Page 11 of Bratva Prince
Why was I disappointed?I had no interest in him. Yet, here I was…
The water died down as I turned the nozzle, stepping onto the bathmat and grabbing a towel. I dried off and glanced in the mirror, though I couldn’t see much through the steam.
And then, it happened. A tear slipped out, followed by another, and then another, and more, until they were pouring out of me. Why was I crying?
How silly is it to cry when you aren’t even sure why. It makes you think you’re crazy because, why wouldn’t you know, right? It’s your body, your mind, so you should have some inkling as to why.
But not me.
I cried into the towel until it was soaked more from my tears than the shower. Viktor knocked on the door, asking if I was nearly ready. I could barely mutter a word. Every time I tried, it turned into a loud sob, and that was the last thing I wanted—for Viktor to hear me bawling like a pathetic little baby.
“You alright?” he asked through the door.
“Yeah.” I sniffled and wiped away the snot. “Just getting dried off.”
“I’m coming in,” he said, cracking the door open, but waiting before pushing it open any further. “Are you covered,” he asked, shielding his eyes with his hands.
I let out a half-laugh and assured him I was in a towel.
Viktor coming into the bathroom didn’t bother me. He’d seen most of my body, and considering he was interested in men, I thought of him like another girlfriend. Daria had seen my body and never jumped on me, so why would Viktor?
He peeled his hands away slowly, and when he realized I was covered, he dropped them completely. Noticing my tears, he wiped them away. “Hey,” he said in a soft voice. “What’s wrong?”
I choked out a laugh that turned into a sob and said, “I don’t know.”
Viktor snorted but contained his laughter. “You don’t know? Did something happen? Did someone bother you…” he looked around and added, “...in the shower?”
A smiled curled at my lips, but only slightly, and I giggled. “Yeah, all those people in the shower are driving me crazy,” I teased, hoping to make him laugh.
But he didn’t.
“Willow, tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help.”
“I don’t know,” I repeated. “I was thinking about this afternoon and I started bawling.”
Viktor gave me a knowing glance. “Ah, this is about Ivan.”
“No. Yes. I don’t know, maybe? Just the thought that he so willingly asked me to dinner, even though you were sitting right there… that’s so disrespectful.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. “Honey, he could probably tell I was gay. I’m not the most subtle when I gawk at a man, and what a fine piece of eye candy those men were.”
“Still, what about the women that were with him. They were clinging to him, and he was askingmeout? What the hell is up with that?”
“Maybe he’s a dog?” Viktor shrugged. “I think this is about more than that. You’re still grieving the loss of your best friend and boyfriend. You thought Rolan was the one, and he ran off with Daria. Of course you’re still upset. Mr. Viking earlier probably reminded you of that and you’re associating him and those women with Rolan and Daria.”
“I just… I can’t believe they did that,” I said, breaking down all over again. “I can’t believe it. Rolan was the first man I’d ever been with, and you know how protective I was over my virginity. I was willing to risk trouble with my father for him, and he stabbed me in the back, and broke my heart. If he could leave me for Daria,my best friend,then what makes you think a guy like Ivan would stick around?”
“So, you do like Ivan?” he asked, missing the point.
“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t.”
He cocked an eyebrow, already calling my bluff. I sighed. “Maybe if Rolan hadn’t broken my heart, I would’ve been open to getting to know Ivan better. But now, all I can think is that he’sjustlike Rolan.”
“You know what you need to do?” he asked, and I tilted my head, waiting for the answer. “Forget about the men. Justforget them. Leave those troubles for Russia. We’re on vacation in a beautiful country and it’s your last chance to have fun as a single person. Enjoy it! Let’s go out, get some dinner, and have some fun. Just us. No Ivan or drooly dogs allowed.”
I smiled and agreed. “Alright, but first, I need to wash my face.”
* * *
