Chapter 11

Niccolò had been quiet and a bit distant over the past few days, which was unusual for him. I wasn't sure why—was it something I'd done? I didn't think so, but there was definitely something going on with him, and I needed to get to the bottom of it.

Booting the ball across the pitch to Liam, I tried to push all my worries from my mind and focus on training. I still hadn't got to play as many games as I'd like, but I'd been working hard on my technique, and after the match last weekend, Bryan, our coach, had singled me out for praise. It was a good sign.

The whistle blew, and I jogged over to the side of the pitch, swiping my bottle of water from the ground and draining half of it in one go. It was so warm today. Half the team had taken their shirts off so we could play skins versus shirts, and as I peeled up the hem of my T-shirt to wipe the sweat from my forehead, I wished I'd been picked for the skins side.

"You coming to the student union after?"

Dropping my bottle, I turned to face Ander, shading my eyes with my hand. "Maybe. I'm waiting to hear from Nic."

He nodded, screwing up his eyes against the bright sunlight as he shoved his hand into his sweaty hair, pushing it back out of his face. "It's too fucking hot for this. I think we should ditch the student union and go to the pub. I need an ice-cold pint in a beer garden." Pausing, he glanced across the pitch to where Elliot was sitting with Noah, sprawled out with textbooks and headphones, having an impromptu study session in the sun while their boyfriends trained. "Speaking of Nic, what's happening with you two? Are you together now, like boyfriends?"

Boyfriends. It was a big step, but it was what I wanted. I wanted Niccolò to be mine officially. Accepting my bisexuality had been surprisingly easy, and a lot of that was down to this group of guys I'd been getting to know over the past few months. Guys who were open and accepting. Guys who were becoming my friends. It had allowed me to see my relationship with Niccolò for what it was—not an experiment or something I was trying out because it was new and exciting, but something I wanted to nurture and grow because I was falling for him.

"No…not yet. I thought…I hoped we were heading that way."

"But?" Ander's full attention was on me now.

"But nothing." Scrubbing my hand across my face, I sighed. "I dunno. I just…he's been a bit quiet lately. It's probably just me being paranoid, but I can't help getting doubts in my head. What if he's had enough of me and he's?—"

Ander thrust his palm in my face. "Let me stop you right there. Take it from someone who went through a whole lot of shit with the person I love, based on assumptions I made that were completely fucking incorrect—" He shook his head violently. "—you need to speak to him. Yeah, I know it's easy for me to say when I don't have to have the conversation, but trust me when I say you'll save yourself a whole load of stress."

I blinked, taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. "Uh…okay. I will. Thanks."

"Good. Don't put it off." He clapped me on the shoulder and then walked away with a grin. The whistle blew again, and I took my position behind Levi to do cone drills, my mind still fixated on Ander's words. He was right. I did need to talk to Nic.

As soon as training was over, I'd find him, sit him down, and find out where we stood with each other.

* * *

My stomach churned with a combination of excitement and dread. I was one of the starting players in today's match lineup. We were playing at home against Brixton, another local team, and Niccolò was here to watch me, sitting in the front row in the seat I'd saved for him. I'd asked him to arrive early, and I'd been relieved when I'd jogged onto the pitch and seen him waiting there for me. We hadn't had a chance to talk in person about everything yet, with both of us having final assignments to complete, and I wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

I came to a stop in front of him, admiring the toned muscles of his legs in his tight trousers, and his fine-knit sleeveless blue top that hugged his torso, shot through with midnight glitter. His hair was more mussed than usual, curling around his ears, and he looked so fucking cute and gorgeous, it gave me butterflies. "Hi."

"Hi."

Crouching down in front of him, I placed my hands gently on his thighs. "Nic, what's up? You've been quiet lately. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Biting down on his lip, he shrugged, staring at the floor.

"Baby, talk to me. If I've done anything wrong, I want to know so I can make it right."

His eyes flew to mine, widening. "No. No, Ben, you haven't done anything wrong. It's me. It's silly. I just…" His cheeks flushed, and he covered his face with his hands. "Ikeepthinkingthisistoogoodtobetrue," he said all in a rush. "Like the novelty will wear off for you."

"Nic." Peeling his hands away from his face, I shook my head. "Why would you think that? Don't you know how into you I am?"

Blinking hard, he held my gaze, his lips wobbling. "But I'm me," he said in a small voice. "I'm full-on and I'm like a fun novelty and everything is so good and so easy between us. How can it last? It's going to kill me when you decide you've had enough."

"Baby." Climbing to my feet, I took a seat next to him, and then tugged him into my lap. "Is this why you've been distant? Because you convinced yourself I'm going to decide I've had enough? Even though that's the furthest thing from the truth?"

His eyes were huge as he stared at me. "It is?"

"Yeah, it is. Your brain is playing tricks on you. You're not a novelty, and there's nothing I'd change about you, okay? Nothing. I want you, and I feel so lucky that I get to have you. In fact…" I paused, lifting my hand to cup his cheek. "I was thinking about asking if you wanted to be my boyfriend. Officially."

He gasped loudly like the little drama queen he was, throwing his arms around my neck and pressing kisses all over my face. I noticed with amusement that he was paying special attention to my dimples. So fucking cute. Dropping one final kiss to my lips, he murmured, "Are you really proposing to me right now? Am I dreaming?"

"Not quite a proposal, but yeah," I said, laughing as I pulled him closer. "What do you say? Want to be boyfriends?"

Drawing back, his face regained its serious expression. "Did you really mean everything you just said? Because I really, really like you, Ben, and being your boyfriend would be…it would be everything."

"Yeah, I mean it. You're amazing, Nic. And you know it. Even better, you're amazing for me."

I could see the moment when his doubts melted away, and he decided to trust that I was telling the truth. His gaze turned warm and soft. "I do know it. Okay. In that case, I would be honoured to accept."

I smiled, kissing the tip of his nose. "Good. That means I can give you your gift now."

"A gift? For me?"

"Yep." Lifting him off me, I dipped down, feeling under the seat for the bag I'd placed there earlier. Opening it up, I drew out the bundle of fabric and placed it in his arms. "A present for my boyfriend, to celebrate making it official."

He shook out the bundle, a choked cry falling from his throat as he took in the LSU football hoodie he was holding. It was the same as the other one he already had, but this one had my name, number, and the logo in glittery black lettering, sparkling in the sun.

"It's sparkly." His fingertip traced my number reverently.

"Yep. Sparkles for my little magpie boyfriend." I couldn't keep the grin from my face. I had a boyfriend. And not just any boyfriend. Niccolò Rossi, the dramatic, cute, wonderful man I was falling for.

Despite the warmth of the afternoon, Nic pulled the hoodie over his head. Hopping off his seat, he did a spin. "How do I look?"

I met his gaze. "You look like mine. Come here and kiss me."

"I am yours." He wound his arms around my neck, kissing me softly. "I'm so happy."

"Me too." Movement at the side of the pitch caught my eye, and I released him reluctantly. "Time for your boyfriend duties. Cheer me on during my match."

He beamed at me. "I'm going to be the best cheerleader you ever had." Before I could join the rest of the team, he gripped my hand. "Wait. Selfie. I want to send it to JJ. He got his man, and now I get mine, and he needs to see the proof."

We took a few photos, and I made him promise to text them to me so I could set one as my phone wallpaper, and after another kiss, I made my way to the centre of the pitch where the teams were lining up.

Ander dipped his head when I reached him, speaking low in my ear. "Did you two sort your shit out?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for, y'know, the talk. We sorted everything out, and he agreed to be my boyfriend."

"Nice!" He slapped my palm, making Travis raise his brows, but there wasn't time for questions.

I glanced back over at the side of the pitch, where Niccolò was on his feet, clapping along with the assembled spectators, his gaze fixed on me.

My lips curved upwards as I moved into position.

We had a football match to win.

And I had my boyfriend cheering me on, every step of the way.