Chapter Eighteen NICO

Chapter Eighteen

NICO

I take a quick shower to get out of that goddamn kitchen and away from Ever. Ever in the sexy sports bra and the leggings that cling to her body like a second skin. With the snatched waist and long legs and flat stomach and perky tits. Saw her nipples poking against the fabric of her sports bra earlier when she was leading us through the yoga positions, and I wondered what they looked like naked. Haven’t busted in on her in the shower yet, which is a damn shame. Not that I want to violate her privacy but .?.?.

I sort of want to violate her privacy. Just to get a glimpse of that hot body without any clothes on.

While in the shower, I jerk off because I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to Ever. Once her pretty face and sweet voice start filling my head, forget it. I’m hard just thinking about her, and what am I supposed to do about it?

Old me would make a move on her, flirt with her. Convince her we’d be good together, which probably wouldn’t take much. I think she’s feeling it.

Feeling me.

But we’re both wary, and with good reason. It might be fun at first, fucking around with the roommate, but then reality sets in. Shit gets real, and we might get sick of each other quickly. Then what do we do?

Ever could maybe go live with Sienna, but she’s in a two-bedroom with a roommate, and I’ve been in Sienna’s room. It’s fucking tiny.

And no, it wasn’t like that. I was in Sienna’s bedroom helping her move in along with Coop. She’s like a sister to me. Besides, she’s in love with Gavin.

Who’s a fucking idiot. Didn’t help that he called Ever wifey material. I didn’t like that.

At all.

By the time I’m coming out of the bathroom in only a pair of boxer briefs, I catch the person I just jerked off to opening my bedroom door, her wide-eyed gaze meeting mine before it drops to my crotch.

Shit. I can feel myself getting a semi by her looking at me, and I just blew my wad only minutes ago.

“I’m so sorry!” She closes her eyes and reaches for the door but keeps missing the handle. “I just wanted to tell you dinner is ready.”

“You’ve seen me in my boxers before,” I drawl, enjoying the way she’s scrambling. “And thanks for letting me know.”

Her eyes pop open, and she remains in the doorway, her fingers now grasping the handle. “You’re welcome.”

We both watch each other as I grab the T-shirt I left on top of my dresser and tug it on, making her disappear from view for a brief second. She’s still there once I pull the shirt into place, and I wonder what she’s waiting for. It’s like she wants to say something but doesn’t know how to.

“Did you enjoy it?” she asks.

That is a loaded question. “Enjoy what?”

“The yoga class.”

“Oh.” I nod, rubbing my jaw. I need to shave. Should’ve done it when I was in the shower, but I was too busy playing with my dick. When was the last time I fucked around with someone? I can’t even remember anymore. “Yeah. It was good.”

It actually was. Coop was a patient motherfucker, helping me get into position, and some of those moves were difficult. My muscles were straining at one point, and I regretted ever saying that yoga is for wimps.

Because I did say that. But not in front of Ever.

Her smile lights up her entire face, and I’ve never seen her look prettier, I swear. “I knew you would enjoy it. Okay, hurry up and get dressed. You don’t want the chicken to get cold.”

She’s gone before I can say anything, slamming the door behind her, and I finish getting dressed, sauntering out of my bedroom only minutes later and walking through the living room.

There’s a candle burning on the coffee table. When I enter the kitchen, I see there’s also one burning on the counter, and two are sitting in the middle of the dining table with flickering wicks. There’s jazz playing on the small speaker that sits on the counter, and Coop, Frank, and Gav are sitting at the table with Ever. There’s one empty seat to the right of her, and I slip into it, noting how the table is properly set with silverware flanking my plate—not paper plates either. She went to a local thrift shop and bought a set for cheap. Said it was better for the environment, and none of us protested, though we’re not huge fans of washing the dishes.

But we do it for her. We do a lot of things for her.

We make small talk, but we’re mostly concentrating on the meal. Gavin can’t stop complimenting Everleigh’s cooking skills, and I keep sending him irritated looks. Every time I do this, I see Coop’s amused expression, and it’s annoying. They’re all annoying me tonight. Even Ever, who’s extra beautiful with the candlelight flickering on her face, casting her in shadows. The sound of her voice, how pleased she is by Gavin’s constant flattery, and the way Coop laughs every time Gavin says something nice to her.

“Best damn meal I’ve had in a long time,” Gav says minutes later, pushing his plate away from him as he leans back in his chair. If he pats his belly and burps, I’m going to kick him out of the house. “Thank you, Everleigh. That was delicious.”

“You’re welcome.” She’s blushing, her gaze stuck on Gav’s stupid face, and the words leave me before I can stop myself.

“If you want to marry her, just propose right now, asshole. We get it. You like the way she cooks.”

Coop starts laughing all over again, and I kick him under the table, making him start to cough instead. Frank’s frowning, his gaze switching between me and Gav like he’s at a tennis match. And Gavin is staring at me like I’ve sprouted two heads.

“What the hell is your problem, Valente? Can’t I tell your roommate that she’s a damn good cook?” Gavin’s brows shoot up. His voice is like a challenge. One I’m ready to meet.

“You won’t stop gushing about her.”

“I don’t gush about anyone.”

“You’re gushing about her.” I tip my head in Ever’s direction, but she remains blessedly silent.

The tension grows between us, swirling. Making me angrier. I’m not backing down. Once I’m in it, I’m completing it, and wow, I sound like a total asshole even in my own thoughts.

“You’re being a dick,” Gav finally says.

“You’re always a dick,” I throw back, which is a lie, but I’m pissed.

“Hey, you guys.” This comes from Frank, who sounds nervous as fuck. Gavin and I don’t argue. Like ever. “Ease up, okay?”

“Shut the fuck up, Dollar.” Gavin’s voice is low. I can tell he’s as pissed as I am.

I finally ask the question that’s been on the tip of my tongue since Gav called Everleigh wifey material. “You into her?”

Gavin blinks, obviously confused. “Into who? Sienna?”

“What the fuck?” Coop mutters, shaking his head. “We’re not talking about my sister, dipshit. She’s not even here.”

“I’m talking about Everleigh,” I bite out.

“What? No.” Gavin turns his attention to Ever. “No offense. You’re cute. You’re a great cook, but I’m not like .?.?. attracted to you or anything like that. And damn, that sounded awful but .?.?.”

“I know what you mean,” Ever says, her voice soft. “I’m not offended.”

“Why would you even bring up my sister?” Coop asks Gav.

Frank groans. “I don’t think this is the right conversation to have over dinner.”

Is Coop really so oblivious that he doesn’t realize his sister is madly in love with one of his best friends?

Yeah. I think he is.

“Dinner is done,” I announce, glancing quickly at my empty plate. “And I think it’s a great conversation to have.”

“You need to chill the hell out.” Gav thrusts his index finger in my direction. “Why are you trying to start a fight with me?”

“Because he’s hot for Ever and doesn’t want you sniffing around her,” Coop observes, sounding amused.

“Well, your sister is hot for Gavin, and he acts like he has no idea,” I throw at Coop, angry that he exposed my ass.

“She is?” Coop and Gavin ask at the same time.

Ever leaps to her feet and starts reaching for our dishes, stacking them on top of each other. “All of you are ignorant jerks. Except for you, Frank.”

“Hey, thanks, Ever.” He sounds pleased by her comment, and that just makes me madder.

I pound my fist on the edge of the table, making everything shake, including the candles. The liquid wax even sloshes over one of the wicks and snuffs it out, thanks to me. “Ever is right. You’re both idiots.”

“She called us jerks,” Gav corrects.

“And I was referring to you too,” Everleigh says to me in the haughtiest voice I’ve ever heard. “Like I told you earlier, you’re always grumpy around me.”

“I am not.” Am I?

She rolls her eyes. “And you definitely don’t need to start a fight with Gavin. He was just being nice.”

With that, she takes the stack of plates into her arms and stomps over to the sink, setting them inside noisily. She turns on the water and starts rinsing them off, and I almost want to correct her and say she should scrape off the plates into the trash first, like we always do, but I realize it’s not smart to mess with an angry woman.

Instead I say nothing at all. Neither do the rest of the guys, with the exception of Gav, who is now standing, stretching his arms above his head.

“Hate to eat and run, but I’ve gotta go. Thank you again, Everleigh. That was delicious. One of the best meals I’ve had in forever.”

“Anytime, Gavin,” she calls, her back still to us as the dishes clank against each other extra loud.

He sends us a faintly amused, slightly sympathetic look before he hightails his ass out of our house.

“Want some help?” Frank calls to Ever.

“No thank you,” she sing-songs.

“I need to study for a test. And by the way, you guys are mean as snakes.” Frank leaves, slamming his bedroom door a few seconds later.

Coop is watching me, rubbing his jaw. Doesn’t look so amused anymore, I’ll say that. Now he appears confused. “Are you serious about my sister? She’s crushing on Gavin?”

My exhale is ragged. “Yes. And you’re just as blind to it as Gav is if you’re trying to tell me you had no clue. She’s liked him since her freshman year.”

“How do you know this?”

“She might’ve hinted around to me once or twice,” I hedge, feeling like a shit that I never told him this.

But he’s Sienna’s brother, and I didn’t want to break her trust. Besides, she confessed her undying devotion for Gavin to me one drunken night, never to bring it up again. Once someone tells you that, though, you can’t help but see it in their every little interaction with the person they’re crushing on. It became really obvious to me that Sienna has a total thing for Gav.

“Damn.” Coop sounds truly mystified. “I mean, I know she likes the guy, but I didn’t think it was like that.”

“Oh, it’s definitely like that,” Ever calls from her post at the sink. She’s now started loading the dishwasher.

“You want some help?” Coop asks her, but she’s shaking her head, that ponytail whipping around.

“No thank you.”

Coop sends me a look. One that says I wouldn’t want to be you right now.

“I’ll leave you two alone then.” He pushes his chair back, rises to his feet, and mouths to me, Be nice.

Then he’s out.

What, like I’m not nice to Ever? Please.

With only Ever and me in the room, the tension grows. Thicker than it was between Gavin and me only moments ago. I’m going to have to reach out to him and apologize later. I was a complete dick to him for no reason.

Everleigh still isn’t speaking. She’s too busy slamming plates and glasses into the dishwasher like she’s intent on breaking everything, and after a few minutes of this, she makes an irritated noise and shuts off the water. “Why did you start that fight?”

“What fight?” I am playing dumb on purpose.

“With Gavin. About me.” She won’t look in my direction, and it irritates the shit out of me.

“It was nothing.”

She actually snorts. “Oh, it was something. What’s your problem, anyway?”

I open my mouth and say the first thing that comes to mind. The God’s honest truth.

“You are.”