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Laney nodded her head. “Oh, yes. He’s so protective of her, it’s crazy. It’s really romantic,” she said, giving Drew a comical jab of her elbow, which caused him to grin and roll his eyes. I was beginning to think Delaney belonged in a romantic comedy. Poor Drew was really going to have to up his game with her.
Looking to move the conversation in another direction, I informed Laney of my schedule. “Oh, I have practice tonight, so I won’t be home until, like, seven,” I said, shooting a meaningful look at Drew, indicating she could invite him over to hang out. I felt guilty about not letting him stay over.
Laney grinned. “Thanks for the head’s up. I’m going to have to get your schedule straight to maximize my make out time. I think Drew knows it better than me sometimes.” She leaned toward me and whispered, “I think it’s kind of sweet he wants so much alone time.”
“Yeah, sweet,” I elbowed and wiggled my eyebrows at her suggestively, my previous lousy mood lifted. “I’ll print you out a copy so you can keep track of when the room is free.”
Laney slung her arm around my shoulders. “So thorough. That’s why I love you, Em.”
I chuckled. Compared to her, that was an understatement. She was the most disorganized person I’d ever met. “Try not to lose it.”
She snorted. “I know, I’m the worst. My side of the room is already a disaster. Does it drive you crazy?”
I was pretty tidy, but for some reason, Laney’s messiness didn’t bug me.
“Nah, you’re too cool for me to be mad about some clothes left on a chair…and your bed, and the floor, and your desk.”
“Ha! I get it, I get it, I’ll pick up my shit.”
“I’m just kidding, I really don’t care.”
“I better pick it up anyway, in case your boyfriend decides to come over. I don’t want him frowning down at me and asking me why I’m such a slob.”
I laughed out loud at the thought of that conversation. “He would never do that, Laney! Oh my god, I can’t even imagine.”
She smirked. “You know what? You’re right, he probably wouldn’t because if you're in the room, that’s the only place he looks.
I jerked my head back. “What? Shut up.”
Laney frowned. “You have to know the way he looks at you—only you. I may as well not have been there the day we moved in. He looked at you constantly. He’s obviously crazy about you,” she said, giving me a nudge with her elbow, as if to say, duh.
“It’s so new and he’s hard to read, so thank you. It’s awfully nice to hear.” And it was. It was more than nice, it was astonishing.
“He’d be crazy to let you get away.”
Maybe she could mention that to Ivan.
Chapter 10
Ivan
I waited outside of Emmy’s practice, edginess riding me. I used to smoke when I lived in Russia—everyone smoked there—and for the first time in a long time, I found myself craving a cigarette. I gave it up because I fucking hated the smell and the taste in my mouth, but a hit of nicotine would have been welcomed at the moment.
I had pulled back from Emmy significantly in the last week, keeping a professional distance. It was harder than I’d expected. I’d only allowed myself to crowd her, touch her, and kiss her for a brief time, but I’d gotten used to it and my body wanted more. Holding myself back, disengaging like that, made me irritable and easily provoked. I found myself jumping down everyone’s throat. Will asked how things were going with Emmy and I barked at him to keep his filthy fucking mind off of her.
I needed to get my shit together. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t get emotionally wrapped up in a woman—in her—and I was going to fucking keep it. The alternative was too catastrophic to consider.
I was so amped up about my decision to keep my distance from Emmy that, by the time she came out, I was practically growling.
She walked out the door of the auditorium with that guy. Kevin. I suppose he was harmless, but he wasn’t unattractive enough to put me completely at ease. He was average—shaggy brown hair worn under a that fucking beanie, baggy t-shirt and jeans, but I hated him hanging around Emmy. He was talking to her, gesturing emphatically about something. She told him I was her boyfriend, but that didn’t seem to be deterring him in the slightest. Asshole.
They were about forty feet away when a man approached them from behind, calling out to Emmy. My brows slammed together as I considered this new contender for her attention.
He looked young, but it was hard to get a clear look at him because he was wearing one of those British caps and it was shadowing his face. He was casually dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt. A teacher, maybe?
Could he be Orlov? Orlov could have changed his appearance since I last saw him, though that sounded extreme. His looks were difficult to fully discern from this distance and the likelihood seemed slim. to be certain.
While he spoke to Kevin and Emmy, I was quick to note that he directed most of the conversation toward her. She would frequently nod at whatever he was saying. I knew the guy was probably just her teacher, but the way he was focusing on her so intently was pissing me off. Were you even allowed to talk to students like that outside of class? I was going to have to get more fucking information on this guy.