Page 50 of Breakaway

Roman:

Hey, you left early so I didn’t have a chance to tell you. Crawford invited me to join him in Cancún. I’ll be back in two weeks. Right before training camp starts.

Roman:

I have nothing against you having people over. So if you want to, please do. Enjoy your time, Malyshka. The apartment is all yours.

Enjoy my time? Is he fucking kidding me?

Chapter 20

Peace Offering

ROMAN

“So, how was Cancún?”Colt asks. The sound of the kids’ laughter gets louder. “Michael, Isla, can you please go in the house?” he shouts. “Sorry, man. Bella and the kids came to visit Ava. And while they are drinking coffee and talking about books, I’m looking after the kids. Meghan and Ian are fine, but the oldest two drive me up the wall.”

“Kids will be kids,” I tell him, looking out the window as my Uber stops at a traffic light. “I would be more worried if they were hiding somewhere in silence, plotting God only knows what.”

“Well, yeah, you have a point.” The kids must go inside, because it gets quiet. “Tell me about Cancún. How on Earth did you end up there with Crawford?”

“I wanted to go somewhere before preseason starts, and it just happened that I saw his post when I was scrolling Instagram. I DMed him, and he invited me to join him. That’s all.”

“Based on the Stories I saw, seems like you had a lot of fun.”

“You’re lucky you’re on my Close Friends list. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have seen anything,” I tease him as we enter my neighborhood.

“I’m honored.” Thompson laughs. “Is your wife also on your Close Friends list?”

My smile slips away, and I take a deep breath, hoping to get rid of the anxious feeling in my gut. I’ve been fine most of the time, but Colton’s words instantly bring my worries back. They’re proof that my whole trip was just me trying to run away from the situation I got myself into and its consequences.

My wife…More like the girl I can’t stop thinking about, no matter how off-limits she is.

“No, she’s not. I haven’t talked to her…since Ava’s birthday.”

Colton doesn’t say anything at first, and I start tapping my fingers on my thigh. Then I hear him sigh.

“What happened after Ava’s birthday?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

“Sorry, but I don’t believe you. You didn’t even mention that you were taking a trip when you were at my house, and then suddenly, the next thing I know, you’re flying to Cancún.”

I prop my head against the window and close my eyes. “I kissed her.”

“Was it so bad that you felt the need to run away to another country?”

“Fuck you, Thompson,” I grit through my teeth, and he chuckles. “It was perfect.”

“Okay, that makes even less sense.”

“Her ex texted her. She was planning to see him the next day.”

“Was it a date?”

“She said it wasn’t, but he wanted to make a reservation at some restaurant she’s been wanting to go to,” I mutter as the car pulls into my driveway. “I know she’s not responsible for his actions, but she kept bringing home flowers he gave her. She was still talking to him, agreeing to see him whenever he wanted.I don’t get involved with taken girls, or girls who have no idea what they want.”

“Because of Maksim.”

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