Chapter 32

Leonid throws up his hands. “All right. I can see that I’m not wanted. Ungracious prick. I’m out.” He yells out toward the pool house, “Merry Christmas, kids! Santa’s getting his ass kicked out.” And then he stumbles off toward the gate.

Nadia and a couple of Alex’s older cousins have come outside; they’re watching us from the front of the pool house with wide eyes.

I take Alex’s arm. “He shouldn’t drive,” I say. “He’s drunk.”

Alex doesn’t make a move; he just watches as Leonid stalks off. I push Alex in Leonid direction as hard as I can. “Hurry, Alex!”

Reluctantly, Alex follows him. “Give me your keys. I’ll drive you home.”

Leonid tosses his keys out onto the lawn. “Nah, I’ll walk.”

“Leonid!” I call out. “Let him take you.”

But he’s already halfway down the street, his black puffy coat blending into the night sky. I go looking for his keys, but it’s too dark. Alex comes back to my side and shrugs. “Give me your phone,” I say to him, and he hands it to me. I use it like a flashlight a