at the balloon words as Eleanor approaches me with a tray of appetizers, nearly tripping over one of the cows. I assume now that there are 40 of them.

“They didn’t have enough I’s to spell your whole name,” she confesses, watching me take a dumpling on a toothpick.

I place the pelmeni into my mouth and make a noise of approval. She has refined her recipe, and they are excellent now—even better tasting than those from the nostalgic memories from my youth. I glance around, but I do not need to see it to confirm that there is someone very important missing. “Where is Nicole?”

Eleanor winces. “Bathroom. She’s gonna be so pissed. I feel bad. I’m the one who told her just to go.”

“So, you’re 40?” James whistles before popping a pelmeni.

I am not, but I will be sooner than I care to admit.

“And what if I am?” I ask as Wesley hits a button and some light music fills the room—a good backdrop for chatter.

James’s smile is all charm. “Nothing, it’s just that most 40-year-olds I know need a plan for getting up off the floor. I think it’s safe to say you’re subverting the expectations for your age group.”

“I only need a plan to get up off the floor when you are in the way because I have just wiped the sparring mat with your body.”