Page 75 of Breakaway

He chuckles softly. “I still hate it.”

“I know.” I cover his hand on my belly with mine and thread my fingers through his. “It’s late. Let’s sleep, okay?”

“Okay.”

I lie still, the warmth of his body lulling me to sleep. Yet my mind is agitated, and it keeps me awake. His demons aren’t new to me. They are my old companions. I know better than anyone how much hate someone can hold in their heart. I’ve been just like him, so sure I’d never get out of the vicious circle I was in.

If it weren’t for Angie, maybe I’d still be that bitter and petty version of me. She helped me when I was sure my battle was lost. She believed in me, and she never gave up on me.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do to him…even if we aren’t meant to be.

“Knock, knock.”The door opens, and Kai strolls into my office. He’s in a pastel pink tee and light blue jeans, his Armani watch sparkling in the rays of the setting sun. “Can I come in?”

I snort, shaking my head. “You’re already in, boss.”

He shrugs, unbothered. “Still needed to ask. Personal space, you know?” Kai lowers himself into the chair across from me, sets his elbows on my desk, and connects the pads of his fingers together. “I thought we were friends.”

I rear back in my seat. Confusion clouds my mind as I try to figure out what he means. What could I have possibly done for Kai to come into my office when my workday is almost over and ask questions like this?

“Wearefriends,” I tell him. “Why?”

“Well, you know, if I got married, I would’ve told you.”

My face falls. I blink, opening my mouth and then closing it. Kai looks absolutely calm, studying me with his deep brown eyes. With how his lips twitch, I’m sure he finds this amusing. Unlike me. How the hell does he know?

“What do you mean?” I ask hoarsely.

Kai rolls his eyes, reaches over, and grabs a few Sour Patch Kids from the bowl on my desk. He tosses one into his mouth and says as he starts chewing, “There are a few articles going around on social media about you and someone named Roman Pashkevich. A right defenseman for the California Thunders.” A big smile spreads across his lips. “And there are very cute pictures of you talking to him at the arena. A girl in her man’s jersey and him skating to her before his big game starts.”

“It wasn’t his jersey.” Goodness, why am I talking about that? It’s meaningless right now.

“You went to your husband’s first home game of the regular season wearing someone else’s jersey?” I nod, still processing the news. How does everyone know we’re married? “That’s why I love you, Nevaeh. You’re wild. I don’t think I would’ve had it in me.”

“Why? You would look great in a jersey,” I tease, finally feeling the knots in my stomach loosen up.

Kai sticks out his tongue at me. “I didn’t think you’d be into younger guys. Even if he is exactly your type: blond hair and blue eyes. Except maybe his height. Isn’t he a little too big for you?”

“He’s big, but it’s fine,” I say and notice Kai’s eyes rounding. He leans forward, his mouth agape. Dammit. I cover my face with my palms, my cheeks burning hot. “I meant his height.”

“Sure. His height is the reason you’re as red as a tomato.” My boss laughs, relaxing into his seat with one hand on his belly. “There’s one thing that doesn’t really make sense to me though. One of those articles quotes some anonymous source who saidyou got married in Vegas at the end of August. Weren’t you still with Travis?”

Fuck, that escalated quickly.Though the mention of the anonymous source and our Vegas wedding make it clear how everyone found out. It must be that Emmett guy. He probably saw the pictures of me at the game and decided to spill the tea, maybe spoil the beginning of the season for Roman.

“It was after I broke up with him.”

Kai arches his eyebrow, a question in his eyes. “So you broke up with your boyfriend and got married to a hockey player? Did you leave Travis for this guy?”

“Yes and no. My breakup with Travis had nothing to do with Roman. This marriage…it just happened, okay? We got married in Vegas and decided to see where it would lead us. So far, so good.” I give Kai a weak smile.

My boss’s gaze roams over my face, and then he starts grinning. Clapping his hands together, Kai stands up from his seat. “You definitely look happy. I’ve noticed it for a while now, just thought it was from you living the single life.”

“No. It’s all Roman,” I confirm despite my heart still aching from our talk last night.

“Does he speak to you in Russian?” Kai asks, heading to the door. “I looked him up before I came to you with questions.”

“Sometimes. He calls me ‘Malyshka’; I still need to google what it means.” I giggle.

“I think it’s ‘baby’…or ‘baby girl,’” Kai muses, looking thoughtful.How does he know that?He meets my gaze, noticing my bewildered look. “I had a few friends from Russia back in college, when I was studying in London. Still remember some of the swear words they used, but I won’t try to repeat them. They’re too hard to pronounce.”

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