Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Game, Pizza and No Sex
My last day of school—winter break. Finally.
My apartment is fully set up now. A massive sectional wraps around the living room with a low coffee table in the center. Built-in shelves frame the TV, stacked with all my books, finally out of boxes. Five chairs line the kitchen island, but I still haven’t found the right dining table. Two bedrooms are done—beds made, linens fresh, everything clean and untouched. The fridge is stocked, my truck and Benz parked downstairs like I actually have my life together.
My father still thinks I’m staying at Gemma’s.
My mother doesn’t ask questions. I saw them Monday—nothing unusual. My brothers got money from Grandma too. None of them are telling my father either. Some secrets are survival.
I walk into the locker room to change, Sergey on my mind like always. He’s been texting me every day—Good morning, Good night, How was your day? Simple, consistent. It shouldn’t mean so much, but it does. His fight is tomorrow night. Tonight is supposed to be easy for him—rest, reset. He’s been training all week, locked in. He’s good. Really good. But Jones is dangerous. His last three fights? Knockouts. Hospital-level knockouts. Alek’s fight got dropped—his opponent failed a drug test—so he’ll be ringside for Sergey instead.
“What’s on your mind?” Tiana asks, tying her cleats. “Because we are about to get our asses handed to us.”
“The Gorman girls are Amazons,” I groan. “We’re getting wrecked. And Sergey is coming to watch me lose. How fucking embarrassing. I shouldn’t have told him to come.”
Tiana snorts. “I highly doubt his fine ass cares if we win or lose. He’s coming for you. I saw his weigh-in—god damn. I would lose a limb to fuck that man.”
“OMG, Tiana!” I laugh, shoving her.
“She’s nasty,” Mia adds from the bench. “Keep her away from him.”
We head out to the field, stretching as the boys help us warm up. Frankie pairs up with me, and his girlfriend immediately gives him that look. Tiana calls him out, telling him to go stand with Yesenia, but he just grins like an idiot. I roll my eyes—and then I see him.
Sergey.
Sweats, baseball cap, sunglasses. Casual. Effortless. Hot.
I nudge Tiana. “He’s here.”
My stomach flips hard. Butterflies slam into my ribs like they’re trying to escape. Gemma waves him over, and he joins everyone. Vincent’s there too, watching me with those same love eyes I refuse to read into. I look away.
Sergey takes off his sunglasses, flips his cap backward—
—and I’m done.
My body reacts instantly, heat pooling low, distracting. I force myself to focus. Focus. We have a game to lose.
Frankie grabs my ass as we stand. Big mistake. I catch his wrist, twist his arm behind his back, and walk him across the field like he weighs nothing. I drop his hand into Yesenia’s.
“Keep your boyfriend close,” I mutter. “Or I’ll break his arm.”
I grab Jose and start drills.
Frankie comes at me again later. I don’t even think—I spin the ball, fake him out, then launch it straight into his chest. He drops like a sack of bricks.
I hear Sergey laugh.
God, he looks good laughing. My lady bits are buzzing.
Coach yells at me, then benches Frankie.
Game time.
I’m playing forward, and I don’t hold back. Every trick, every feint, every ounce of speed—I use all of it. I score four times, matching Gorman point for point.
At halftime, Coach just stares at me. “Where has this Elle been all season?”
“This is Sergey's Elle!” Tiana laughs, pointing him out.
“I don’t even want to know,” Coach mutters.
“He’s training with my boxing coach this week,” I say, grinning. “We’re grabbing dinner tonight. I’m going to his fight tomorrow.”
Coach sighs. “What is wrong with the boys your age?”
I point toward the sideline where the guys are competing to see who can spit farther.
“That,” I say. “That’s what’s wrong.”
“Fair enough,” he laughs. “Just be smart. I want you girls safe.”
We nod.
“Now go play like Elle does for all the new boys she brings to games!”
The team erupts, shoving me, laughing. I glance toward Sergey—he’s watching me, and I can feel the heat rise to my face.
Second half.
Tiana scores three. Yesenia adds another. Then it’s my moment. I pass to Tiana, we break through defense, she flicks the ball up—and I go for it. Scissor kick, clean connection.
Goal.
Whistle blows.
We win.
We beat Gorman.
The team loses it—screaming, jumping, piling on top of each other. Shirts come off, chaos everywhere. Someone starts bowing to me like I’m a damn queen, and soon everyone joins in.
I laugh and take a dramatic bow.
“Shirts back on!” Coach yells. “Unless you want laps!”
Booing echoes across the field.
After my shower, we file out of the locker room. Sergey is waiting right outside.
“You were amazing,” he says, stepping closer. “I love watching you play as much as I loved watching you fight.”
“She was showing off for you,” Tiana adds, hugging me.
“I’m going to need you at every game,” Coach calls out.
“Oh my god, stop,” I groan, face burning. “Let’s go, Sergey. They won’t shut up.”
“I want to hear more,” he laughs, while I pull him away. Something sparks over my skin when I touch him. It takes my breath away.
“No sex in the parking lot!” Yesenia yells behind us.
Sergey stops mid-step, turning to me.
I cover my face. “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Yeah?” he smirks. “Okay, kitten.”
My entire body lights up.
“Good luck tomorrow, Fedorov!” Coach calls as we head out.
Once we’re alone, I glance at him. “So… bulk-up day, right? Can you have pizza? Or do you need protein? Burgers, wings—what are we doing?”
“I’ve got about an hour and a half before I need to eat again,” he says, smiling. “Steak. Potatoes.”
He pauses, eyes glinting.
“And I’m not allowed to have sex tonight.”