“S’okay,” he yawned.
Maybe we wouldn’t have that game tonight after all.
Ivan was already out the door. His long steps ate up the distance. I closed the bedroom door tight before rushing after him.
“Ivan! Wait,” I called.
He stopped, dipping his head to turn slightly without looking back at me.
“My answer is yes.” Something glowed inside my chest. It was a feeling of hope and maybe a little joy. I was giving the beast what he wanted. Maybe…maybe I was giving it to myself.
“Alright.”
The answer was a flash of ice.
It deflated the shimmering feeling inside me.
I cleared my throat. “I meant, yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Call a wedding planner or whatever you want tomorrow.” With that, he opened the back door.
“Wait, what?” I shook myself. Rushing into the night, I wrapped my arms around myself. “That’s it?”
“What do you want from me, Poppy?” Ivan didn’t look up.
“Um, it’s your wedding too,” I shot back.
“Good. I’ll see you at church, and I’ll have the license ready to sign.”
If the wooden banister on the porch step wasn’t holding me up, I might have fallen. Ivan didn’t pause. His hurried steps felt like they were running. There was no victory here. No triumph. Those kisses and moments of passion were just that. Nothing underlying the carnal acts with romance. The kingpin was busy. The item was checked off his list, and now he had other work to attend to.
Stupid, stupid girl!
There was no fairytale here. What had I been hoping for? That he would gather me up in his arms and kiss me?
“Yes,” I breathed. That was exactly what I’d been wanting. My very own happily-ever-after.
Chapter 30 – Ivan
Boris:Any bets?
Georgi:Bet you 5 large she cold clocked K boy.
Boris:That was what I was betting!
Kiril:She’s sleeping. But yeah, when she wakes up, my money is on her flipping out on me.
Georgi:It will be worse than the ass beating boss gave you.
Boris:On a serious note, you earned it.
Kiril:I did. I don’t think there’s an inch of my body that isn’t bruised. I now know how his canvas bags at the gym feel.
Kiril:Shit, baby’s up.
Kiril:Yep. Katerina smacked me upside the head for not being in the grocery store today.
Boris:Is the frying pan alright?
