“I’m not taking advantage of her.” Dimitri spoke through gritted teeth, clenching his fists and struggling with the urge to punch Kevin’s handsome mug. “I’m takingcareof her, because I careabouther.”
Kevin snorted. “Sure. Okay.”
“Ido.”
“You have a funny way of showing it, stringing her along like you do.”
Dimitri shook his head. “I don’t have to explain our relationship to you.”
“Relationship?” The asshole laughed. “I didn’t realize it was a relationship when you both see other people.”
Fuck this guy, but he wasn’t wrong. “That was before.” The excuse rang hollow, even in his own ears.
Kevin held up his hands and took a step back, toward the car. “Whatever you say, dude. Just be straight with her, all right? Don’t be a douche.”
Dimitri seethed while Kevin climbed into the car. Part of him wanted to drag the guy back and have it out, right there in the driveway. The other part wanted to drill him for details. Maybe Natasha had said something about him.
Chert.He wouldn’t stoop so low as to ask her friends for dirt. It was time he grew a pair and got to the bottom of this himself.
20
Dimitri stormed back into the house, and stopped short in the doorway. Panic flooded his body.
Natasha wascrying.
“What’s wrong?” He flew to her side, nearly knocking over a standing lamp. “Are you hurt? Is it your ankle?”
Natasha pushed her glasses up on her forehead to wipe at her eyes. “No, it’s not my ankle. I’m just . . . never mind. Go away.”
“No.” Settling on the sofa beside her, he lifted a hand and rubbed at the tear tracks on her cheeks. “Kroshka,please. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me so I can fix it.”
When she shook her head, he jerked a thumb at the door. “Was it Kev? You want me to go after him and break his legs?”
She pressed her lips together to stifle a snicker. “If you say, ‘I know a guy,’ I’m hobbling out of here. I refuse to be an accomplice to anything.”
“I won’t say it then.” He leaned in close and cupped her cheek. “Tell me why you’re crying.”
Her lip trembled, and desperation churned his gut.
She sniffled. “I guess it kinda was Kevin.”
His jaw tightened. “I knew it. That guy’s a dick.”
“No, he’s not. He’s just so fuckingsuccessful.” She spat the word out like it was a curse. “Did you hear? He has three film roles coming up. Three!”
She threw her hands in the air and let her head fall back against the couch, speaking and gesturing against the ceiling.
“Jobs just fucking fall into his lap, and all he does is smile and laugh, and everyone loves him. If he weren’t my friend, I’d hate him.”
She was talking fast, which wasn’t a problem, since Dimitri talked fast, too, but he was having trouble following the logic. “You’re crying because . . . Kevin’s going to be in movies?”
Her chin quivered, but she scowled. “Yes. I guess so.”
“Are you . . . happy for him?”
She glared at him. “Of course, I am. But I’m alsopissed.”
Ah. He got it. “You’re jealous,” he said, proud that he’d figured it out.
