Evgeni
"Huh." He laughed at his phone.
His girlfriend, Victoria, stepped out of the kitchen to see what his laughter was about. He looked up to see her standing with a cocked brow.
"What's so funny?" She asked, walking over to him.
She sat on his lap in the recliner he was in. His arm wrapped around her waist as he scrolled on his phone. He showed her the screen.
"Sunny got girlfriend." He explained.
"What the hell? Who would be willing to put up with Beau's shit?" She scoffed.
"You put up with my shit." Geno gave her a toothy grin.
"Only because you were nice before I realized how much shit I had to put up with." She rested her hands on his neck.
He chuckled before kissing her. They broke apart and she snuggled against him. He put his phone on the arm of his chair, draping his arm over her thighs. He dragged his fingers over the bare skin.
"Do you have to go?" She sighed, playing with his giant hand on her thigh.
"Yes. I'm play for Russia. We win gold." He explained.
He looked at Victoria as she frowned. He kissed her cheek. She smiled a bit. He knew she hated wanted him to show her more of his home, but he could always do that in the off season. She climbed off him but he held onto her small hand. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Stay." He spoke.
"I can't, babe. I have to finish our dinner." She told him, pulling her hand.
"I'm help?" He offered.
She grinned. "If you want."
He nodded, standing up. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she guided him into the kitchen. He had to bend to her height in order to rest his chin on her shoulder.
He loved Victoria. They'd been together since his second year with the Penguins. They met in a club in Chicago. She was visiting her friend who lived there. He was drunk and doing his best to impress her, all though his English was poor. The guys helped him to the best of their ability.
The pair exchanged numbers. They texted back and forth for months. Geno would make trips to see her when he could. Eventually, the began dating and a year into their relationship, he nearly begged her to move to Pittsburgh. She did and that's when he knew he was in love with her.
He stood beside her as she stirred things on the stove. He had no idea what she was cooking but she had begged to make him dinner. They were staying at his house in Russia and the stove had never been used. Nothing in the house had been used.
Victoria finished their dinner. She insisted he sat while she served it to him. He caved and sat at the table. He rolled his eyes at her as she brought in a plate for him. She walked back into the kitchen. He waited until she walked out with a plate for herself and sat at the opposite end from him. He dug into his meal as soon as she was settled.
"I'm give dessert." He spoke.
"Oh? What's for dessert?" She laughed.
"Me." He smirked.
She rolled her eyes as she ate. His eyes stayed on hers as he ate his dinner. He could tell she was avoiding his eyes.
"Tori," He boomed. She looked up at him. "You know I love."
She smiled. "I love you too."
"So stop look so sad. I'm see everyday. I'm just play too." He explained.
"I know. I'm just not used to sleeping without you. I mean, I even go to all your away games." She sighed.
"That why we have fun tonight." He stood, walking over to her. "Bedroom?"
He extended a hand to her. She rolled her eyes, taking it. He grabbed her waist and kissed her neck as they walked to the bedroom.
Geno woke up at seven, doing all her could to get ready and keep Victoria asleep. He finished what he needed to do. He gave her a kiss before setting off.
After a lot of thinking at his practice, he sent his Canadian friend, Sidney, a text. He needed advice and the one man he trusted over everyone was Sid.
"Do you love her?" Sidney asked.
"That not question, Sid." He rolled his eyes.
"Then why are you asking me what you should do?" Sid shook his head. "If you don't think what you're doing is right, stop yourself."
"Not that easy." Geno argued.
"If it's easy enough to do in the first place, why can't it be easy to avoid?" Sidney quizzed.
"You asshole." Geno growled.
"You asked for my opinion! I'm just giving it!" Sid exclaimed.
"You opinion not helpful." Geno stated as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"No, you just don't like that I'm not making it as difficult as you are." Sidney said in a matter of fact tone.
"I'm still think you asshole." Geno hissed.
"I don't understand you damn Russians." Sid sighed. "You'd get mad if I made it worse but you get mad if I try to make it better."
"I'm don't know what do!" Geno yelped.
"Do the right thing." Sidney smiled.
After their lunch date, Geno knew what he needed to do. He got back to the hotel his team was staying at. Their first game was the following day. He sat on his bed, dialling Victoria's number.
"Hey, how was practice?" She answered.
"Tori, you love, right?" He asked.
"Yeah, of course I do." She giggled.
"Forever?"
"And ever. What's up, G?" She quizzed.
"I'm just like to hear." He admitted.
"Okay. You should probably head to bed, babe. First game tom,"
"Yeah. Love Tori." He cut her off. "See tomorrow?"
"Of course. I'm your biggest fan." She told him.
He ended the call. He knew what Sidney told him to do had to be done. He was scared and felt sick to his stomach, but he was going to do it. He was going to do the right thing. The thing that needed to be done.

Notes