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“Three months,” I recited on reflex.
God, had it really been three months? That’s all it had taken for me to fall in love with Becca. But I guess I’d been falling in love with her for the better part of a year.
“I think she’s had enough. She’ll be moving on before I leave.”
“No.” Petrov seemed genuinely upset, which was surprising. I always thought the big guy hated me.
“What do you care?”
“What do I care? Love is the most important thing there is. Why do you think they write songs about it? Or books, movies, TV shows?”
“I should just let her go,” I said, downing my drink.
Petrov smacked me hard on the shoulder. Hard enough that I winced.
“Careful with the goods, man. I’m not wearing padding.”
“Wake up and look at what’s in front of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your whole life hangs in the balance, and you’re going to let her go?”
“It wasn’t supposed to get this far. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her.”
"You married her. Of course you were supposed to fall in love.”
“We made a bargain. One year and then we’d part as friends. That was the gist of it anyway.”
“Did you really think you’d be able to just be friends with her?” Trick asked, after staying silent and soaking all of this up.
He and I had our own issues. I wasn’t able to mention it yet, but we’d have our moment as soon as Scarlett gave me the go-ahead.
“I don’t know. I tricked myself, I guess.”
“And now? Do you really think you’re going to be happy without her?” Petrov leaned against the deck next to me.
“She is the most important person in my life. But if I’m traded...”
“What if you’re not?”
The guys all knew about Becca’s bakery. They frequently ordered from her and had gifts shipped to their families for special occasions.
“Do you know she won’t leave the bakery behind? Does she think you’re asking her to?”
“If I get traded, I don’t have an option. I have to go. We would have to leave, and she’d lose everything she’s built.”
“And what if you don’t get traded? What if you stay here for the rest of your career? You could retire here, and she wouldn’t have to give up anything.” Petrov downed his drink and let out a satisfied sound. “Perfect solution.”
“That’s a great idea in theory, but we know it doesn’t work that way. I haven’t been playing at my best since I aggravated my knee. This team is growing. They’re going to trade me, if not this time, soon. I should have thought about that more than just in passing. But I was selfish. I was too focused on my own bullshit to see that involving her in this with me was asking too much.”
“She loves you,” Petrov insisted.
“She did. Don’t know about now.”
Of course Byrne’s wife Elles, who was Becca’s best friend, decided now was the right time to insert herself into the conversation.
“She does love you, Taylor. What you did to her was a real dick move.”
