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I crammed my few items of food into my duffel bag and then removed the apartment key from my key ring. Carla watched from the bedroom doorway as I placed it on the kitchen counter, on one of the few areas that weren’t covered with dishes. I smiled sweetly at her as we exited into the hallway.
The tightness in my chest began to loosen the farther we got from the apartment. It was over. I was free from that shitty place.
“You’re right,” Braden said when we were downstairs. “Ukrainian sweat does smell like beets.”
21
Braden
A lot of things surprised me that morning. I was surprised at how few belongings Nadia had. I was surprised by the state of the apartment—quite literally a dump, with garbage overflowing from the trashcan in the kitchen and dirty dishes filling the sink.
But most of all, I was surprised by my instinct to protect Nadia.
She was a tough girl. She could take care of herself. But when her roommate had started shouting, and the other guy stood up like he was going to try and stop her…
I don’t know. The overwhelming instinct to keep her safe took over. Action without thought.
“Thanks for your help,” Nadia said when we were on the train back to the city. It was a lot more crowded now, so we stood in the middle with the duffel bags on the floor between us. “I really appreciate it.”
I waved a hand. “It would’ve been stupid for you to make two trips.”
A smirk slipped onto her beautiful face. “I meant the help with Carla and Vitaliy. You were awfully intense there for a few moments. I thought shit was going to get real.”
I chuckled. “Thank God it didn’t. It was all an act. I’ve never been in a fight before.”
She gave me an appraising look. “Seriously?”
“Didn’t I just tell you what I was like growing up?” I teased. “The closest thing I’ve ever gotten to a fight was throwing a fake punch during my high school’s rendition of West Wide Story.”
“Well, you put up a convincing show. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
I felt my cheeks redden, and I couldn’t hold back a smile for the rest of the train ride.
Dorian and Andy were drinking coffee in the front parlor when we got home. “The queen of the townhouse returns!” Dorian declared in a Shakespearean tone. “Why did you not requisition our assistance? We could have gotten everything in one trip!”
Nadia hefted her bag. “This is everything. My entire life in two duffel bags.”
“Oh,” Dorian said, suddenly embarrassed.
Nadia took it in stride. “The benefits of being poor,” she grinned widely. “Easy to move around.”
We carried the bags upstairs to her room. Ryan was coming down the hallway from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He smiled at us.
Well, more at Nadia than me.
“Morning, roommate,” he said cheerfully. “Need help unloading?”
“I can handle it,” she replied back smoothly. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
“Be sure you do,” Ryan replied. He nodded at me, then went into his room and closed the door.
I frowned at the back of Nadia’s head as we went into her room. Was that sexual innuendo? The two of them hadn’t hit it off yet, or so I thought. Maybe they’d bonded over their drinks last night.
“He’s in a better mood today,” I mentioned as I dropped the duffel bag on her bed. “I guess he’s resigned to his fate at work.”
Nadia turned and had a weird look on her face. “Actually, I have something to do with his mood.”
I felt my chest tighten. “Oh?”
