“That was very kind,” Holly says as we walk out onto the deck. It overlooks a pool and what appears to be a guest house. “Delphine has been with us since I was a baby. She was my nanny and after I became a teenager and didn’t need anyone, they hired her to run the house. My mother would be lost without her, so thank you for being so generous with her.”
“I try to be nice when I’m able.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything else.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.” She says the word but doesn’t look at me.
“Holly.” I gently turn her so we’re facing each other. “What’s wrong? It is because of having religious wedding in Russia? I am not religious—this is only for my parents.”
She blinks. “What? No. I don’t care about that.”
“Then what?”
“You never asked me, you just said we’d talk about it after the season is over, like it’s a foregone conclusion.”
“I didn’t want to get into big discussion now. When season is over, I will talk with you about if this is possible.” I’m confused and a little frustrated. “Was I supposed to ask right now? Before one of the biggest games of my life?”
She stares at me for beat and then looks away again. “I guess not. I’m sorry.” Her apology lacks conviction but that’s not what I’m after.
“This is really why you are so quiet? Because I did not ask you immediately about religious wedding?”
“Look, you’re not the only one with a lot going on, okay? I haven’t brought up anything because you are in the middle of the most important series of your life. But just because I don’t play hockey doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to worry about!” With that, she turns and stalks back into the house.
I stare after her for a few seconds, completely shocked because…she’s never raised her voice before. Not to me or anyone else in my presence.
Our first fight.
And I don’t know what we’re fighting about.
I thought everything was fine.
If you take the interpersonal part of our relationship out of the equation, things are going exactly as planned. Her job is to make everyone believe we are in love and happily married, which she’s done brilliantly. My job is to protect her from the craziness of our families and make sure she has everything she needs, financial or otherwise.
I thought that’s what I’ve been doing.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Holly
The last twenty-four hours have felt like an eternity. Viktor and I went to bed without talking much last night. He seemed distracted and I didn’t want to argue anymore. I feel bad for snapping at him but I’m overwhelmed.
With my father and Nathan.
With the life I thought I was going to have.
With the man I’ve fallen in love with.
Basically, instead of making my life easier, this thing with Viktor has made it harder and I’m not sure why.
I didn’t lose my grandmother’s farm or the bird sanctuary, which has been my number one goal since Nathan conned me out of my trust fund. I not only have money in the bank, I have zero expenses and am living a great life if you look at it objectively.
So why am I miserable?
I can’t even put my finger on it.
