Page 10 of Breaking Away

She winces, but listens.

“Stay right there,” I order. “Be quiet.”

From my pocket, I pull out my phone and move further away so she’s nowhere near me. Scrolling to his number, I wonder if he’ll answer.

I’ve not saved the contact, but like clockwork, before every game we play, he texts me to talk shit, thinking it gets into my head.

I’ll video call him so she’ll know for sure it’s him. Smith might have her fooled, but he doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a total jackass around me. Maybe that will help her realize the poison he’s whispering into her ears isn’t true.

I don’t care if this is a bad idea. I can’t stop myself. Maybe if I do this, she’ll learn the truth and leave.

The video comes to life. I’m treated to a pretty-boy grin as Smith answers.

There are party sounds in the background, but the noise softens as he walks into what looks like a separate room.

Before he can speak, I start. “What you said tonight, never say it again.”

Smith cackles. “The only thing I’ll do differently is get in your head at the start of the game now that I know it works.”

My nostrils flare.

Smith keeps going. “Known for your legendary control, aren’t you? The man no one wants to mess with? What a joke. You lost it so easily when I brought up thisparticulartopic.”

“I. Don’t. Care.” Each word is ground out.

“Don’t you? All I did was brag about how much I love her fat mouth on my dick.”

From the corner of my eyes, I see Kavi stiffen.

Something dark and possessive rolls down my spine. “She has nothing to do with our rivalry. Leave her out of this.”

“Not a fucking chance. She’s going to marryme. I haveeverything,Lokhov. And you are lucky that my ankle isn’t broken. It’s only sprained. Either way, your team is rolling you out on a fucking stretcher next time, and she’ll be watching it happen, cheering me on. Won’t that be something? You prick.”

How he’s speaking isn’t new or shocking to me, but the whites of Kavi’s eyes show.

Smith laughs again, unaware. “Did you call me to confess? Is this about your obsession?—”

I hang up.

Kavi marches over to me. Her face is splotchy. “Call him back.”

“Wasn’t that enough?”

“No. Call him back now.”

5

KAVI

There’sno way this is happening to me, but it is. I shut my eyes so I can make sense of what I’ve heard.

My fiancé is a total pig to rival players.Sure. Fine. Table that tidbit for later.

He has a vendetta against Lokhov.Tyler hated him in high school so that’s not shocking.

He’s using me in his trash talk. About myfat mouthon his dick?

I… What…?

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