Page 72 of Dice & Dekes

“Petite? Blonde? Nipples chapped all to heck?”

Viktor groans. “Can we please put a moratorium on the subject of my mom’s chapped nipples?”

I snicker into my drink. “Sure. Did you want to talk about how you’ve never chapped my nipples instead?”

“Can you please not mention nipples for the next two hours?” Viktor begs. “We’re almost there.”

I look out at the nondescript suburban park where we’ve ended up. “Where is here, exactly? It looks like a field.”

“As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, my mom thought I needed some character building the summer after eighth grade. I got into it, and then I just kind of kept doing it.” He pulls into a spot. “So welcome to mySaturdayvolunteer shift. Also known asoutreach.”

I blink at him. There’s a big, open sky overhead. No press. No pretense. Just him, looking proud and maybe a little nervous.

He chose to bring me here. To this version of him.

And damn it… my chest squeezes.

“For what?”

But Viktor is already climbing out of the car, and all I can do is follow him. I’m still disentangling myself from my seatbelt when a young woman comes bounding across the tarmac.

“Viktor!” she exclaims and throws herself into his arms.

Viktor shoots me a sheepish glance over my shoulder. “Look who I brought, Ella.”

The young woman cranes her neck to see around Viktor. Her eyes pop wide. “Is this… her?”

“Ella, this is Knova. Knova, this is—”

“You’re here!” Ella darts over and pulls me into a crushing hug. “Oh my gosh, Viktor loves you. Did you know that?”

“Oh, uh…” I’m somewhat overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of this brightly-colored stranger. Ella’s outfit is a Technicolor explosion of florals, glitter, and possibly a unicorn pattern. NASA could probably spot her from orbit. She’s joy in human form, and I don’t know what to do with her.

Joy has never been my strong suit.

“I never said that!” Viktor protests. His face is scarlet.

“Maybe not, but it was heavily implied.” Ella releases me. “Knova, are you any good at bocce?”

“I have no idea,” I admit. “Never tried it.”

“It’s fun. Plus, we have a great coach here to tell us what to do.” She turns her attention back to Viktor. “Are you ready to get started, or do you want to introduce your girlfriend to everybody else?”

Viktor is so flustered that I take pity on him. I reach for his hand. “I don’t mind meeting everyone. Let’s do it. And then you can tell me how bocce works, Ella.”

Viktor squeezes my hand. I squeeze back, never breaking eye contact. I want him to know that I finally understand.

He didn’t bring me here to impress me. He brought me because he thought I belonged.

And maybe—just maybe—he’s not the mistake I’ve been so convinced I made. Maybe he’s the miracle I didn’t see coming.

“You’re going to love bocce,” Ella says. “It’s like bowling, but prettier. And nobody wears shoes with other people’s foot sweat.”

Honestly? I think I might love her.

Chapter Eighteen

Viktor

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