Read Online Breakout (A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance) by Aven Ellis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Aven Ellis
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glad you did?”
My heart stops. “But I ruined our evening.”
“No,” Niko says firmly. “You made it better. I have a feeling you don’t share that story with just anyone.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then I’m glad you felt safe enough to share it with me,” Niko says. “It stays between us, I promise you that.”
I see the fierce look in his eyes, and I know he means it.
“Thank you,” I say.
“And not for nothing, your birth parents are missing a fucking lot by not getting to know you.”
“It’s okay. They gave me life. They gave me a family. I’m grateful for that.”
“Your birth parents didn’t reject you ,” Niko says firmly. “They didn’t want to be parents to anyone at that point. Big difference.”
I feel comforted by his words. I’d never considered the situation like that before.
“I appreciate you saying that,” I say softly.
“It’s the truth.”
I decide to shift to him. “So there’s my damage. Tell me yours.”
Niko laughs. “Do we have time? I have a lot of damage to go through.”
I laugh with him. “You’re lying.”
“Oh, you think so? Prepare to be overwhelmed with my personal crap.”
I tuck up my legs underneath me. “I’m in listening position.”
Niko flashes me a sexy grin, and my pulse jumps in response.
“Okay. I grew up in Baltimore’s Greektown with my parents and older brother, Dimitri. Dimitri was the smart one. I always had crazy TV dreams, as my parents would say. Because they saw a bright future for Dimitri, he got to study all the time while I had to work in their bakery after school. My studies didn’t matter because I was going to take over the bakery for them someday. So while I was scrubbing the floor and taking out the trash every night, Dimitri got to study, play sports, go to club meetings, et cetera. To look good on his college applications, you know.”
The unfairness of what happened to Niko hits me in the heart. His parents showed zero regard for his dreams and forced him to sacrifice everything to help his brother achieve his.
“Anyway, Dimitri went to law school, graduated at the top of his class, and is practicing law in Baltimore. He married a Greek girl and has a beautiful baby boy. He did everything they wanted.”
“And you didn’t.”
Niko runs his hand over his five o’clock shadow. “No. My parents said TV was a pipedream. Stupid. So they put all their money into Dimitri’s education and left me to my own devices. Needless to say, I’m 27 and still paying off a mountain of student loan debt.”
I swallow. I once again realize how blessed I am that not only did my parents support my TV dream, but encouraged it and paid for all of my education.
“And then there’s the problem of marrying a Greek woman,” he adds.
“Are you supposed to?” I ask, incredulous.
Niko laughs. “Um, your expression kills me. But yes. I’m supposed to marry a Greek woman and have Greek children. That is the only acceptable path for my life. My mom has been researching potential candidates for years now.”
My heart catches. Could this be true? That Niko would truly only marry someone of his own ethnic background?
Shit, I’ve lost my mind. Marriage ? Why am I thinking of marriage? For all I know, this conversation could take a turn and crash and burn. Or if it went farther, he could be a crappy kisser.
My eyes instinctively move to his mouth. And oh, those sexy full lips. I can imagine what it would be like to kiss him, to feel his five o’clock shadow burn against my face as the kiss intensified—
There’s no way Niko could be a crappy kisser.
“But I’m going to throw out my really dirty laundry now. Are you ready?”
I blink, mortified by my thought process. Don’t worry about marriage, Lexi , I scold myself. Or kissing or anything else. Right now you are two people having coffee. Period.
“I’m ready,” I say, refocused on our conversation.
“I’m going to marry who I want. I’m not going to
My heart stops. “But I ruined our evening.”
“No,” Niko says firmly. “You made it better. I have a feeling you don’t share that story with just anyone.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then I’m glad you felt safe enough to share it with me,” Niko says. “It stays between us, I promise you that.”
I see the fierce look in his eyes, and I know he means it.
“Thank you,” I say.
“And not for nothing, your birth parents are missing a fucking lot by not getting to know you.”
“It’s okay. They gave me life. They gave me a family. I’m grateful for that.”
“Your birth parents didn’t reject you ,” Niko says firmly. “They didn’t want to be parents to anyone at that point. Big difference.”
I feel comforted by his words. I’d never considered the situation like that before.
“I appreciate you saying that,” I say softly.
“It’s the truth.”
I decide to shift to him. “So there’s my damage. Tell me yours.”
Niko laughs. “Do we have time? I have a lot of damage to go through.”
I laugh with him. “You’re lying.”
“Oh, you think so? Prepare to be overwhelmed with my personal crap.”
I tuck up my legs underneath me. “I’m in listening position.”
Niko flashes me a sexy grin, and my pulse jumps in response.
“Okay. I grew up in Baltimore’s Greektown with my parents and older brother, Dimitri. Dimitri was the smart one. I always had crazy TV dreams, as my parents would say. Because they saw a bright future for Dimitri, he got to study all the time while I had to work in their bakery after school. My studies didn’t matter because I was going to take over the bakery for them someday. So while I was scrubbing the floor and taking out the trash every night, Dimitri got to study, play sports, go to club meetings, et cetera. To look good on his college applications, you know.”
The unfairness of what happened to Niko hits me in the heart. His parents showed zero regard for his dreams and forced him to sacrifice everything to help his brother achieve his.
“Anyway, Dimitri went to law school, graduated at the top of his class, and is practicing law in Baltimore. He married a Greek girl and has a beautiful baby boy. He did everything they wanted.”
“And you didn’t.”
Niko runs his hand over his five o’clock shadow. “No. My parents said TV was a pipedream. Stupid. So they put all their money into Dimitri’s education and left me to my own devices. Needless to say, I’m 27 and still paying off a mountain of student loan debt.”
I swallow. I once again realize how blessed I am that not only did my parents support my TV dream, but encouraged it and paid for all of my education.
“And then there’s the problem of marrying a Greek woman,” he adds.
“Are you supposed to?” I ask, incredulous.
Niko laughs. “Um, your expression kills me. But yes. I’m supposed to marry a Greek woman and have Greek children. That is the only acceptable path for my life. My mom has been researching potential candidates for years now.”
My heart catches. Could this be true? That Niko would truly only marry someone of his own ethnic background?
Shit, I’ve lost my mind. Marriage ? Why am I thinking of marriage? For all I know, this conversation could take a turn and crash and burn. Or if it went farther, he could be a crappy kisser.
My eyes instinctively move to his mouth. And oh, those sexy full lips. I can imagine what it would be like to kiss him, to feel his five o’clock shadow burn against my face as the kiss intensified—
There’s no way Niko could be a crappy kisser.
“But I’m going to throw out my really dirty laundry now. Are you ready?”
I blink, mortified by my thought process. Don’t worry about marriage, Lexi , I scold myself. Or kissing or anything else. Right now you are two people having coffee. Period.
“I’m ready,” I say, refocused on our conversation.
“I’m going to marry who I want. I’m not going to
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