Page 82 of Breakaway

Grief for me is like the deepest waters, when no matter where I swim - I can’t see the shore. Nevaeh is my lighthouse, the guiding light that helps me find my way out of my sorrow.

Maksim will always be with me. In my heart. In my mind. And I will never forget him. My brother is a part of me, and that won’t change…no matter how happy or sad I am. I finally know that.

The sound of approaching footsteps makes my ears prick. When I look up, I instantly recognize her. Nevaeh heads in my direction, her eyes glued to her phone as she’s typing something. My gaze travels down her body, and an elated smile forms on my lips.

Her short leather skirt sashays with each step she takes; her legs look absolutely mouthwatering. The clicking of heels echoes with her hurried steps, and a thrill of excitement rolls over me.She will notice me soon. I raise my eyes to the light blue sweater. It must be new; I haven’t seen it before, and she told me she went shopping with Angie the other day.

Takaya krasivaya?1.

My phone dings in my pocket. The sound rings out through the quiet, and Nevaeh’s eyes fly to me in an instant. She halts in her tracks, her jaw dropping. This reaction is why I’m waiting for her here and not at home. I smile, tilting my head to the side and mouthing,Hi.

With a squeal, she runs toward me, and I catch her, wrapping my arm around her waist and lifting her. Her hands are around my neck, and she’s peppering my face with light kisses. Her hair tickles my skin, but I only hug her tighter, losing myself in the moment. It’s exactly what I’ve been dreaming about. Her in my arms, and the rest doesn’t matter.

Setting her on her feet, I lower my head and swiftly kiss her lips. Control is something I lack around her, but fucking her inthe parking garage of her office building isn’t in my plans…not tonight, at least.

“This is for you,” I tell her, and she takes the bouquet from me. Nevaeh’s eyes are dancing between my face and the roses, and the happiest smile plays on her lips.

“My favorite…They’re so beautiful,” she says on an exhale. “Thank you so much, Roman.”

“Anything for you.” And I steal another kiss, just because I’m shit at restraining myself. “Do you mind leaving your car here? I’ll drive you to work tomorrow.”

“How can I say no after you gave me these?” Nevaeh presses the bouquet to her chest. “Are we going home?”

“Not exact?—”

“For fuck’s sake! Could you at least not bring him to where I work?” A furious man’s voice shuts me up. I see Nevaeh’s ex standing a few feet away from us, arms crossed over his chest, his face contorting in anger.

“This is a parking garage, Travis,” Nevaeh says, pursing her lips. “Should we not go out in public because we might run into you?”

“Yeah, that would be fantastic. You should! Out of respect for me—if you even remember what that word means.”

“What’s your problem?” I ask, stepping forward and shielding Nevaeh from him.

“I was just going to my car after a very long and exhausting day at work. Sorry if I didn’t expect to see my ex and her new boy toy here.”

“Where’s your car?” I tilt my head, watching him. He points at a Nissan parked two cars away from Nevaeh’s. “Um, sorry, and why were you so surprised to see Nevaeh? You parked so close to her, and now you’re acting like she did something wrong.”

Travis’s nostrils flare, and his hands drop to his sides. He balls his fists as he takes a step toward me. “It’s called decency. Basic fucking respect. Though I’m not surprised you know nothing about it. Jocks are always dumb as rocks,” he spits, glancing over my shoulder, trying to see Nevaeh. “I shouldn’t be surprised by her either. She’s not who I thought she was.”

“And who am I?” Nevaeh’s voice trembles in fury as she comes to my side and glares at her ex.

“A gold-digging slut, apparently.”

I rush toward him and grab his collar. His eyes widen, and he digs his fingers into my skin, trying to break free. I just fist my hands harder, making him walk backward until his back hits the concrete wall.

“If you ever call my wife that again, I’ll fucking smash your face into this wall.” I shake him once, hard, and the back of his head hits the wall. “You have no idea what happened, how we even got together. Keep your assumptions to yourself, and keep your fucking distance. Move on.”

Stepping back, I watch him breathing hard. When he looks up and meets my gaze, I notice unshed tears. It’s like a flashback—I see my brother in him. This is how Maks probably felt when he found out about Alisa and her ex. The hurt written all over Travis’s face makes my heart ache, bringing memories to the surface.

“I’m sorry,” I say, surprising myself, and probably him too, given how his pupils dilate. “Nevaeh didn’t leave you for me, and this marriage wasn’t planned. It just happened.”

Travis straightens his back, pushes himself away from the wall, and strides past me. Not a word, not a single glance at me or Nevaeh. He just acts like we’re not here anymore. Holding his head high, he gets into his car, and then he’s gone.

An uneasy feeling forms in the pit of my stomach, and I can’t shrug it off. Him calling her names pissed me off, but at the sametime I understand his hurt. He loved her. He wanted to marry her…and then she left him and married someone else in the span of two weeks.

If I knew how to love, I would feel crushed too if someone did that to me.

Turning on my heel, I stalk back to my car. Nevaeh stands completely still, the bouquet pressed to her chest. She meets my gaze, probably recognizing my turmoil with how her eyes soften. I need a distraction. Something strong that will stop me from spiraling, stop me from comparing what happened to Travis with what happened to my brother.

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