Page 81 of Bad Teammate
Damn.
I tapped out a text message and sat in my car for thirty minutes, waiting for a reply, but none came.
What am I supposed to do now?
29
Katerina
It was late but I couldn’t sleep. Blue light glowed from the big-screen television just past the foot of my bed. I stared at it, but I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was too numb.
I couldn’t believe what a whirlwind the past few days had been. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, all in the span of seventy-two hours, and bookended by exhausting overseas flights. I wasn’t sure when I’d come back to America—if ever. Yeah, I’d told the girls I’d visit again someday. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I would never come back. This place couldonlyremind me of Derek. Besides, Americawas Sasha’s home now, not mine.
Moscow was my home. I had my apartment and my job, and that was all I needed. So what if there were no good men left in Russia? I didn’t need them; I had my friends. So what if I never found the guy I’d saved myself for? It was stupid to wait this long in the first place. All I’d achieved by waiting to have sex was frustration. While I was waiting for something or somebody that wasn’tevergoing to come, everyone else was out screwing each other and having fun.
A rapping at the door caught me by surprise.
Knock, knock.
I didn’t move or make a noise. The only people who knew my room were Emma and Austen, but it couldn’t be them, because we’d already said our goodbyes. For a second, I thought it might be Sasha, but I hadn’t told him where I was staying—and he didn’t seem to care I was leaving in the first place.
Someone probably knocked on the wrong door,I told myself, figuring they’d probably already realized their mistake and walked away.
But then it happened again.
Knock, knock.
I slid out of bed cautiously. “Who is it?” I asked, nearing the door.
“It’s me.”
I recognized the raspy voice, but I didn’t believe it was him until I saw his statuesque figure through the peephole.
Derek.
What the hell?My eyes narrowed.How did he find me here?
“What do you want?” I asked through the solid door.
“I want to talk.”
“There’s no need,” I said. “You’ve already made your point.”
“Look, I don’t blame you if you hate me.” He ran his hand through his hair with a dejected sigh. “But I haven’t been honest with you. And you deserve to know the truth, Katerina.”
“You were plenty honest when you told me you were just trying to get laid. I get it, okay? Go on, leave me alone. I need to get back to sleep.” I paused. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“I know.” He hung his head. “Emma and Austen told me. I feel awful. I really wish you’d stay.”
“It’s too late for that,” I said, before I realized something. “Wait, they gave you my room number?”
“Yeah.”
“Why would they do that?” I asked. “To change my mind about leaving? It’s not happening.”
“No, because I told them what I want to tell you. I tried to call you, but you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
I glanced back at my nightstand, where my phone laid. “My phone’s off,” I said.
