Page 65 of Breakaway

I’m getting used to falling asleep and waking up with her in my bed. It feels natural, normal. Her presence helps me sleep through the night, and not just because I’m exhausted after sex, but because she calms my storm. With her around, my disturbing thoughts are quieter. The pain of losing Maks dulls. It’s not like it doesn’t hurt anymore—of course it does. It’s just that more and more memories resurface in my head. Happy, precious memories, ones I’ve been trying to push away, afraid I couldn’t handle my grief. Remembering my brother, cherishing the time I got to spend with him, protecting all the little things I have that remind me of him.

Something I wasn’t able to do until she stepped into my life.

Nevaeh stirs. I tighten my hold on her, pressing her closer to my chest. It feels so fucking good, I don’t want to leave my bed. Unfortunately, my selfish wishes mean shit. The team is flying to Texas today to play our first neutral-site preseason game tomorrow. My excitement mingles with my disappointment. I want this sweet girl to come with me.

Tol’ko eto nevozmozhno?1.

“What time is it?” she whispers, moving her palm across my chest and resting it on my heart.

“Six a.m. It’s too early. You can sleep some more.”

She props herself up and rests her chin on my chest, her eyes traveling around my face. I reach over and push a few strands of hair off her face, gently caressing her skin. A smile spreads over her lips, and I smile back.It’s so easy with her.So familiar. As if I’ve known her for years.

“Where did you get this scar?” Nevaeh asks, her index finger tracing a scar on my chin. It’s an old one, barely visible, and still she noticed.

“I had a very eventful youth.”

Wriggling out of my embrace, she slowly sits up and straddles my legs, her hands on my chest. I drag my eyes down her naked breasts and her toned stomach, feeling sizzling heat spread over my body. My tongue darts out of the corner of my mouth, and I lick my bottom lip. I want her. Just as much as I did before, if not more.Hotya zachem ya vru sebe?2?My desire is definitely stronger now.

“What happened?” she asks again, a playful smile on her lips.

“I got into a fight after a school dance when I was fourteen. Some guy didn’t like that his girl was flirting with me. Somehow, it ended up being my fault.” I shrug, gripping her hips with my hands. “I broke his nose, and he cut me with his keys in return.”

Nevaeh shakes her head and glances to her left, grabbing my right hand and lifting it. “Where did you get these ones?” She points at the scars on the back of my right hand. Three tiny, white lines.

I chuckle. “I was home alone, and somehow, when I went out on the balcony, the door locked behind me. The weather was mild for early December, but I was only in shorts and a tee. After a short debate, I decided that it would be more expensive for my parents to replace the front door, since it was locked from the inside, than glass on the balcony door.”

“You smashed the glass?”

“I did,” I confirm. “Though I made a mistake. Instead of hitting the glass at the top, I smashed it right in the middle. The shards of glass cut my skin, and my father had to come home and take me to the hospital. I needed stitches.”

With a dip of her head, she knits her eyebrows together. “Your father? That’s the first time you’ve mentioned him. I kinda assumed he wasn’t a part of your life.”

“He’s dead.”

Nevaeh squeezes my hand. “I’m so sorry. What happened?”

I close my eyes, clenching my jaw. How do I explain to her that my father was so unhappy that I was the one who didn’t die that he drank himself to death? His words are still fresh in my head, even after four years.It should’ve been you, he said.Maks had such a bright future ahead of him, and now it’s you…living his dreams and getting everything he deserved.

Eto dolzhen byl byt’ ya…?3

“Roman.” Her soft voice is quiet. Opening my eyes, I see Nevaeh’s beautiful face. She towers over me, bending down to wipe away the tears from the corners of my eyes. “I’m really, really sorry. Just know that I’m here for you. Whether you want to talk about it or not. I’m always here.”

“I’ll tell you about him…just not today, okay?” I say hoarsely. My throat is dry. “It always messes with my head, and I don’t think I can handle it. Not when I need to play.”

“Whenever you’re ready.” Nevaeh kisses my lips, then leans away and tucks her hair behind her ears. “I wish I could go with you.”

“Me too.” I extend my hand and catch a lock of her hair between my fingers. “When I first met you, your hair had pink in it. Why did you change it? It suited you.”

Nevaeh’s eyes widen, and her mouth opens slightly. “I didn’t think you remembered.”

“About you? I remember everything,” I tell her. “Even the conversation you tried to have with me at Drake’s birthday. About Cooper’s favorite toy. How you unintentionally threw it away, and you thought he hated you.”

Her head lolls back, and my bedroom fills with her melodic laughter. “I wanted to talk to you, and you kept ignoring me. Coming up with something quick after we accidentally ended up in Angie’s kitchen together wasn’t easy.”

“It was hilarious. Though you confused the hell out of me because it was so random.” I snort, twirling her hair around my index finger. “Why did you stop dyeing your hair, Malyshka?”

“I didn’t just get rid of the pink in my hair. I fundamentally changed my entire wardrobe. It’s all black and white now.”

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