Page 35 of Best Man
“That’s heartbreaking. I’m so sorry.” She soothed him, her hand gliding between his taut shoulder blades. “But at least they made the right choice? I mean, you’re a big star and everything, right? So it made Katerina’s sacrifice worth it?”
“I hope so.”
A somber quiet filled the space between them while they worked. She was starting to see what Piper had told her earlier—that Niko sometimes went through dark periods. She wished she could ease his suffering. She turned the problem over in her head until it struck her.
“Wait. I just came up with a theory,” Paulina announced. “It might be a little crazy. But you might like it.”
“Yeah? Tell me.”
“What if—hear me out—what if listening to Katerina’s music helped turn you into the athlete you are? The same way that plants grow thick and strong when they listen to classical, your sister’s piano playing helped you become who you are?”
She could see the wheels turning in his head as he considered the idea. “Hm.”
“So on one hand, you can say shesacrificed her playing for your career. But maybe another way to look at it is, shegaveyou a career? Because without her music, maybe you never would’ve become the player you are. Maybe you would’ve listened to too much death metal and ended up all spindly and sick?”
He chuckled. “Hm, maybe …”
“And look where yourcareer tookher,” she continued. “Katerina met her husband through you, did she not?”
“Reavo,” he said with a spreading grin. “Yes, she did.”
“Thanks to you, she met the love of her life.” Paulina smiled, too. “So, really, it’s almost like there was a perfect plan in place, where you and Katerina both needed each other’s help to end up exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
“Hm!” He sounded like he liked thinking about things this way.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” she said.
“I like the way you think. And you know what else?”
“What?”
“I don’t think you are crazy, Paulina. I like your theories.”
She laughed. “Thank you! That means a lot.”
“Tell me more about that book you read?” he asked.
“Oh, gladly, …”
12
Niko
After very nearly kissing Paulina at the restaurant earlier in the day, Niko was determined to keep his hands to himself tonight. To keep himself accountable, he’d even told Jax why he wanted to borrow his truck.
“You serious right now?” Jax might have been a little buzzed—and only minutes away from passing out after he finished crushing a late night pizza—but he wasn’t stupid. “You’re asking to borrow my truck so you can go hang out with Paulina? After what we already talked about?”
Without spoiling what the surprise was, Niko carefully explained why Paulina needed his help. It was merely a collaboration between the best man and the maid of honor.
“Well, alright,” Jax finally relented, and reluctantly handed over the keys. “I trust you, I guess. Just remember what we talked about.”
“I will,” he promised, and he was sure he meant it.
Of course, that wasbeforehe’d seen Paulina in her late night outfit. She looked amazing. The bottom of her sweater was cropped off, showing a lovely sliver of her feminine tummy. She’d rolled up the band of her cotton gym shorts to make them even shorter, which both pleased and tortured him.
Next to her, he felt totally unworthy. He was so ashamed, standing there in his soaking wet clothes, he could barely lift his gaze to look at her. Water streamed down his limbs, making a big mess on the polished concrete floor. Could he possibly make a more uncool entrance?
I’m such an embarrassment!
