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Still looking at my hands, I said, "I guess I'll be saying goodbye, then."
"Take all the time you need."
Madeline and Danilo rose to their feet. "Make sure you come say goodbye before you leave. The girls are waiting on us, so we need to get out there."
Danilo stared down at me a moment, then said, "Second place winner is first place loser. Bring home the gold." My lips lifted at his words of wisdom.
I sniffled back my emotions and thanked Danilo, then told Madeline I'd find her. The door shut behind them as they left, leaving Kova and me alone.
The moment I'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
The air in the room became dense, that awkward silence filling the space between us. It was just the two of us, a ticking clock, and many, many words left unspoken.
I blinked my eyes rapidly trying to fight the tears when I decided to stand. I needed to get out of here, but I wanted to ask Kova questions. My pulse kicked up a notch and beat like a drum in my throat. I was jittery, feeling too vulnerable at the moment. I wasn't prepared for these emotions when I came here and now that they were baiting me. I needed to leave or I was going to cry any second.
"I'll see you later." My throat tightened and my words sounded mumbled.
I couldn't even look at him.
Saying goodbye to World Cup meant saying goodbye to Kova.
My heart was not ready for that.
My. Heart. Was. Not. Ready.
I couldn’t breathe. Oh God. My chest was so tight. I struggled to get air into my lungs.
"Wait," he said, but I was already at the door and reaching for the knob. "Please." His hand appeared in front of me. He held the door closed, and I immediately dropped my hand.
We were alone. He was right next to me. My eyes closed shut as my breathing deepened. I could feel the warmth of his presence, the smell of his sultry cologne, the dire need pulsing through me to reach out for him. I couldn't walk away when we were made for each other.
I shook my head before he could say anything. My eyes were filled with tears now. There were pieces of my heart embedded here that I couldn't take back
with me. How was I supposed to leave?
Kova didn't say anything.
I didn't say anything.
Did he know how much I needed him right now? How close I was to breaking inside?
Of course, he did. Because he was Kova, and I was Ria, and we understood each other in ways no one else could.
He reached for me…and that was all it took.
Kova cupped my arm and pulled me to him. I went willingly and let out a cry against him. My hand found his chest and I fisted his shirt as soft tears fell from my eyes. I hugged him so tight, like I was afraid to let go, because I was. I was scared to let go because I wasn't sure what would happen to us next.
"Ria," he whispered. His fingers brushed the hair away under my ear and draped it over my other shoulder. He tried to tip my face back to look at him, but I shook my head. "Please, I need you to look at me."
"I'm so sorry." I whimpered. "For everything. I wish I could take it all back."
"No," he said on a strangled gasp. "Do not say that. I do not regret a thing, and I know you do not either."
Taking my wrists gently into his hands, he brought them up and over his shoulders so I had no choice but to hug him, and it broke my heart even more. He let go then placed his hands under my shirt and on my hips like he needed to feel me. Kova hugged me to him. A sigh rolled through my lips at the touch of his warm flesh on mine.
Kova needed me too.
Rising up on my tiptoes, my heart beat wildly against my ribs. With trembling fingers threading through the hair at the back of his neck, I finally looked up.
