Chapter Fifteen NICO

Chapter Fifteen

NICO

How am I supposed to answer Sienna’s question in front of everyone when I don’t even know how to respond? Am I jealous of Frank fucking Dollar?

Absolutely not.

I feel sorry for the guy. His shoulder is still messed up, and he’s missing out on a fantastic season. I’m on an absolute high after that win. I ran in a couple of touchdowns, but I’m not the one who saved this game. We were on track to lose.

Thank God we didn’t.

I let my gaze roam over Everleigh, who’s standing there with a perplexed expression on her face. Most likely confused by my reaction.

Hell, I’m confused by my reaction.

She’s adorable even with the smeared face paint on her cheeks. I can tell one of the numbers is my own—my chest puffs up with pride like the egotistical jackass I am—and the other number is Coop’s.

Pretty positive Sienna is responsible for painting those numbers on Ever’s face. Equal opportunity, showing her support for both her roommates on the field. Nice touch.

“Hey, let’s get the hell out of here and go to Charley’s.” This suggestion comes from Gavin, and I sag with relief when I hear it.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” Coop says in agreement while I just stand there and nod.

The stadium is empty, and there aren’t too many people lingering around. It’s late, and I’d guess most of the student attendees are already at the bars. Or at house parties. Frats.

It’s a Saturday night and we won. People are in the mood to celebrate. I know I am.

We all start walking, the girls coming along with us, and Sienna forgets all about me. Instead she’s walking beside Gav, chatting away at him while Ever is standing next to Frank and listening to him talk.

All while I glower like an asshole and try to come up with ways to keep Dollar away from her for .?.?.

Ever.

Yeah. That sounds just about perfect.

“We just had the most major win of the season, and you look like someone pissed in your beer.” This disgusting description comes from my good friend and roommate Cooper. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I bite out, because I still don’t know how to explain myself. “I’m just—”

“Into our roommate? I can tell, considering how you can’t stop staring at her. Pretty sure she’s into you as well,” Coop says conversationally. Like he just mentioned the sky is blue and today is Saturday.

In other words, like what he just said is no big deal.

“I’m not into her.” The lie tastes bad.

Fuck it, I’m into her. What am I doing? Why am I attracted to her? Why do I imagine her naked in my shower and jerk off to the image? Why, why, why?

I have problems. Well, one singular problem.

And she’s walking just ahead of me, unaware of my struggles.

“Whatever you say, man.” Coop is chuckling because he knows I’m full of shit. “Don’t be jealous of Dollar. She just feels bad for him. She already told him to back off, remember?”

What if she tells me to back off? What if she’s not into me and I’m over here wasting my time, lusting after a woman who sees me as just her roommate.

Exactly how I told myself to feel about her, but here I am. Thinking about her all the time. It gets worse as every day passes and she does something sweet, like when she offered to wash my towels when she was doing hers. When she made us dinner all week instead of just the agreed-upon three meals. When she sends one of those shy smiles in my direction—those do me in. I can’t lie. Caught her staring at me when I was out on the field before the game started earlier, and I couldn’t help myself.

I waved at her.

She waved back, and my heart tripped over itself when she did.

Silly. That is not a word I use to describe myself, but she makes me feel silly and hopeful and unsure. Which is not normal for me.

Not even close.

“I feel like I’m in middle school,” I mutter to no one in particular.

Coop laughs. “Want me to deliver a note from you to Ever that says ‘I like you’? I can do it, no problem.”

That is the most middle school thing I’ve ever heard. Might’ve done that a time or two when I was like .?.?. twelve. Ten years ago.

I’d like to think I’ve evolved since then.

“Shut up, asswipe.” I shove him, but he doesn’t even move because he’s as big as a boulder.

My reaction just makes him laugh harder. “What are you going to do about this?”

I’m frowning. “Do about what?”

Is there anything I can do? I was just .?.?. dealing with my feelings. Hoping that they’d pass because this is pointless.

“How you feel about .?.?.” He inclines his head toward Everleigh walking in front of us, oblivious to our conversation. “Her.”

I watch her, my gaze lingering on her ass. She has a good one. Of course she does.

“Nothing. I can do nothing. There’s nothing between us and there never will be anything, so there’s no point in trying.”

“So reactive, damn.” Coop throws his hands up in front of him in a defensive gesture. “Guess you won’t care when guys are flirting with her at Charley’s then.”

“I can’t do anything about it. She’s free to talk to whoever she wants.” Just the idea of someone approaching her, flirting with her, makes me see red.

Vicious, angry red.

“If you really like her, Nico, you can do something about it.” Coop’s voice is gentle, as if he knows he needs to change his approach with me.

“Like what? Tell her how I feel? I don’t even know how to explain it to myself, let alone her.” I shake my head. “And if she feels the same way about me, what can I do about it? Try to establish something with her, only for it to blow up in my face, and then I still have to live with her for the rest of the year? That sounds like a nightmare.”

“She’s cool. I don’t think she’d cause you any problems like Portia.”

I hate that Coop even brought up that chick’s name. She’s the absolute worst. “No one is like Portia.”

“Thank God,” Coop mutters.

“There’s nothing I can do.” I’m repeating myself, so I remain quiet. Coop isn’t talking either. It’s bad enough that I feel the need to fill the silence that’s lingering between us. “I’m just going to let my—feelings for her die a hopefully fast death.”

“Best way to get over someone is to get under someone. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Coop asks.

“I suppose. And there’s no one I need to get over.” I slap Coop on the back a couple of times. “It’s just a harmless .?.?. fixation. I’ll get over it.”

“You don’t get fixated on anything but football,” Coop so kindly reminds me. “But okay. Keep telling yourself that.”

As we move through campus, more and more people show up, swarming all around us. Shouting questions at us and taking photos or videos. It’s a lot, but we’re used to it.

Somewhat. We should probably call the security team and have them escort us around campus.

“Hey, who’s the girl?” someone yells at us at one point, and I know they’re talking about Everleigh. Most everyone knows Sienna is Coop’s sister.

“My friend,” Sienna answers, hooking her arm through Ever’s.

“Oh, come on. I heard she lives with Cooper and Valente,” someone else says.

Shit. This is what I didn’t want to happen.

“She’s our roommate,” Cooper says, sending me a quick look. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

The crowd explodes with chatter, shouting questions at us at a rapid-fire pace. We start walking faster, but it’s impossible to shake any of them, considering we’re surrounded.

“We need security,” I tell Coop.

“Already on it,” Gavin says, glancing over his shoulder at me. “They’ll be here soon.”

Going on pure instinct, I leave Coop and move forward, shoving myself in between Dollar and Everleigh, my attention only for her. “You all right?”

She glances up at me, her eyes wide, her smile fragile. “It’s a little overwhelming.”

“Gavin called security.” We haven’t had to use them this season save for away games, where they always escort us off the bus and into the stadium on game day in case the fans from the opposing teams get a little wild on us. Looks like that’s changing, though.

“I heard him say that.” She glances around, her unease obvious. “Is it always like this?”

“Want me to be real with you?”

She nods.

“Yeah. Most of the time it’s great.” I step closer to her like I can’t help myself, resting my hand on her shoulder. “Right now, not so much.”

“Nico, Nico! Are you and your new roomie more than friends?”

I glare in the general direction where the question came from. “Not at all,” I say firmly, wanting to quash the rumors.

I hate that she’s being questioned and that they’re speculating on a possible relationship between us.

“What about you, Coop? Something going on between the two of you?”

“Definitely not,” Coop answers. “We’re all just roommates. That’s it.”

The crowd’s focus changes when they realize we’re not going to give them the answers they want, and they start questioning Gavin about the game.

“I’m actually offended,” Dollar mutters. “No one asked if me and Everleigh are involved.”

I want to roll my eyes but hold myself in check. “Are you serious right now? That’s what you’re upset about?”

He shrugs, and Everleigh and I share an amused look. My dick twitches at seeing that secret smile curving her lips, and damn it .?.?.

I’ve got it so fucking bad.