From Lukov with Love

by Mariana Zapata

My eyes began to sting almost instantly, and my throat suddenly felt drier than ever before. He had come here because Coach Lee had called him. Ivan had given me a Hershey’s kiss. He had dragged me to his room. And then he’d made me hot cocoa.

There was no response, but when there was it came in the shape of two big hands landing on my shoulders, curling around them.

Oh I would have BAWLED

“Come here,” was the soft whisper right by my ear as the hands on my shoulders tightened. The “No” out of my mouth sounded like two rocks sliding against each other. “Let me give you a hug.” His voice sounded even closer, his body warmer.

Awww I love Ivan

“You and me, Meatball. We’re going to win if that’s what you need. Understand me?”

“Oh yeah,” I said softly, keeping my voice light. “I like kids. I just don’t like adults.”

Same, girl

And without thinking about it, I scooted closer to him, wanting the touching again, wanting affection, lining up our hips and making my legs rest against the sides of his even under the covers.

“Nobody else is going to take as good care of you as I will.”

Something warm touched my mouth later, and I’d swear I heard, “Drink it, baby,” whispered to me. And I drank it all. Whatever the hell it was.

Stop that’s so cute 😭

Did he kiss her on the forehead? 😭

Is Lacey a car??

“Get your shit together. You aren’t staying here tonight.” It was my turn to sputter. “What?” “You’re not staying here tonight. You pack or I pack for you. Decide now.”

What did he do? He shrugged, tightness all over his shoulders and arms through the T-shirt he had on. “Choose, baby. Me or your brothers.”

I love that he calls her baby

Omg so cute I love her

Who’s taking care of all these damn dogs??

What I’d learn about one minute later, was that five animals—three dogs, one pig, and a giant bunny—had come hauling ass out of the house like they’d broke out of jail.

Not Ivan having a farm

“You. Matter. To. Me. You. I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you because of me,”

“I wanted you to be my partner for years, dumbass.

There was no hesitation as Ivan asked, “Want a hug? You liked that before.” I nodded.

“I’ll rub your back some more when we get back,” he offered,

Y'all should get married like right now

There was no way in any universe, or in any level of hell, that I’d wake up in my bed in only my underwear with a fucking arm wrapped around my waist.

Chile what happened?!

“Morning, Meatball,” the familiar voice whispered softly and roughly, the puffs of his breath touching my neck… along with what had to be his damp, soft lips as they formed the shape of every letter coming out of his mouth.

Why am I kind of...

I didn’t sense someone close by until it was too late, and two arms wrapped themselves around my shoulders. It only took a single sniff to know who it was.

“I’d give you every ribbon, trophy, medal, anything at my house or at the LC if it meant something,” he told me. “I’ll give you anything you want if you stop crying.”

But Ruby pretty much cut him off by shouting, “I’m pregnant!”

What a good sister lol

And before I could think about what I was doing, I went up to my tiptoes and kissed what I could reach—Ivan’s chin.

“Don’t you dare do it,” he hissed again, the arm around my shoulders tightening. “You don’t want anyone to see you do this. Hold it, baby, just hold it….”

He was looking at the cast boot I had on my left foot.

Awww poor Jasmine :(

And then he cut me off. With his mouth. His lips pressed to mine. Surged to mine. Covered them. Hard.

AHHH ITS HAPPENING

Friends could kiss in relief.

Now Jasmine...

Mostly though, it was something else completely. I loved him. I loved this man so much that losing him was going to break my cold, dead heart into so many pieces I was just going to have to stick them in the same box I kept my dreams and carry it around with me forever.

He blinked, and his hand gave mine a squeeze. “You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say that you should save it up until after the competition, then go for it. We’ll kill them with our scores, and then you can give the knockout punch.”

Awww

“I want to know because you never told me, but what do you have against Mary McDonald?” he asked. “I want to know why we hate her.”

"We" He's such a good man

“After all the time we were together, you owe me, Jasmine.”

Oh fuck off

“Jasmine, it was because Ivan called me a week afterward and said he would ‘fuck me up’ if I ever contacted you again.”

OH???

“I also said that I’d destroy you. You missed that part,” a familiar voice piped up, making both of us turn to find Ivan peeking his head inside the room, the door barely cracked, hair perfectly gelled into place, his face shaved clean, everything about him bright and sparkling. And he was smiling. And holding red roses.

Sobbing. I love Ivan

I loved him.

Me too sis

“If you were going to cry for anyone, it was going to be me.”

Except the leather was bright pink.

He remebered pink is her favorite color

To Meatball From your best friend, Ivan

“Let’s get ’em, baby,” Ivan whispered into my ear, with a squeeze to my upper arms.

But then his lips kept forming words. Three words exactly. I love you.

Ivan loved me. Ivan fucking loved me. And he didn’t care if we won or lost. And all I could do was get mad that he’d cut me off when I’d been about to tell him the same thing, and now he’d won.

He leaned forward, quick as lightning, and pecked me on the nose. Ivan Lukov kissed me on the tip of my nose at the end of our short program.

“We both know you love me.”

“If I had to choose anyone to help me bury a body, eat dinner with, or watch television with, it would be you, every time for everything.”

Crying

I looked at him, watching as he tipped his head closer to mine and said, “And I love you.”

*screech*

“I love you so much I spend all day with you, and it still isn’t enough for me,” he kept going.

“I love you so much, if I can’t skate with you, I don’t want to ska...

“I love you so fucking much, Jasmine, that if I broke my ankle during a program, I would get up and finish it for you, to ...

“You mean so much to me that that’s why whatever happens doesn’t really matter to me. Not like it used to. Not like it ever will again,” he finished, pressing his forehead against mine, his eyes intense and heartbreaking. “You’re not ever going to be anyone else’s partner. Not while I’m alive, Meatball. I will drag your stubborn, beautiful ass kicking and screaming back to me because nobody else will ever be good enough for you.”