Player's Guide To Catfishing (PLAYBOOK #1)

CHAPTER 62: Dinner with the Russian mob!

LIAM

After I help Daria wash and stock the vegetables while Odessa waters the garden, she invites me for to stay for dinner.

It makes her daughter tip the watering can, so of course I accept.

I have noticed 3 things since I have walked into the Vecker's large double story, Victorian house. They speak a lot Russian, their house is filled with a lot crosses and I was right, they are wealthy.

Their backyard is big enough to be a soccer pitch and their spacious house full of antiques and expensive art is a dead giveaway they are old money too. Meaning she down played her family's past.

No former baker and butcher would have the different collections I am seeing in this house. The other thing is not really an observation but something I already knew, everyone treats Odessa like a baby.

It's obvious in the way her father adoringly looks at her as she explains the farmer's market and the way Daria fixes her hair while they cook together.

It's refreshing since I usually see her as this dominating, mature girl with a temper that scares the crap out of me. It's nice to see the other side, the softer version she tries so hard to hide.

"So Liam," Romanoff clears his throat. "Didi tells us you play sports?"

We are having dinner with each of us on one side of a very fancy wooden table, it's obvious I am in Felix's seat because it's made for four people.

"Yes, basketball sir, I am 3x champion." I cut into the steak we are having with roasted vegetables and the softest bread I have ever had.

"Going pro?" Daria pours me a glass of red wine.

I give Odessa a look to ask if it's okay and she answers by sipping her own glass, okay Veckers!

"Yes but I promised my father, I would graduate first." I take a sip and it's delicious, it really goes well with the meal.

"That's good, education is important." Daria's accent is very thick but her English is very impressive.

"How did you meet our Didi?" Romanoff is having his meal with whiskey on the rocks instead of wine.

"Funny story, actually." I feel Odessa's intense eyes on me but I still say, "We actually used to date."

My statement makes Odessa choke on her drink, Daria's eyes bug out and her father just sips his drink calmy.

"Date?" Daria tries out the word like she has never said it before.

Vecker kicks very hard to stop me from continuing but I want to make my intentions very clear to everyone at this table, especially her.

"She was my girlfriend and now she is not," I elucidate and Odessa slams her forehead with her hand.

Did I say something wrong?

"For how long?" Romanoff asks with a neutral tone I hope doesn't change.

"A few months." I grin at Odessa and she kicks me again under the table.

I'm pretending it doesn't hurt but it really does, it's like she's gotten stronger these past few weeks.

"And why did you break up?" Daria is filling her glass to the brim.

"She wanted to focus on her music," both her parents look at her. "Now we're just friends," and married but that sounds like a 2nd dinner type of talk.

"Huh." Everyone turns speechless while Odessa jugs down her glass of wine.

The conversation then carries on in Russian between Daria and her daughter. I try to enjoy my meal and ignore the intense show and her father tries his best to stay out of it.