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He looked right at me and said, "I told you I was going to accept Danilo's offer. Madeline and Danilo are a good team and kept the gym running smooth."
Fifty-Six
Tears welled in my eyes.
"Why would you do that? That gym means so much to you. I wish you hadn't."
World Cup was his everything. It was his second home. Where he was himself. It made me sick to think he’d sold it for me.
Kova shook his head vehemently, though his inconsolable gaze didn't match the tone in his words.
"Enough. I am not talking about it anymore. It is done and contracts have been signed. The gym is not worth more than you." With a jut of his chin, Kova gestured toward our notebook. "Take that. All the pages are intact."
My thumb dragged down the silver spirals thinking back to the day we started this. I flipped through and the pages fanned out. I caught the faint sent of Kova in them and I drew in a quiet breath. I held the book close to my chest and my eyes closed. There were so many memories in these pages that I wanted to hold on to forever.
"Thank you."
Kova reached into the bag and pulled out something wrapped in black tissue paper with scotch tape all over it like it was a decoration. He flipped it over and there was an envelope attached to it. Taped down, of course. My lips twitched.
"I do not know how to wrap," he said, self-conscious of his wrapping skills.
My brows shot up as Kova handed it to me. "You have a gift for me?"
He gave a blasé shrug. I glanced down and eyed the white envelope. I reached for it, but Kova stopped me.
He massaged the back of his neck. "There is, ah, a letter I wrote for you. I wrote it the other day. Do not open that now"—he pointed to the black tissue paper—"or read the card. Open it when you are settled…in."
He couldn't even finish the words. I choked up inside and looked away, letting out a breath.
"Do you want me to call you after I do?" I asked.
A shadow passed through his eyes that made my stomach flutter nervously. It was short-lived, but I'd caught it, and I didn't like what I saw.
"Just read it first."
I shifted on my feet. "I feel like you don't have anything of mine to hold onto now."
Kova's green eyes glittered under the bill of his hat. He placed his hand over his heart, right where the A was that I’d carved.
"I have what I need…for now."
A blush crept up my cheeks. I averted my gaze, more eager to read his letter.
I was so touched by his thoughtfulness. "This notebook means a lot to me. I looked forward to your letters. It was one of the few ways you'd tell me what you were thinking. I used to reread them at night. Sometimes I would laugh, like when you said you loved cotton candy. Other times I'd cry a little reminiscing, or just feel bad. I hated that this disappeared. I didn't think I'd see it again. Thank you for getting this back. Do you think Katja shared it with anyone?"
"She did not show anyone. Trust me on that."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because she was hysterical over what I had written for you when I had not once shared myself like that with her. I did not speak to her the way I spoke to you." He paused. "She was humiliated and swore she did not have it in her to show anyone. I believed her."
My heart was racing so damn fast.
Avery was right.
I wanted to cave right now and say fuck the consequences and do anything I could to be with him, but I couldn't do that.
"Do we have time? I have one more thing for you. This one you can open."
