Page 15 of Bad Teammate
“Whoops.” Smiling wide, he ran a large hand through his tidy and neatly styled hair. “Well, I feel like an ass.”
“Please don’t,” I said, hiding my reddening face. “It’s my fault. I’m so sorry. I should’ve said something much earlier. I’m still a little loopy from the flight.”
“Let’s start over then, yeah?” He set his guitar aside, stood, and offered me his hand. “Hi, I’m Derek.”
“Katerina,” I said.
His massive hand took mine, and we shook. A primal rush swept over me as his body swallowed mine whole.
“Sorry I called you a psycho,” he said, his grip still firm on my hand.
“That’s okay …”
We locked eyes. Something about him was so electric, so breathtaking; my lungs clenched tight and my heart quickened. And before I even realized it, my mouth was moving, spilling words I’d never intended to say.
“… but youalsocalled me cute.”
Derek’s delighted eyes flickered with surprise. “Do you want me to apologize for that, too?”
Oh, you’re trouble,I thought, feeling flustered and tongue-tied. I stole my hand back from him, averted my gaze, and slunk lower into the sofa.
He returned to his seat and loosened his tie.
“Katerina,” he said, pronouncing each syllable just as I had, as if he had to sample the authentic sound of my name on his tongue. I have to admit, I liked it. “Beautiful name. But I could’ve sworn I heard Niko call you Katya?”
“That’s my nickname. And Aleksander’s is Sasha. They’re common Russian nicknames.”
“Oh, duh. I should’ve figured that out.” Derek chuckled. “So, your full name is Katerina Nikolaev?”
I corrected him. “Nikolaeva.”
“Katerina Nikolaeva,” he said, sounding convincingly Russian. His head tilted askew. “Wait, why’s your name different than Niko’s?”
“In Russia, surnames are gendered. So Sasha’s last name is Nikolaev, but mine is Nikolaeva.”
“Interesting. I never knew that.” Derek stroked his chin as he filed this information away. “So what brings you to visit?”
“I—” I stalled for a suitable answer. “I missed my brother.”
“You missed fighting with him, you mean?” he joked.
We both laughed.
I chose my words carefully. “We have a complicated relationship.”
“You don’t have to explain,” he said with a glint in his eye. “I’ve got two older sisters myself. I know how bossy you girls can get.”
Derek was good at making me laugh.
“Perfect,” I said. “Then you already understand me.”
“Not just yet.” He grinned. “How long are you staying?”
“One week.”
“Nice. Have you been to America before?”
“This is my first time.”
