My chest was hollow. "Kova—"
"No, let me finish."
I closed my mouth and my shoulders drooped. He was so resolute in us that fresh tears streamed down my cheeks. The dark circles under his eyes now had a cause. He'd been relentless in his pursuit of us. I think I loved him more for that.
"I packed up everything in the bedroom she slept in. I got her a hotel room for two weeks, then I changed my locks and froze her accounts. Katja has plenty of cash and can afford it, or she can make the bastard who got her pregnant pay." Kova glanced away and ran his tongue over his bottom lip. "They were planning to blackmail me and use our affair against me to get what they wanted."
My brows rose as fury flowed through my veins. I was stunned into silence. How heartless of them. I didn't have a leg to stand on, but I was not a vindictive person either.
Kova didn't care about money. He probably would've given her anything she asked for because he was guilty himself and that sickened him. He'd struggled with us until I pushed him to snap. With help from Joy, all Katja focused on was revenge. It was easy when someone was whispering in their ear the whole time.
"I learned their plans shortly after I was released." Kova paused, then said, "I know you are skeptical when it comes to Katja, but I need you to know I am no longer living with her."
My brows lowered. He was right. I did feel a different way when it came to Katja and how he treated her. I wasn't sure I could ever let go of those feelings unless he was completely separated from her and they never spoke again.
"How did you manage to do all of this so quickly? What about World Cup? Please tell me you didn't do anything drastic."
He looked right at me and said, "I told you I was going to accept Danilo's offer. Madeline and Danilo are a good team and kept the gym running smooth."
Fifty-Six
Tears welled in my eyes.
"Why would you do that? That gym means so much to you. I wish you hadn't."
World Cup was his everything. It was his second home. Where he was himself. It made me sick to think he’d sold it for me.
Kova shook his head vehemently, though his inconsolable gaze didn't match the tone in his words.
"Enough. I am not talking about it anymore. It is done and contracts have been signed. The gym is not worth more than you." With a jut of his chin, Kova gestured toward our notebook. "Take that. All the pages are intact."
My thumb dragged down the silver spirals thinking back to the day we started this. I flipped through and the pages fanned out. I caught the faint sent of Kova in them and I drew in a quiet breath. I held the book close to my chest and my eyes closed. There were so many memories in these pages that I wanted to hold on to forever.
"Thank you."
Kova reached into the bag and pulled out something wrapped in black tissue paper with scotch tape all over it like it was a decoration. He flipped it over and there was an envelope attached to it. Taped down, of course. My lips twitched.
"I do not know how to wrap," he said, self-conscious of his wrapping skills.
My brows shot up as Kova handed it to me. "You have a gift for me?"
He gave a blasé shrug. I glanced down and eyed the white envelope. I reached for it, but Kova stopped me.
He massaged the back of his neck. "There is, ah, a letter I wrote for you. I wrote it the other day. Do not open that now"—he pointed to the black tissue paper—"or read the card. Open it when you are settled…in."
He couldn't even finish the words. I choked up inside and looked away, letting out a breath.
"Do you want me to call you after I do?" I asked.
A shadow passed through his eyes that made my stomach flutter nervously. It was short-lived, but I'd caught it, and I didn't like what I saw.
"Just read it first."
I shifted on my feet. "I feel like you don't have anything of mine to hold onto now."
Kova's green eyes glittered under the bill of his hat. He placed his hand over his heart, right where the A was that I’d carved.
"I have what I need…for now."
A blush crept up my cheeks. I averted my gaze, more eager to read his letter.
I was so touched by his thoughtfulness. "This notebook means a lot to me. I looked forward to your letters. It was one of the few ways you'd tell me what you were thinking. I used to reread them at night. Sometimes I would laugh, like when you said you loved cotton candy. Other times I'd cry a little reminiscing, or just feel bad. I hated that this disappeared. I didn't think I'd see it again. Thank you for getting this back. Do you think Katja shared it with anyone?"
"She did not show anyone. Trust me on that."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because she was hysterical over what I had written for you when I had not once shared myself like that with her. I did not speak to her the way I spoke to you." He paused. "She was humiliated and swore she did not have it in her to show anyone. I believed her."
My heart was racing so damn fast.
Avery was right.
I wanted to cave right now and say fuck the consequences and do anything I could to be with him, but I couldn't do that.
"Do we have time? I have one more thing for you. This one you can open."
I blinked and checked the time over the stove. "Yeah, we have a little more time."
Kova reached into the bag again, this time retrieving a black velvet square box. He studied it for a moment, his thumb stroking over the top.
"I wanted to give you this at the Olympics, but the timing did not feel right."
I flinched. My heart hadn't recovered from that night yet. Kova looked at me like he wanted to say something. Instead, he placed a quick kiss to the top of my head then handed me the box.
My heart was fluttering wondering what else he gave me. I shot him a half smile then lifted the top to reveal a thin chain with the five Olympic gold rings clasped together. My lips parted in awe and I gasped. "Kova," I whispered. Tears welled in my eyes. The charm was positioned off center so the symbol would rest over my left collarbone. The pad of my finger grazed the shiny metal as I stared at the circles.
I tilted my head up and sadness clouded his features. I blinked a few times. "It's so beautiful."
"May I?" he asked. I nodded.
He stepped closer and bent over, squinting his eyes. "I did not want you to mark up your skin. At least, I hope that you do not. I thought this was a better alternative." He released the necklace from its holder then placed the box on the counter next to us.
I smiled to myself remembering how I had once told him I hoped to have a tattoo like his one day. That felt like ages ago.
Kova stepped behind me. I lifted my braid and felt him exhale across the back of my neck. He raised the necklace and laid it over my chest. His fingers shook as he clasped it together.
Kova arranged the necklace then placed his hands on my shoulders. I peered down. My skin was creamier than usual from lack of sun and it caused the gold to stand out. His fingers splayed down the chain and grazed the delicate symbol that lay near the slant on my neck.
"Seeing you up there was the best day of my life," he said.
I swallowed thickly and my stomach clenched. I would forever hold this moment close to me. He had his set of rings, and now I had mine.