Page 70 of Bad Teammate
“Go on, chew!” she said, making me shut my jaw.
I began to chew, and a burst of savory meat and potato flooded my taste buds. My eyes rolled shut. “Oh, God.”
“Do you like it?”
I nodded. “Delicious.”
“Good. I love to feed you,” she said. “Open up. Have another bite.”
“Wait. Katerina …”
She shrank, a sense of knowing in her eyes. “What is it, Derek?”
I sat at the center island and pulled out a second chair. “Please, sit with me.”
I hate myself for this.
25
Katerina
Derek seemed so sullen and serious—whatever this was about, it went beyond the result of a meaningless hockey game. I had an awful sinking feeling in my stomach that I knew exactly what this was about. I stared at the high chair, my body frozen. I knew what would happen as soon as I sat down—but if I didn’t sit, he couldn’t break my heart, right?
He patted the chair. “Please, Katerina. Sit.”
“No.” I folded my arms in defiance. “I don’t want to.”
“Okay … don’t sit, then.” He blew out a sigh. “Listen. We’ve gotta talk about last night.”
My heart raced with a dreadful sickness. I felt so heavy and awful as I waited. “What about it?”
He shook his head, as if he hated himself for what he was about to say. “God. I don’t know how to say this.” He looked ill. “I really don’t. I don’t know how to say it in any other way that it already hasn’t been said.”
So it was true, then. He really was trying to get rid of me.
“Please, stop!” I hurried into the seat next to him and gave him my hands. “I told you, I won’t tell Sasha. I swear I’ll never let him know. Believe me, I don’t want him to know about us, either. I can keep a secret.”
He hung his head. “Katerina …”
“Is it because I’m a virgin? I was a disappointment, wasn’t I? Ugh.” I rolled my eyes at myself in disgust. “IknewI should’ve slept with you.”
He squeezed my hands firmly. “No. Don’t say that.”
“Then what? Please don’t ruin this, Derek. Don’t ruinus.”
He bared his teeth and looked away in shame.
“I’m glad we didn’t sleep together,” he muttered at last. “We made the right choice. You deserve somebody special for your first time. It can’t be me—it never could’ve been me.”
I frowned. “You make my heart hurt when you talk like that.” My throat grew achy and tears began to well in my eyes. “Iwantyou to be my first. Don’t you get that?”
“But why, Kat? Think about it. It doesn’t make any sense. We barely know each other. You’re only here for a few more days. You’re my teammate’s sister.”
“Because Ifeelsomething for you. Right here.” I held my fist against my sternum. “Don’t you feel something for me?” I touched my other hand to his heart. “Don’t you feel me in there? Can’t youfeelthis right now? Don’t lie to me.”
He dropped his head even lower. He didn’t answer.
“Well? Can’t you? If you can look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel anything for me, then I’ll believe you. And I’ll leave you alone.”
