Chapter Twenty-One NICO

Chapter Twenty-One

NICO

Ever is fucking adorable when she’s concentrating. Her fingers were flying over that keyboard just a moment ago, her mouth turned down into the slightest frown as she nodded along with whatever song she was listening to. I’m done with my essay. When she bumped into me earlier, I was close to finishing already, but I wasn’t about to lose my opportunity to talk to her. Just the two of us.

Alone.

Yes, I’ve been avoiding her, but I’ve also been busy. I have a stack of assignments this week. It’s that time of the quarter when everything hits hard and it’s make or break. I’m not about to break. I don’t have much longer to do this school gig, and I’m going out on top.

I study her as covertly as I can, taking in what she’s wearing. The oversize light-gray sweatshirt I assume she got from Sienna, with the light-blue UCSM across it. The neckline is stretched out, revealing the turquoise strap of her sports bra, and I focus in on that spot. Wondering how soft her skin might be. I bet no one touches her there. Wonder what she’d do if I kissed it—

Probably kick me in the balls and scream at me to never touch her again. That’s what she’d do.

Damn. Just thinking about it makes my balls want to shrivel up and disappear.

Her declaring us as “just friends” didn’t help matters. She’s all I can think about.

It’s worse now. I’m borderline obsessed with the woman. I can hear my mother’s voice now. She’s told me this time and again.

You always want what you can’t have.

Yep, you’re so right, Mom. I do. And right now, I want my roommate.

I stretch out my legs, accidentally brushing against Ever’s foot, and I retract my legs back into position, but she doesn’t even react.

Huh.

This time I do it on purpose, looking for any kind of reaction. Now it’s her turn to pull her foot back, like she’s the one who knocked into me, but otherwise, no outward reaction.

Feeling like a little kid who kicks the girl he likes because he doesn’t know how to tell her his feelings, I do it again, rubbing my foot against hers. Trying to curl my leg around her leg even. The sweats she has on ride up a little bit from my nudge, and I’m touching bare skin. Which is a real fucking disappointment considering I have my Nikes on.

A missed opportunity.

This time she looks up, irritation flaring in her pretty eyes. “Are you trying to distract me?”

I shrug, playing it cool. “You’re super focused.”

“I need to finish my paper.” Yep, there’s irritation in her voice.

“How much longer until you’re done?” Maybe she’ll want to get out of here. Go get a drink.

Yeah. I’m guessing her answer would be no.

“Probably another page and a half,” she answers.

“Cool.” I nod, pushing my glasses back into place when they start to fall.

Her eyes flare with an unrecognizable emotion, and I wonder what that’s all about. Otherwise, she says nothing.

“I’ll leave you alone,” I finally say, returning my focus to the computer screen.

She remains quiet and starts typing again while I add some finishing touches to my essay before I finally turn it in to my professor via email. I grab my notebook and glance over the list I made Monday morning, checking off the assignment, reading over what’s left that still needs to be done.

I have two tests Thursday, which sucks, but I can manage it. As long as I focus on getting one item done at a time, it’ll be easy.

Somewhat.

I hear Ever sigh and glance up, watching as she snaps her laptop shut and shoves it into her backpack. I’m frowning, wishing she’d talk to me, but she’s still quiet. She gathers her things and puts them all away before she rises to her feet, jerking her backpack over her shoulder.

“I need to go,” she announces when she catches me watching her. “See ya.”

That’s it. No I’ll see you at home or Hey, that was fun.

Just a simple see ya before she hoists her backpack strap higher on her shoulder, turns on her heel, and scurries away.

I glance around the table, wondering what the hell that was about.

Then I scramble, shoving everything I brought into my backpack, zipping it closed as I stand and go after her.

It’s darker back here in the depths of the library, but I think I spot her in the near distance. I hurry my steps, wondering what the hell could be back here that she’s seeking out, when I spot it.

The restrooms.

She pushes her way through the door marked WOMEN, and it slams shut with a rattle. I glance around, wondering if anyone is in there. Where we’re at is pretty much empty, all the action happening at the front of the library, and I hesitate for a moment, contemplating my next move.

I wait for what feels like forever but is probably no longer than a minute. Maybe two. Enough time passes to make me contemplate if I should go inside. What if something’s wrong with Ever? I don’t want to invade her privacy but .?.?.

Fuck it.

I barge my way into the women’s bathroom, stopping short when I see Everleigh standing in front of the sink, washing her hands.

“Are you following me?” She shuts off the water and grabs a couple of paper towels, drying her hands as she studies me.

Great. Now I feel like a stalker.

“I was worried about you.” Which is partly true. But she looks great. Normal.

I overreacted.

“Really.” She tosses the paper towels in the trash. “Well, I’m fine. No need to worry.”

“Okay. Good.” I hesitate, watching her for a moment. I feel like an idiot. I shouldn’t have run into the bathroom, but here I am. “It’s just that you .?.?. took off so fast. You didn’t give me a chance to say anything.”

Her shoulders sag, and I realize her backpack is propped against the wall nearby. I do the same, letting mine drop by the door.

“What could you say, Nico? Are you mad I didn’t give you a chance to say goodbye?” She sounds weary. Poor thing. She’s overworked lately.

“No, of course I’m not mad.” I approach her carefully, not wanting to scare her or, worse, make her run. “It’s just that .?.?.”

“I left you because I couldn’t focus,” she blurts, clamping her lips together the moment the words leave her. Her eyes are wide and a little panicked. Like she regrets just admitting that.

“Why couldn’t you focus?”

A sigh leaves her, and she waves her hand in my general vicinity. “Look at you. You’re a walking, talking distraction.”

Maybe I should be insulted, but I’m not. More like I’m relieved.

“I feel the same way about you,” I admit, taking small steps toward her. I’m so close, I can almost touch her.

She takes a couple of steps in the opposite direction, still facing me, until her back hits the white-tiled wall. “We’re supposed to remain just friends. Remember?”

“Uh-huh.” I close the rest of the distance between us, my hands going to her waist, lightly pinning her to the wall. She tilts her head back, her gaze troubled, almost defiant. I shift even closer to her. Until I can feel her body heat absorbing into mine. “Hey, guess what?”

Ever frowns, a little line forming between her eyebrows. “What?”

“You’re a walking, talking distraction too.” I dip my head, my mouth hovering above hers. She’s trembling. I can feel her body shake. Can tell by the way she breathes. I shouldn’t push her. I shouldn’t put her in this position, but it’s like I can’t help myself.

“Nico .?.?.” My name is like a sigh, and when she curls her fingers into the front of my T-shirt, that’s what does it for me.

That’s what makes me lose control.

I kiss her. Testing her. I don’t come on too strong or press too hard. I keep my touch light, a barely there promise.

She responds, returning the kiss, her body straightening, her other hand settling on my chest. Not to push me away .?.?.

No, she’s got handfuls of my T-shirt clutched in her fists, like she needs to hang on for dear life.

Our mouths connect and break apart again and again, her lips parting more and more until I take my chances and slide my tongue against hers. A whimper sounds low in her throat, and then it’s on.

We’re kissing. I pin her against the wall with my body, pressing my hips against hers. She runs her hands up my chest, curling her arms around my neck, and I slide my hands around her waist, jerking her to me.

She goes willingly, whimpering again, and when I circle my tongue around hers, that whimper turns into a full-fledged moan.

Fuck.

I devour her mouth, holding her to me, kissing her with everything I have. Warm lips and tangling tongues and soft sighs. Her even-softer body seems to melt into mine, and I shift my hands downward, just about to pick her up so she can wrap those long legs around my hips, when I hear someone gasp.

And it’s not Ever.

We stop kissing at the same time, our heads swiveling toward the open door of the bathroom. An older woman is standing there, an employee badge hanging from a chain around her neck, and I swallow hard, trying to control my breathing.

“Young man, this is the women’s restroom,” she says in a shrill voice.

I reluctantly pull away from Ever, sending her a look before I turn my focus—and charm—to the librarian. “Sorry about that. I got .?.?. lost.”

She crosses her arms in front of her ample chest. “Uh-huh.”

I amble my way toward her and grab my backpack from where I left it by the door. Glancing over my shoulder, I send Ever a quick look before I flash a smile at the older woman. “Excuse me.”

The librarian steps out of my way, and I exit the bathroom, turning almost immediately to the right so I can wait for Ever in between the rows of dusty old books.

I can hear the librarian talking to Ever, and then they’re both leaving the bathroom.

Together.

Shit.

They start to walk past, and I make a weird whistling sound, catching Ever’s attention. She spots me, her eyes wide before her gaze shifts to the still-walking librarian, and thank God Ever stops, leaning against one of the shelves.

I wait a few seconds, wanting the woman to be long gone and out of earshot before I speak. “That was a close call.”

Everleigh’s response is to sigh, shaking her head. “We should’ve never done that.”

“Why not?”

“You know why not.” She marches toward me and pokes me in the chest. So hard I take a step back, rubbing at the spot where she did some damage. “I asked you to keep things between us as just friends.”

“I was keeping it friendly.” I put on my most innocent face, because come on.

That kiss was pretty fucking friendly.

“And you got us in trouble.”

“You were at fault as much as I was,” I remind her.

She glares at me, seemingly at a loss for words. All she can manage to say is, “You’re annoying.”

Like I haven’t heard that one before. “Tell me you didn’t feel anything when we kissed.”

Ever remains quiet, but she’s breathing hard. Like she’s battling a massive internal struggle.

“See? You can’t say it.” I’m feeling smug. And positive that we’re going to take this back to the house and make some more magic happen. Hopefully in the privacy of my bedroom.

Only because I have the bigger bed.

“I felt absolutely nothing when we kissed.” She stands up straight, flicking her hair behind her shoulder. “There. How does that make you feel?”

Before I can respond, she’s gone, shooting down the aisle and most likely heading for the front of the library. Her scent still lingers, though. As do the taste of her lips and those breathy little whimpers she made too.

I rub at my chest again, pressing against the spot where she poked me. A direct hit on my heart. What she said just now?

Makes me feel like shit.