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Fate? Is that you? If so, fuck off.
Fuck, fine. I should have hired Sunny instead of letting past experiences ruin all the rest. My fucking bad.
She’s quiet like a cat. For the record, I hate cats.
“You can’t be good at everything.” Sunny is right behind her with Ellie’s yellow backpack slung over her shoulder. “Can too,” I reply.
I can ignore her charming smile and the spattering of freckles against her honey-colored skin, but I’m not sure the rest of the population can—especially some of my teammates. Fuck. I should have added that to the contract.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get to know her a little. After all, she’s taking care of my daughter.
You're in trouble
Too much like he who must not be named. And for once, I’m not referencing Harry Potter.
ME
“You’re not to fraternize with my teammates, Ms. Edwards.”
Oi imma "fratanize" with whoever i want
“Thank you,” I hear her say softly. She must be talking to the security guard. She sounds so…sweet. It pisses me off.
She is a conundrum, appearing so innocent and sweet but has a tongue on her that catches me off guard at times.
“Hey! Is everything okay?” she asks, feigning concern and still somehow sounding happy. I’m even angrier now.
I lean against the wall that separates the living room and entryway. I cross my arms and act nonchalant, though I’m uneasy thinking about her living in a place that doesn’t even have a lock.
I shake my head. “Try again.” “Excuse me?” Her arms cross, and she pops a hip. It’s sort of cute when she tries to stand up to me. I think I like it. It’s refreshing.
“You’re not staying here.” There it is. A subtle eye roll. “You’re just as bad as Marco. I’m fine, Mr. Volkova. I promise.” Rubbing my palm against my jaw, I chuckle. “I’m sorry. Let me rephrase...” Her forehead furrows. “Get your things, Ms. Edwards, because you are not staying here.”
IM SORRY LET ME REPHRASE...YESSSSS I WILL MOVE IN
When Rhodes is distracted, I try to reach for my suitcase again. He pulls them away. “Will you knock it off?” I peer at him. “Knock what off?” Rhodes stares at me. “It’s pretty standard for a man to carry your luggage, Ms. Edwards. It’s called being a gentleman.”
🛐
I’m going to need a drink so I don’t accidentally throw Kane and Cooper down the stairs later.
I don’t think she’s insane, but I do think she’s used to doing things on her own, or making due with whatever issue comes her way, just like staying in a house with a broken lock and creaky windows.
“What kind of man would I be if I made you lift heavy boxes up two sets of stairs?” I ask. She crosses her arms defensively. “I could have done it.” My lips twitch. “Oh, I have no doubt.” The more I get to know her, the more I can see that she’s Miss Independent. “But again, I’m a gentleman, Ms. Edwards—something you clearly are unfamiliar with.”
I catch my teammates staring at Sunny from the entryway. “I’ll have Coach Jacobs make you guys skate suicides until you vomit,” I warn. They scatter like marbles because they know I’m not kidding.
yes sir!
Touching her flipped a switch in my head, because since when does the word ladder have a double meaning? She’s welcome to climb it anytime? Fucking Christ.
Irritation crawls up my spine. Why am I acting like this? It’s been a while since I’ve been with someone, but still. Get a fucking grip. I’m not sixteen.
“Thanks for catching me,” she says, looking embarrassed. “I guess you are quick.” I shrug it off. “I’m just good with my hands.” Jesus fucking Christ. First, I mention how I have a ladder she can climb anytime, and now I’m telling her I'm good with my hands? To save myself from the absolute shitshow I’m currently the star of, I turn toward Ellie.
loving the internal monologue
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I can always buy you a new one…” I clear my throat. “Though it would kill me.”
no ill wear your jersey i guess>>>
I listen closely to their conversation. Ellie: What are youuuu doing here? Malaki: I thought you requested my attendance? Ellie: Huh? No, I didn’t. Malaki: Oh, how interesting. Rhodes: *makes grunt noise like a caveman*
I watch the way his throat moves against his neck. Rhodes Volkova is all man. It’s almost hard to look at him.
He rolls his eyes, and I’m blindsided by how attractive the motion is. How can someone roll their eyes and make it look…hot?
“Let me see,” he says. I shake my head quickly. “I’m fine.” The hell I am.
His green eyes narrow. “It wasn’t a question, Sunshine.”
SIR🛐
“I’m going to take—” Rhodes pauses and glares over his shoulder at me before finishing his sentence. “I’m going to drag Sunny to the hospital so she can get stitches. Be good for Malaki. Eat your pizza, watch Tangled, and then it’s off to bed for you.”
I called her Sunshine. The team set me up for failure. They kept fucking taunting me with the nickname, and then it effortlessly slipped from my mouth. It did shut her up, though, so at least there is a silver lining.
However, if you need…help…you know where to find me.” He can fuck right off. If she needs help, she can ask me.
I pretend to sleep on the way home to avoid talking, which is probably something Ellie would do. Therefore, I’m acting like a five-year-old, but who could blame me?
My gaze lands on Rhodes standing in my doorway, leaning against the door as if he doesn't have a care in the world.
HOT
Rhodes walks farther into my room and steals all the air with him.
In an attempt to ease the tension, I try to make a joke. “Who knew you could be so attentive?” He chuckles. “Don’t tell anyone.” “Afraid it’ll ruin your rep?” A tiny smile curves against my lips. “The team would never let me live it down,” he says.
“You’re shaking.” He’s concerned. Great. “I’m fine!” The words zip from my mouth so quickly I don’t even believe them. “I don’t think you are.”
Truthfully, I’m not even really an asshole. I’m just reserved. I grew out of my impulsive behavior a long time ago, and I know how to control the little emotions that I do have. It’s called being restrained. Or stony. Unapproachable. Maybe a little aloof. What the fuck ever.
"What the fuck ever." is my new catch-phrase
I take one look at Sunny on her knees with her lip pulled into her mouth. I’m going to respectfully ask her to kill me too.
respectfully.
His grin is bloody. “Just remember me coming to your rescue later when you want to punch me.” I pause, and he winks. “Why are you like this?”
He shakes his head because he realizes his mistake. “Please take it off.” I still don’t move to follow his command. He rolls his eyes and pulls off his other glove. Both drop to the floor beside my feet. Next comes his jersey, up and over his head.
“First you’re mad that I wear your jersey, and now you want me to wear your sweaty one?” He scoffs. “It’s not that sweaty.” I laugh and grab it regardless. “This is ridiculous.”
men.
Khoroshaya devochka. I freeze at the explicit vision that fills my head. Did I just call her “good girl” in Russian?
okay but sir
That cheeky grin of hers irritates me. It irritates me because it excites me.
Just looking at her can thaw any man’s cold heart. Except mine, of course.
“Current situation?” I raise my brows and try to hide a laugh. “You’re fired,” he grumbles. I laugh. “Oscar is joking now? Wow.”
When I reach the foot of the stairs, I overhear Sunny on the phone. This time, I purposefully eavesdrop. Okay, fine. They’ve all been purposeful, but how else can I learn about my live-in nanny?
“Do I what?” she asks. Don’t do it. I lean against the counter behind me and cross my legs at the ankles. “Do you think I’m good-looking?” I did it. Sunny’s pretty rose-colored lips part. “How—” I smirk, and she scowls at me. “You were eavesdropping!”
“Well, I don’t believe you.” She gasps and levels me with an extremely amusing glare. I chuckle, and her mouth twitches. “Night, Sunshine,” I say, winking. What the fuck has gotten into me?
Am I flirting? I do not flirt. Sunny’s cute scowl deepens. It’s the last thing I think about as I fall asleep, which is clearly a problem.
He asked me if I thought he was attractive. What an absurd question. He knows he’s attractive. Why would a man like him need me to feed his ego?
