Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Viktor
After practice, I stop by the library. Kelly and I need to talk and this is the only time I can get her alone.
I could call her, but it’s easier this way.
My parents arrive tomorrow, and the last round of the playoffs before the championship series begins the following day, so there won’t be a lot of time for anything else.
“Hey.” Kelly looks up in surprise when I walk in. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought we could talk,” I say in Russian.
“English,” she says gently, since we practice as much as possible.
I shake my head. “Not for this. It’s important.”
“Uh oh.” She cocks her head. “What’s up?”
“I need you to stop being so judgmental with Holly. I know you think we’ve made a mistake but it’s done. She’s my wife, for at least a year, if not more.”
Her brows inch up. “More? When did more become a possibility?”
I ignore that. “We’re both under a lot of pressure and it’s going to be exponentially worse once my family arrives.
I need to know I can count on you. If my mother gets wind that you disapprove—and I talk about you to her all the time, so she knows how close we are—she’ll immediately zero in on that. ”
Kelly doesn't react, merely allows me to continue.
“And I absolutely cannot have you and my mother ganging up on Holly. It would hurt me if you did that.”
“I would never gang up on her,” she protests.
“Kelly. You become as cold as a glacier whenever you’re in the same room with her. You don’t say or do anything overt, but it’s obvious to everyone you don’t like her.”
“I just think you’re being taken advantage of. What’s a year going to do? I mean, your mom doesn’t know that, but a year from now, you’re going to be back to square one.”
“Which is why there’s a possibility the arrangement will last longer.”
“So, what? You’re going to just keep offering her more money to stay around? How is that good for anyone?”
I scowl. “Kelly.”
“Viktor.” She doesn’t back down easily, and I appreciate it because I know it comes from a place of caring, but I can’t deal with it right now.
“In the summer, when hockey is over and my parents are back in Russia, you can say anything you like. And you don’t have to be best friends with Holly. But right now, until my parents leave, can you fake it or do I need to ask you to stay away from us until then?”
I see the flicker of surprise—and hurt—that crosses her face, and I hate it, but this is too important.
“Of course I can be nice,” she says finally, though her face is tight.
“I am sorry.” I put a hand on her forearm. “You are my best friend here, but until you meet my mother, you have no idea what she will do to make me bend to her will. If she thinks she has an ally in you, that will make things much more difficult.”
A soft sigh escapes her and she nods. “All right. I understand. And really, it’s not personal.
Holly seems fine. I just don’t want her to hurt you.
I mean, once she figures out how good her life is with the rich pro athlete, she’s not going to want to leave.
Trust me, Viktor, women do things like that—pretend to be in love with a rich man who’ll take care of them. ”
“I know that. I am not stupid nor na?ve. I have been around for a while. This is not my first relationship.”
“It’s your first marriage and your first fake relationship.”
“You have to trust me the way I have trusted you since we met.”
“I already said I’ll do as you ask.”
“It cannot be…forced. You have to actually like Holly. Smile warmly, hug her when you see her, act like the three of us are best friends too. Otherwise, my mother will know.”
“Done. Whatever you need.”
I know this conversation is hard for her but it’s important to me.
“Thank you.” I lean over and give her a quick hug. “I have to go but you’ll be at the game day after tomorrow, yes?”
She nods, her eyes lighting up. “You think I’d miss it?”
“I am getting you a seat with the wives and girlfriends, along with my parents. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” I nod and walk out, hoping she’s going to cooperate.
I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t.
I’m actually nervous as we wait for the limo carrying my family to arrive at the hotel.
It takes a lot to make me nervous, but this is big.
My mother isn’t going to take the news well that I’m married.
And I hate that she’s probably brought along some innocent woman who thinks she’s going to meet her future husband.
“Breathe,” Holly whispers as the stretch limousine pulls up in front of the hotel. Her fingers thread with mine and it’s genuinely comforting. She’s been a rock today, confident and calm, like she’s been preparing for this.
“I apologize in advance for anything mean she says,” I say quietly.
She smiles. “She’ll probably say it in Russian, so I’ll be blissfully unaware.
I chuckle because she’s right. My parents speak a little English, enough to order in a restaurant or ask for directions, but not to have serious, meaningful conversations. So, my mother’s wrath will almost certainly not be in English.
The car pulls to a stop and the driver jumps out, running around to open the doors in the back. My father gets out first, on the far side, and he turns with a smile, though it wavers slightly when he sees me holding Holly’s hand. Like he already knows this is going to be bad.
The driver opens the door closest to us and my mother is out like a shot, her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“Viktor.” She approaches me with a tight smile, eyes never leaving my face. “What are you doing?”
“Mama.” I kiss her on both cheeks. Then I turn to Holly. “I’d like you to meet someone—this is Holly. My wife.”
My mother freezes, mouth slightly agape. It would be comical if I didn’t know there was a shit storm brewing beneath her cool demeanor.
Because then a younger woman, one I’ve never seen before, exits the limousine. She’s tall and lean and blond. Very much like my ex-fiancée. She stares at me coolly, her eyes drifting to Holly, to my mother, and back again.
“What did you do?” I ask my mother quietly.
Her lips tighten all over again. “What was necessary!”
“Necessary?” I can’t back down, even though I hate being at odds with her. “Mama, after what happened last summer, did you really think I would agree to another sham relationship?”
“It was a good relationship! She was just too young. The idea of living in America until you retired scared her. But Olga is older, is going to become a doctor, so she’ll be in Russia during hockey season.”
“And you think that’s a healthy way to start a marriage?” I shake my head. “Well, it doesn’t matter. You’ll have to send her home. I’m married. Holly and I eloped earlier this week in Las Vegas.”
“You did this to spite me.”
“I did it because I fell in love.”
She gives Holly a dismissive once-over and scowls. “Look at her—soft and plastic. How much work has she had done on her face?”
I don’t think she’s had any but since I don’t know that for certain, I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. I like her. I love her.” I have to be careful with those sorts of things. “Now be polite.”
“Mrs. Maslak.” Holly waits until I give her a discreet signal and steps forward, leaning in to hug her. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
To her credit, my mother hugs her and goes through with the whole cheek-kissing ritual.
“I was not prepared,” is all she says.
“It’s okay.” Holly smiles and the warmth in her gaze is incredible—I don’t know that I could fake it so well. “We didn’t warn anyone, not even most of our friends. My father wasn’t very happy that we sprung this on him, either.”
That seems to give them common ground because my mother nods. “Come. This is my husband, Ilya.”
Everyone is introduced, including Olga, who remains cool as a cucumber, my grandmother Helena, and my aunt Irena, and of course, my father. Holly smiles and nods and asks all the right questions about their trip, whether or not they’re hungry, everything my loving wife should ask.
I think it catches my mother off-guard because she seems to allow Holly to usher her inside while I get a bell hop to help with all the luggage.
Jesus, how long are they planning to stay?
There are at least two suitcases for everyone.
Luckily, five of them are carryon size. But my parents each have two full-sized suitcases, as well as carryons.
Thank fuck they’re not staying at the house.
Not that there’s room at West’s, and we have another ten days until we close on the new house.
Maybe a little longer, depending on the playoff schedule and how many games we play.
Technically, ten days from now will be game five—in New York.
So, if we don’t sweep in four, then we’ll have to push out the closing a day or two.
I can’t think about that now, though.
I have to help everyone get checked in and I’m curious as to where my mother plans for Olga to stay. She’s in for a rude awakening if she thinks it’s going to be with me. Even if I hadn’t married Holly, there’s no way I would invite a literal stranger into my bed at West’s house.
What was my mother thinking?
God only knows.
She’s clever, my mother. If she could arrange for me to get Olga pregnant immediately, she would.
Luckily, that’s no longer an option.