Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“That’s why you were so upset when Vasily said I was his girl.”
The mattress springs bend under Yev’s weight when he sits on the edge of the bed. “I wasn’t upset.” When I peer at him under the arm flopped over my eyes, he says with a smirk, “I was fucking pissed. I thought he had stolen my girl.” He tugs down my arm so he can fully see my eyes. “I made a mistake”—his smile slips from his face—“again. Pavel—”
“Isn’t your responsibility.” My head can’t keep up with the many topics we’re discussing today, but one thing is certain—Yev isn’t to blame for what happened that night. It all falls on my shoulders. “I accepted his drink because I wanted to make you jealous.”
His dark brow gets lost in his hair, but he doesn’t speak a word, leaving the gate wide open for me.
After propping myself on my elbows, I admit, “You arrived at the party with Stace Lenkov. She was all over you.”
“Because she thought it would piss off Ana.”
“It did.” I breathe out slowly before admitting, “And it drove me insane too. I loathe Stace.” Loathe is too kind of a word for how much I despise that woman. She’s caused so much trouble for my brother the past five years, and it has taken until now for me to admit she impacted my life as well. “But I was more annoyed you didn’t tell her to ping off. I thought you hated her too.”
“I did. I just…” He breathes out a cuss word. “This is why Alek sent me away. He knew I would have fucked it up, but I swear to God or whoever the hell is up there partying with Feo that I wised up a fucking ton before I pursued you again. I chased you and only you. I cross my heart and hope to fucking die.”
After watching him do exactly that, I ask, “Could Alek be referencing someone before you came back? Someone in Sicily?”
“No.” When suspicion crosses his face, he mutters, “Well… fuck. Don’t ask me to answer that, Polly. I don’t want to sound like a dick.”
“I’d rather you sound like one than be one. If you have a child or one on the way, you have a responsibility to take care of him or her.”
I’m shocked by how calm I sound. Jealousy is usually my go-to reaction when I conjured up scenarios like this during slow days at the boutique. My imagination is so vivid, I was half expecting Yev to return from abroad with a wife in tow. A baby was a close second.
“Although that could be a challenge if you stay in Russia. You’d most likely have to return to Sicily.” Now I sound more fretful than calm.
Yev knows firsthand how bad long-distance relationships are. It is why he doesn’t know his father. From the rumors we’ve heard, he moved back to his hometown before Yev was born and has not once come back.
Too upset considering the prospect of him leaving again, I leap off the bed and make a beeline for the door. “I need to go to work. I should have never left Nat unattended for so long.”
Yev beats me to the door. After blocking the exit with his body, he confirms he knows me better than I know myself. “I’m not going anywhere. If I go, you go. If you go, I go. That’s now our promise.”
He doesn’t issue life-altering pledges with no intention of keeping them, but I can’t act as if that is an option for us. “I can’t keep you from your child, Yev. The world is too cruel to grow up in without your father at your side, supporting you. We both know that.”
He cups my jaw and drags his thumb over my cheek before repeating, “I’m not going anywhere without you. And the only kid I’m ever going to have is with you. Alek is confused, and I’ll prove it. I just need you not to run.” An ill-timed grin pulls at my lips when he whispers, “Don’t make me tie you to my bed, Polly. We’ve lost enough time, so I refuse to lose a second more.”
Since I agree with him, I lean into his embrace instead of pulling away.
The briefest of movements has the biggest impact on the regret clouding his dark eyes. “Give me a minute to get dressed, and I’ll drive you to work.”
Although he’s not technically asking a question, I jerk up my chin. I’ll need more than a minute to fix my rumpled appearance, but the way Yev looks at me would have you believing I don’t.
After winking at me in favor of my submissiveness, Yev presses his lips to the side of my mouth before making a beeline for the bathroom. I hope he doesn’t have any issues with people sharing toothbrushes. Since he forgot to pack mine, I’ve been using his for the past three days.