Page 29 of Bad Teammate
“You’re right. Let’s talk about something else. I’m only here for seven days. What else would you like to do while I’m visiting?”
“I dunno,” he muttered.
“Well, I’d love to go to the symphony, but I’ll need a date to take me. Would you please come with me?” His grimace made it clear that he wasn’t interested at all, just as I’d suspected. I tried pleading with him. “Oh, come on! Please? It’d be such a fun night out—lovely music and no alcohol. And hey, you could get dressed up in your nice new clothes!”
He rolled his eyes like a mopey teenager. “Gee. Sounds like a real blast.”
“Okay, so what wouldyoulike to do?”
Sasha thought it over as he twirled up a forkful of pasta. His phone vibrated on the table. He dropped the fork on his plate with aclangand excitedly picked up his phone. “It’s a text from Reavo. Can you translate this?”
My heart palpitated.He better not break his word.
“Sure,” I said. I took Sasha’s phone and translated aloud.
“ ‘Yo, Niko. I thought it could be fun to throw a little party at our place tonight for you and Katerina. Are you two free tonight?’ ”
“Partyyyy!” Sasha howled as he pantomimed chugging a whole bottle. “Hell yeah! Now I’ve got plans for tonight!”
I wasn’t amused. “Not funny.”
“It’s just a joke. You’re wound so tight, you know that?”
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway. What do you want me to say to him?”
“Tell himyes,that’s a great idea. You’ll get to meet everyone. It will be so fun.”
I tapped out a reply. “There. It’s done.” I gave Sasha his phone back. “So we’re going to have a party.” I let out an exhale. “I really hope you can control yourself tonight.”
“Pfft.”
A peaceful lull followed as we both enjoyed our lunch.
“So, what’s living with Derek like?” I asked as I gingerly poked at my salad, as if I weren’t at all interested to hear the answer.
Sasha grinned boyishly. “Oh, Reavo is thebest. He’s been so great to me, Katya. When I first joined the team, some of the guys wouldn’t even try to talk to me because I can’t speak English. But Reavo always did. It’s hard to understand each other, but it means a lot that he tries, you know? That’s why the team asked him to put me up. He really looks out for me.”
Knowing my brother was in good hands made me happy. “That’s great to hear. He seems like a nice guy.”
“He’s great.”
I laughed. “For a second, I thought you must’ve hated him since you threatened to kill him if he laid a hand on me.”
“Yeah. Maybe I lost my cool last night. I was acting a little crazy.” Sasha drew in a conflicted breath. “But that’s the thing—don’t get me wrong, I like Reavo, but he sleeps around. And the idea of him using my sister like that makes me furious.”
“Oh? He sleeps around, does he?” I pretended like that gossip amused me, instead ofcrushedme. “Tell me more.”
“There’s not much more to say. Every now and then, he brings a girl home from the club. They’re not his girlfriends, I know that much, because I never see them a second time.”
“Ew, that’s gross,” I said. “Sounds like youreallyshouldn’t be worried about me, then. You know I hate that hookup crap.”
“That’s why I’m trying to protect you,” he said.
A silence came between us. My ears seared with hot embarrassment. I hoped he didn’t notice them turning red.
Sasha raised an eyebrow. “Hey, hedidn’ttry anything with you last night, right?”
I chuckled nervously. “Are you kidding? No, not at all.”
