Chapter Thirty-Three EVERLEIGH

Chapter Thirty-Three

EVERLEIGH

I knock on Nico’s partially open bedroom door before I walk inside, knowing that he’s in there.

Knowing that we still need to talk.

“Come in,” he calls, and I enter his room, lingering by the door.

He’s sitting on the edge of his bed wearing a pair of black sweats.

Nothing else.

I swallow hard, trying my best not to look at his glorious, naked chest, but it’s difficult when there’s that much bare skin on display.

“Hey.” I offer him an awkward wave. “I wanted to thank you for the flowers. And the apology.”

“You’re welcome.” Both his voice and his expression are solemn. “Dinner turned into a shit show, huh?”

“The food was really good.” I smile at him. “The best steak I’ve ever had.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He leans back, pressing his hands into the mattress behind him, putting his torso on complete display for my greedy eyes. I’m enjoying this feast too. “Sorry everything went sideways.”

“That wasn’t your fault. And I’m thinking all of that needed to be said. Have you heard from Gavin?”

“No. I texted him, but he hasn’t replied.”

“I tried texting Sienna, but she’s quiet too.” I lean against the doorjamb. “I hope they’re okay.”

“I’m sure they are. If I were to guess, I’d say they were probably fucking each other’s brains out at this very moment.”

The moment the words are said, they hang heavy in the air, making me think all kinds of things, every one of them involving the two of us. Naked.

I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing too.

“If that’s what she wants, then more power to her.”

His gaze locks with mine, dark and oh-so serious. “And what do you want, Ever?”

“In regards to what?” I ask shakily, ignoring the nerves suddenly rattling around in my stomach, making it twist.

“Me. And you. Did I fuck it all up? Have I blown all of my chances?” His brows lift in question.

The words get stuck in my throat, and I swallow down the lump that formed there. “No. You haven’t blown all your chances.”

He smiles.

“Yet,” I tack on.

The smile fades, and then he’s shaking his head. “You know just how to bust my balls.”

“Someone has to.”

“My mom would like you.” I go still at his casual comment. Men with flirtatious I’m a player–type reputations like Nico’s don’t usually want the women in their life to meet. “I talked to her today. She was the one who put my head on straight.”

“How?”

He sits up, the muscles in his stomach rippling. God, he is a beautiful male specimen. “She has a theory she learned from my grandpa. Want to hear it?”

“I would love to.”

“Come here and sit by me, and I’ll tell you.” He pats the mattress, his gaze shooting to mine. “I won’t try anything. I swear.”

I push away from the door and sit next to Nico on the foot of the bed, keeping a respectable but not-too-far distance from him. “Tell me.”

“It goes like this—if you’re having a bad day, if you think everyone in your life is a jerk. Treating you like crap. If you keep thinking that over and over, with every encounter you’re having, sometimes you need to take a step back and wonder—am I the asshole?”

“Okay.” I nod, absorbing his words, a little laugh escaping me. “I think I get it.”

Nico reaches out to take my hand in his. “I’m the asshole. I was an asshole over the weekend, and I was a giant one today at practice. I’m sorry, Ever.”

He squeezes my hand, and I feel that touch all the way to my soul.

“Thank you for apologizing. I can’t lie—you were a total asshole at practice today.” He ducks his head, a faint smile on his face. “But you weren’t an asshole on Sunday. Or Saturday either.”

“Yeah?” His smile is faint. “So you don’t regret what happened between us?”

“No. I wanted it.” He turns to fully look at me, my hand still in his. “I wanted you.”

“And then I came on too strong Sunday.”

“You were coming on really strong. And while it was flattering, it was also shocking. That kind of—scared me.”

“That’s why I lashed out at practice.” He interlaces his fingers with mine. “I’m not used to rejection.”

“Aw, poor Nico.” I’m teasing him. “A girl rejected him.”

“You did. You ran straight out of my room.” He settles our linked hands in his lap, and I can feel the heat of his body through the thick cotton of his sweats. “I’ve missed you.”

I melt at the sincerity in his voice.

“It’s been barely twenty-four hours,” I remind him.

“Doesn’t matter. It didn’t feel right, not being able to just talk to you.” He tugs me a little closer. “Did you miss me?”

Old me would’ve said no. Old me would’ve played this off and tried to change the subject.

But if he’s willing to change, then I should be too.

“Yes,” I admit. “The minute I ran out on you, I regretted it.”

His gaze lingers on my face, dropping to my lips. “I need to do this right.”

“Do what right?”

“You.” He laughs when I poke at his side with my free hand. “I mean you and me. Us.”

A little thrill shoots through me at his using the word us. “How are you going to do this right?”

“I need to treat you like a woman I’m interested in versus my roommate whose bedroom is conveniently located across the hall from mine.” He’s grinning, and the sight of it steals my breath.

My thoughts.

“I mean, that is pretty convenient.” I lean into him, pressing my cheek against the solid rock that is his shoulder. I remain there, savoring the simple joy of feeling connected to him, and he releases his grip on my hand, shifting his arm so it slides around my shoulders.

“Want to go on a date tomorrow night?”

“A date?”

He grabs hold of my hand again, sliding his fingers between mine. The seemingly innocent touch sets off a fresh wave of tingles sweeping over my skin, my breath catching when he slides his thumb back and forth along the side of my hand. “Yeah. I’ll take you to dinner. Maybe catch a movie?”

“That sounds—normal.”

Nico chuckles. “Normal?”

I’m nodding, even with my head still pressed to his shoulder. “Like something a regular couple would do.”

“What do you say?”

“I’d love to go to dinner and a movie with you.” I pull away from his arm so I can smile up at him, and he leans down, brushing my mouth with his in the gentlest of kisses.

“Thanks for giving me another chance,” he murmurs, pressing his forehead against mine. “I’m going to do my best not to fuck it up.”

I can’t help myself—I start to laugh. “That instills a lot of confidence in me.”

He chuckles too. “I’m going to prove to you that I can do this. I’ll be the best boyfriend you’ve ever met.”

I pull away slightly, wanting to make sure I heard him right. “Are you serious? You’re saying the word boyfriend now?”

His expression solemn, he nods. “Guess I didn’t make my intentions clear enough. I’m in this to win your heart, Everleigh Olmstead.”

I blink at him, my breaths coming faster. And when he leans in and delivers a heart-stopping kiss to my lips, I almost admit .?.?.

He’s already won it.