Chapter 56: Man to Man

ALEKSANDR

Ace huffed out a breath of frustration but turned towards the kitchen to help me. The space between the rooms was fairly open, but it was an L shape, so when we were standing in the kitchen, the cabinets blocked our view of the others.

If I kept my voice low, they were unlikely to hear our conversation over the sound of the movie. Now I just had to figure out how to start this conversation.

“Can you grab some glasses?” I ask as I begin pulling cans of soda from the refrigerator.

Ace doesn’t say anything but makes his way over to the cabinet with the glasses, opens it, and starts pulling out 6 glasses. He’s always been a good kid, and even with me marrying his mom, he’s never had a bitter attitude about all of this, but since coming to Europe, he’s seemed more frustrated.

Ace begins carrying the glasses over to where I’m standing and dispenses a few ice cubes in each one. When the last glass is filled and the noise of the ice machine stops, I try to start the conversatio