Page 28 of Saving Forever
“Your degree is…finance?”
I nod. “But I hate it. I wanted to do something with animals. Or to protect the environment. Instead, I let him convince me that I needed a job that would pay well and represent the family well. I was stupid.”
“Not stupid,” he corrects gently. “A good daughter.”
“I feel like a stupid daughter.”
“I also allow my mother to do manipulation,” he says, leaning against the kitchen counter. “When I agree to marry Vita, I do not love her, but I think I will learn. We will have babies and good life. Then she leaves me on wedding day.” He lifts one shoulder. “I am standing in the church and she does not come.”
“Oh, shit, Viktor. She left you at the altar?” How did I not know this? I knew he’d broken up with his ex-fiancée but not about this.
“All because of my mother. So I understand. Together, maybe we learn not to allow this, yes? That is why we marry?”
I smile. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Now, I will bring suitcases and we put some boxes in cars.”
I have my Mercedes and he has his Audi. Neither will fit big boxes but we can get all three suitcases, the duffel bag I filled, and some smaller boxes for now. Serena and I will come back with her SUV at some point to get the rest. I also promised to help her pack up her things, since she’s moving in with West. She has the important things, like her clothes and Joey’s toys, but she wants to sell some of the things she won’t need and donate the rest.
“We go now?” Viktor asks once we’ve fit as much as we can into our vehicles.
“Yes.” I nod.
His phone rings and he looks down. “The realtor.” He answers quickly and then listens, nodding and then giving me a thumb’s up. He hangs up and grins. “Everything okay with inspection—house is ours!”
Something about the way he says ours suddenly makes me emotional.
It feels like I’m already getting attached—and I can’t. We aren’t really a couple. More than that, he plans to move back to Russia in a few years. He’s twenty-seven, and barring injuries, he could play maybe six or seven more years. Ten if he’s lucky. Then what? I can’t imagine picking up and moving halfway across the world.
Except he did it.
All by himself.
At eighteen he moved to Canada to play in the minors, and then two years later started playing in Alaska. Now he’s here in Atlanta and there’s a good chance he’ll be traded a few more times before he retires. And that’s not the life I want. My roots are here, with my friends and the bird sanctuary and the house I love so much.
As wonderful as he is, and as helpful as he’s been, we don’t have a future beyond the next twelve months.
I have to keep my hormones and my heart under control.
There’s no other option.
Everyone is at West’s house when we arrive so I don’t have to carry anything and both the suitcases and the boxes make it into Viktor’s room in five minutes. I start unpacking a few things, just what I’ll need for the next couple of weeks until we move, and I’m so lost in thought I don’t notice when Serena and Jayne come in.
“Need any help? Serena asks.
I jump. “I didn’t hear you guys come in,” I laugh. “And no, just putting out the necessities.”
“Dinner’s at six. I made lasagna and Caesar salad. Figured I’d feed everyone since it’s still pretty chaotic around here.”
“I can cook tomorrow night,” I offer.
She shakes her head. “No, the guys all have special dietary needs and West ordered some special food for the next few nights. In fact, us ladies are on our own. I say we go out and have girls’ night out.”
“Kelly offered to watch Joey and Lindy, and the guys will be busy with all things playoffs,” Jayne adds. “Are you in?”
“That sounds really fun.” I haven’t had a girls’ night in a long time. Serena and I have hung out a few times, but Nathan kept me somewhat isolated, insisting we hang out with his friends and making it difficult for me to connect with my own. Since the breakup, I’ve been in survival mode so going out hasn’t been on my radar. I also haven’t wanted to spend the money.
And thankfully, Jayne and Serena both know about the deal Viktor and I made, so I don’t have to lie.
