Page 154 of Gloves Off

My heart flips.Don’t even start, I scold myself. This isn’t our home. It’s his home, and when we divorce, I’ll find an apartment near the arena, or maybe Jordan and I will move in together again.

Disappointment pangs in my chest at the idea of moving out, and not just because I love the morning light in the front room or the way the forest air smells so fresh or the quiet serenity of the mountains.

I’m going to miss Alexei.

My stomach twists into a tight knot. What was the one thing I wasn’t supposed to do? Get attached. We even said it in our vows.

When this is all over, I won’t miss you.

And now I’ve gone and gotten feelings over the whole thing.

Alexei’s in the middle of a conversation with Luca and Rory, but like he can sense my worries, he reaches out and takes my hand, pulling it into his lap, lightly playing with my fingers while the guys talk about some trade Ward was trying to make. At his light, warm touch, my worries dampen, the jagged edges turning dull and harmless.

Maybe this could work.

As quickly as the thought appears, I strike it, blinking in shock. Maybe this couldwork? Whatthis? We’re getting along, but that doesn’t mean this is an actual marriage.

Some guy cooks and cuddles with me and I lose my head over him. It’s like I’ve learned nothing after Liam. I’m not cut out for this kind of thing. When I fall for someone, I lose my head over them. I make bad decisions. I dissolve into their life. Their career.

I give them everything, and I’m left with nothing.

“All right, ladies.” Rory leans back and folds his arms behind his head. “When you’re finished cleaning, we’ll come inspect your work.”

Hazel tries to punch him in the stomach but he catches her fist, laughing, pulling her into a hug.

He presses a kiss to the top of her head while she tries to fight him off, both of them smiling. “We’ll clean. You all hang out. You, too, Alexei. You can get the good gossip to pass on to us later.”

“I’ll go with you.” He stands. “Otherwise you’ll put everything back in the wrong place.”

“Iwill stay,” Luca says. “I need to keep Jordan company.”

She smirks. “Get lost, dork.”

Luca grins at her, handsome and cheeky. Alexei gives him a light push toward the kitchen, making him laugh. He’s already aheartthrob at twenty-two. My soccer girls are obsessed with him. In about five years, he’ll be deadly.

While the guys head to the kitchen, the women move to the front room, draping over couches and taking seats on the floor, complaining about how full we are.

“Alexei and Luca are so cute together,” Pippa says.

We can hear the guys in the kitchen, cleaning up and talking and horsing around.

“Don’t throw that,” Alexei orders, and I smile.

“I know. They’ve got thisbig brother, little brotherthing going.” I think about the game the other week. “Alexei’s proud of him, I think. Ward did a good thing, pairing them together.”

At the mention of Ward’s name, Jordan stiffens.

“Speaking of gossip,” Hazel says to Darcy, “how about that press conference last night?”

“Oh my god.” Darcy rolls her eyes.

I frown. “What happened?”

“They were hounding Ward about his dating life.” Darcy shakes her head. “So unprofessional.”

“You know those reporters.” Hazel smirks. “They want a good story, and Ward’s dating life is interesting. It helps that he’s hot.”

“He was so embarrassed,” Darcy says in a low voice. “I think the media attention is really getting to him.”

---