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“Who’s that?” he asked.
“That’s Baran.” He wasn’t the typical Bratva soldier, as he was a liaison from Istanbul.
“I’ve got to ask. Does Kristoff select his men on their looks? Hot damn. The guy looks like an Arabian prince.”
“You’re not far off,” I said, as we walked into the kitchen. Olga had prepared a lunch that smelled so good, it made my mouth water. As I wasn’t a morning person, I generally skipped breakfast, but lunch was sacred to me.
“You remembered my favorite drink,” Tommie said excitedly when Olga handed him a latte.
My mind flashed back to Kristoff and how my lips had caressed his neck, taking in his taste. My favorite taste in the world. I groaned silently to myself. When would my brain stop going there at the tiniest provocation? When would my heart accept that he’d slammed the door shut in my face?
I knew what Kristoff was capable of. How cruel he could be. Though his ire had never been directed at me before, I knew. His words that night had ripped through my body, leaving me vulnerable. And even though deep inside I knew his harsh words were as much for my protection as his, I wasn’t putting up with it any longer. My mother hadn’t raised a woman who would accept abuse, verbal or otherwise. I mourned my love for him, and what we could have had, but I was determined not to break. I was determined to move on.
I cleared my throat. “I have a date.”
Tommie nearly choked on his latte. “That’s great! I’m glad to hear Kristoff finally broke down.”
“It’s not with him.” I raised my chin. “It’s with Jake, a guy from campus who’s asked me out several times. At first I was deluded that one day Kristoff would notice me, so I kept holding him off. But now I’ve decided it’s time to get out there.”
Tommie gave me a look. “So…are you going out with this Jake because of Kristoff? Not that I’m opposed to that. Whatever helps, it’s all good.”
I nodded, because it was what it was. “Kristoff dismissed my feelings for him. He said he and I would never happen.”
He sighed. “Yep, that’d do it.”
“So I’m going to seize the day with Jack.”
He gave me a look. “Jake.”
“What?”
“His name. You said it was Jake.”
I frowned. “Did I?” I checked my phone and scrolled until I saw Jake’s message. “Yep, I’m definitely having a date with Jake.”
He gave me a rueful smile. “I’m glad to hear your heart’s in it.”
“If I wasn’t your host, I’d give you the finger.”
“I love you too. Anyway, good for you, for seizing the day. Never let a man tell you what you do and don’t feel.”
There was something in his voice that made me pause. “You sound as if you speak from experience.”
He shrugged. “Let’s say I’ve had experience with an asshole trying to dictate my life. It took me several broken bones to figure out that he was right after all—it wasn’t him, itwasme. I was the only one who could decide to put myself first and leave his sorry ass behind. I wish I’d discovered that at seventeen, when my parents kicked me out. I might not have landed in the clutches of a man who showed me ‘love’ with his fists.”
“Please tell me you ended up kicking his ass. If not, I could do it for you.”
Tommie smiled. “I pressed charges. The guy is serving six years. Mind you, not for kicking the crap out of me but because he was drunk and dumb enough to assault an officer.”
“I’m glad he’s off the streets.”
He arched a brow. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you changed the subject. Is that why you look so gloomy? Because you have a date with the wrong guy?”
I cringed. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“I call it like I see it.”
“Which reminds me. How did it go with taking charge of your love life? Did you ask Achilles out on a date?”
