Page 7 of Facing Off
“She’s pretty and talented. But I’m also notstuckon her or anything.”
To prove it to myself, for the next while, I take other women out. It’s not as effortless as it used to be, which is weird, but hey. If anything, that just makes it a challenge. And Ialwaysrise to those.
During this time, pink-haired Kavi Basra enters our lives. She becomes our grumpy defenseman Dmitri Lokhov’s accidental roommate and they fall in love completely.
Watching someone like Dmitri, who’s allergic to feelings, finally crack a smile because Kavi is talking to him? It’s hilarious and incredible in the best way. I fuckinglovepoking him about it.
And then Kavi meets Sonya.
That’s…something else entirely.
Because for the first time, I see Sonya crack her usually thick walls, just a little. She and Kavi bond over how rare it is to have real, honest friendships. The kind where you don’t have to pretend to be anyone else.
And just like that, Sonya starts showing up more.
Because Kavi’s around us.
Which means I see her more.
Except now, Sonya doesn’t look away when I flirt with her. That spark of irritation flares up the second she sees me. She’s rolling her eyes at me. Sniping. Being more openly and pointedly sarcastic. Calling me afuckboy.
Lucky me. I can’t get enough of it…even if it causes me problems.
Now whenever I’m sitting across from other women, I can’t stop imagining what Sonya would say if she was there with me. A woman would compliment my egregiouslyunfairly good looks, but in my head, I hear Sonya saying, “It’s sweet how you think you have that going for you.”
This other woman tells me she’s got season tickets to all our games. Sonya might say that and then add in, “Self-inflicted torture is a favorite pastime of mine.”
Another one of my dates proudly declares she wants to fuck me. If Sonya ever said that, she’d have conditions. “Only if you turn around and put a pillow over your mouth and—nope, still not happening. Nice try, though.”
She’s always in my head. I thought it couldn’t get worse.
It does.
One night at a club, I’m at the bar and Sonya and Kavi have congregated a few stools over, so I overhear their conversation.
Kavi has her face in her hands. “I know I’m not allowed to complain?—”
“No, stop that,” interrupts Sonya, flicking Kavi on the shoulder. “Don’t you know? Complaining solves problems.”
Kavi lifts her head and smiles. “How’s that?”
“It helps prevent heart attacks because you let stress out when you complain.”
“So this is…good for me…”
“Exactly.” Sonya eyes Kavi down. “Now tell me what’s going on.”
Kavi reaches out and cradles her drink. “Okay, you know that I’m really grateful for my job. I get to work with the team as their social media manager, and I’m always around Dmitri at his games whether they’re at home or away, which I absolutely love, but?—”
“You’re ready to move forward with your career.”
Kavi gasps. “How did you know?”
“We’re best friends,” Sonya states matter-of-factly. “Also, I caught you looking up boudoir photography rates on your phone. I know that’s your real dream.”
“Some day. I’m not good enough yet.”
Sonya squeezes Kavi’s shoulder. “Do you remember when we met? What did I tell you?”
