by Toni Aleo
“So, he’s fun.” I close my eyes as his hand snakes around my waist. He pulls me back into him, and I allow him to. At my ear, he asks, “Are you okay?”
I’m shaking with anger. I hate to admit it, but I’m terrified of my dad. As much as I want to believe he can’t do anything to ruin my shitshow of a life, what if he can? I swallow hard as I shrug. “I hate him.”
“Yeah, there is nothing redeeming about him.” He kisses my earlobe. “You’re breathing so hard. It’s okay. I’d never let anything happen to you.” He kisses me again. “Seriously, Aviva, this isn’t good for your heart. Breathe.”
Tears rush to my eyes, and I close them tightly to keep them in. I refuse to cry in front of him. I know he thinks I’m a complete mess. He isn’t wrong. I turn out of his arms. “Thanks. Listen, I’ve got things to do.” I hook my thumb to the shop.
When a tear escapes, I hide my face, but I don’t do a good enough job. Nico grabs my wrist instantly, pulling me to him. I don’t know why I go; it’s like I don’t have control of my body. I find myself trapped in his arms, pressed against his hard chest, and I come undone. A sob bubbles in my throat, and soon, I’m clinging to him as it escapes. Callie could come out at any time, but I truly don’t care. I can’t keep this in. I’m so scared.
He kisses my temple, then the top of my head while whispering comforting words. “It’s okay. Nothing is going to happen. I won’t let it. It’s okay, Aviva. Breathe.”
“I hate him,” I cry, and I hate how hard I’m clinging to Nico. I’ve never let go this completely. Never cried like this in front of anyone, but the thought of losing Callie or even this shop has me freaking the hell out. “I can’t let him take her—”
“He won’t. Aviva, he won’t. It won’t happen. Jaylin would freak and tear him a new one. Plus, Callie wouldn’t go with him. She loves you. You are everything to her. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Why can’t just one thing go right?” I ask, rubbing my nose in his chest. “Just one thing. I feel like I’m always battling something to get ahead. My car—totaled—but since I only had liability, I’m fucked. But I didn’t have the budget for full coverage because it gave me more money to buy supplies for the shop. Jaylin says I can buy her car, but it’s almost a damn freebie for a hundred bucks. So, that’s a no. I gotta figure out how I’m gonna get a car, and leasing one right now just seems impossible. I think I get ahead on my bills, but then my dad steals money from me. The gym wants money for Callie, and I have to pay them because I refuse to allow anyone to pay her way. But I don’t know how. Callie’s savings is diminishing, and damn it, I need one fucking thing to go right.” He tightens his arms around me as his lips trail along my temple. “Ugh, I’m such a mess. Run. Run now.”
He moves his lips along my hairline as he shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere.” His words are such a promise. A promise no one has ever given me. Everyone leaves. Well, except Callie and Jaylin. And so far, Nico.
I hear the door open, the bell chiming, and I freeze. When Callie’s small voice reaches me, I cling to Nico.
“Everything okay?”
I don’t even have time to answer before Nico says, “Everything is fine, Callie. Give your sister a few minutes, okay?”
“Yeah, no problem,” I hear her say, but I know she hasn’t shut the door. “Are you guys okay?”
I close my eyes, and I feel Nico’s chuckles against the top of my head. “We’re fine. Go inside.”
Finally, the door shuts, and I hold Nico tighter. He kisses the top of my head, and I open my eyes. The sun is setting, turning the clouds an amazing pink color. I love nights here. I love this shop. I love my sister, and I really like Nico. I don’t want to fight with him. I already don’t have enough time for myself. The time I do have, I don’t want to spend fighting with someone I like. Someone I want to be around. Someone who makes me feel so good.
I pull back to look at him, only to find him looking down at me. His eyes are such a beautiful brown, and his smirk, it’s breathtaking. “I’m sorry for how things went down that night.”
“That night was great. It was the morning after.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, and it thrills me that he thought it was great too. “Right. The night was perfect.”
“It was.”
“So yeah, I’m sorry for how I handled things.”
He shrugs, moving his hand up my throat to my jaw. “I think we should have used better communication.”
I nod, though I can’t keep from smiling up at him. “Yeah. But I’m sorry I was an asshole when you came in here. Though, you were an asshole first.”
His face breaks into a grin. “That’s a very backward apology, but you’re right. I was, and you were.” He kisses my nose, and I lean into him. With his mouth moving against the spot between my nose and lip, he says, “I shouldn’t have come in here acting all crazy-pants. I thought you didn’t want me.”
“I was scared you didn’t want me.”
He leans back as he slides his thumb along my lip. “So now we know we both want each other.”
“That’s really good to know.”
“It is,” he agrees, playing with my lip.
“What does it mean?”
“Mean?”
“For us.”
“It means I want to be with you.”
“In or out of bed?”
He chuckles. “Very much in the bed, but also out of it. I think we could have something here.”
Could we? I want it so badly, and that has to mean something since I haven’t wanted a relationship in a long time. I felt as if that part of me wasn’t available. But since meeting Nico, that’s changed. I could revert back to questioning my worth to him, but as I look into his eyes, I feel like the most prized jewel. It’s absolutely ridiculous how he makes me feel, and damn it, I love that feeling. So, does that mean we could have something here?
“I think so,” I answer out loud, and his grin takes over his beautiful face. “I’m insanely busy.”
“I’ll work for your time. I’ll make subs if I get to see you.”
Oh heart, be still. “That’s super sweet.”
“It’s true,” he says with a shrug, a little color filling his cheeks. “I’m busy too.”
I shake my head. “I can’t stop a puck, and I sure as hell can’t skate.”
Man, if I don’t love his smile. “Well, I know what our next date will be.”
Yup, I walked right into that.
“But before that, let me make one thing go right for you,” he says, leaning into me.
Between his eyes, his mouth, and his cologne, I’m dizzy. Gone are thoughts of my dad or anything that has to do with him. Nico consumes me, and I have to admit, I’m okay with it.
“What’s that?” I ask, breathless.
He moves closer, his lips touching mine. “Let me make you come.”
Shit, I think I just did. As I gaze up into his eyes, I rise to my tippy-toes and press my mouth into his jaw. “That would make this day a whole lot better.”
“Good,” he says, kissing my nose. “So, I’ll take you and Callie for dinner and then get Callie her ice cream.” Yup, he gets my heart for how he cares for Callie. “Do you like baths?”
I chuckle at his randomness. “I haven’t taken a bath in years.”
He nods. “Then I’ll draw you a bath and then take you right to bed once you’re good and relaxed.”
I swallow hard as I gaze up at him. “Do you know how sexy I find you right now?”
He grabs my butt, pulling me closer, and I can feel the length of him. “Pretty damn sexy. I’m a good-looking dude.”
I snort but just for a second before he captures my mouth with his. As he glides his lips over mine, gripping my ass with his hand, I realize I want this to be real. I want to know everything will work out and fall into place. Problem is, this is my life, and things never fall into place or go well.
I just hope that doesn’t apply to Nico.
&nb
sp; Chapter Eighteen
Aviva
“Anywhere in the world—where would you go?”
I watch Nico’s face as he thinks. Callie is grinning from ear to ear as she eats her cookie dough sundae. Nico took us to a fancy dinner, and it excited Callie to get to dress up. I’m pretty sure Nico did it to see me in a skirt, and I don’t mind. I actually like being all snazzy. Makes me think of Jaylin and how perfect she looks all the time. Nico, well, he’s a heartthrob. He pulled out all the stops in a sexy blue suit that hugs him in all the right places. His hair is brushed to the side, and his grin…well, it doesn’t stop for anything.
Me, I don’t think I’ve ever smiled this much.
“Iceland.”
Callie looks surprised. “Really? It’s cold.”
“Duh, ice, so I can play hockey.”
I laugh along with her. “You’re such a hockey nerd.”
“I am, hands down,” he laughs as he takes a bite of his ice cream. “Where would you go?”
“Barcelona.”
“Really? Why?”
I shake my head. “She wants to go because Ed Sheeran sang a song about it.”
“So?” She holds her hands to her chest. “I want to dance in the streets to it and then eat all the food. He makes it seem so magical.”
I roll my eyes. I want to take her, but I just don’t know when.
Nico grins. “I’ve been. It’s pretty awesome.”
She smacks him playfully. She gets that from me. “Oh my God. Is it? I want to go so bad.”
“Do you have a passport?”
She nods. “Yup. It’s just waiting for the stamp.”
He grins, his eyes cutting to mine. “We should go.”
I shake my head. “Please. I can’t afford that—”
“I can,” he says simply. “I have a plane we can use too.”
Callie is practically slapping me at this point. “Oh my God, Veev! He has a plane we can use. That’s most of the cost. Please!”
I shake my head, sending a glare to Nico. “When, Callie? I work all the time, and he’s doing hockey.”
“Doing hockey?” he asks, and I shrug.
“Playing, whatever. You’re busy, and so I am.”
Nico’s eyes are playful. “You could close for a weekend.”
I scoff. “Not right now. I gotta get ahead, and then maybe.”
“This summer?” Callie asks, almost climbing into my lap. “This summer, Vee. Say you’ll let him take us in the summer. No one wants subs in the summer, and he’ll be done with hockey. Please!”
“Calliope, please. This,” I say, moving my hand between us, “is so new. He might hate us come summer.”
She trains her big beautiful green eyes on him. “Promise me you’ll still love us then.”
Nico looks over at me, that shit-eating grin on his face. “That’s the plan.”
Both of them are thorns in my side.
Thankfully, though, that satisfies Callie. She sits back, grabbing her ice cream. “Okay, then it’s a plan. Don’t mess this up,” she says, pointing her spoon at me.
I laugh as I meet his gaze. “That was your plan the whole time, huh? Lock the kid in so I can’t go anywhere.”
He nods, slipping his hand into mine. “Basically. I know how to get what I want.”
He sends me a sneaky wink, and I shake my head. Oh, I’m playing with some dangerous fire here. He is too much. After making sure Callie is engrossed in her ice cream, I run my tongue along my lips and very seductively drag it over my ice cream.
He looks away, shaking his head. “I see how you’re gonna play this.”
“Torture me, I’ll torture you.” I feel Callie’s gaze, but I ignore it. “You too.”
That sends them both into a fit of laughter. When the laughter subsides, he points his spoon at me. “So, this car thing. Can we talk about it now?” He jerks his head at Callie, and I nod.
“Yeah, she knows.”
“I think I want to buy this truck I’ve been renting, not the actual one but one like it. You can have my other car since it’s not totaled.”
I scoff. “Your red sports thingy? No way.”
He grins. “Why? You’d look hot in that car.”
“So would I when I drive it,” Callie mentions, but there is no way.
“Absolutely not. I think I might just buy Jaylin’s. It’s a Honda.”
“Boring,” they both singsong, and I laugh.
“It’s just fine for me.”
“How about you buy that for her and take mine?”
I hold his gaze. “You can use that death trap as a trade-in.”
He draws in his brows. “Hey, it’s only a death trap when crazy women slam into it,” he teases, and I snort with laughter.
“You got me there.”
He grins. “Take it.”
“No. I swear, I’m good. I’ll take Jaylin for the low price of a hundred bucks and be on my way.”
He holds my gaze, and I think he knows I won’t budge because he nods. “Fine. Can I pay Jaylin?”
“No way. Why would you even ask?”
“’Cause I want to make you smile.”
My heart flutters, and of course, I do smile. “You’re just pissing me off.”
“Your face doesn’t look pissed off,” Callie observes, and I glare over at her.
“You’re about to walk home,” I throw at her, and soon, she is giggling as she gets back on her phone.
When Nico laces his fingers through mine, I hide behind my ice cream to keep myself from giggling like my sister. His eyes are so dark, and he’s so damn smooth. I’m holding a guy’s hand while eating ice cream. I think this is a first. “You’re working tomorrow?”
“All day long. You have a game or practice?”
“Practice, but I’m free Sunday before we leave for two weeks.”
My stomach falls. “You’re leaving for two weeks?”
“Yeah, we have games in Canada and then against the California teams,” he says around his mouthful of ice cream.
“That’s why I don’t have orders for two weeks,” I say, all of it clicking in my head.
“Yeah, sorry. I’d bring you with me, and you could make subs during the day. But at night…” His words fall off since there is a teenager beside us. Unfortunately, my sister doesn’t understand that he was trying to be discreet.
“He’ll want in your pants,” she announces, not even looking at us. She’s on that damn phone, and I want to toss it.
“Callie,” I say sternly, and she shrugs.
“We’re all thinking it.”
I look back to him, and he nods. I roll my eyes and think it’s time for a change of subject. “Well, that sucks,” I say, and I mean it. That is super disappointing. I don’t want him to leave.
“Don’t worry. I’ll call and text.”
“You better,” I say, stroking my thumb along his. “So, I’m closed Sunday. We can do something then.”
“Yes, like go skating.”
I make a face. “I was thinking Netflix and chill.”
That makes the phone drop and Nico’s eyes widen. “Talk about me speaking the truth. Listen to you.”
I draw in my brows. “What? I need to catch up on Stranger Things, and I wanted to eat my weight in Sour Patch Kids. Netflix and chilling with him and my Sour Patch Kids. Not you. You’re not invited.”
Callie looks at Nico, who is laughing—hard. What am I missing? “Thank God! Vee, Netflix and chill means the guy comes over for a hookup.”
My jaw drops. “No way!”
“Get off the damn bread recipe sites and pay attention to reality, please,” she says, and I feel stupid.
I press my hand to my chest as I look back at him. “Did you know that?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“I’m so old,” I cry out playfully, and Callie nods.
“So old.”
Nico’s brow perks. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-two. You?”
&nbs
p; He grins. “Twenty-seven.”
“Mmm, my sister is a cougar.”
“For the love of God, I am not. It’s only five years.”
“Cougar,” she says, and then she rawrrs like the child she is. Lord help me. Nico, he thinks it’s hilarious. “Anyway! Can I stay with Amanda tonight? We’re gonna train for a couple hours and then go to her house for the night.”
I’m still pissed about the cougar talk. I should say no, but I really want that bath and Nico. “That’s fine.”
“Are you going to go skating with us on Sunday?” Nico asks, and she nods.
“Yeah,” she says.
This all feels very right. Like this is supposed to happen. There has never been a third person, but it’s nice to have one now.
When Nico looks over at me, he grins. “What?”
“You fit in.”
“Damn right, I do. I’m awesome.”
Callie nods. “He is.”
Yeah. Yeah, he is.
We don’t even make it up the stairs before Nico has his arms around me. I laugh loudly as he turns me in his hold and presses me up against his front door. He cradles my head in his hands before his mouth captures mine. God, he tastes so damn good. Feels so good. His body envelops mine, holding me so close I can feel his heart pounding in his chest. I know the cadence of my heart matches his. He moves his tongue along my lips playfully, teasing with his teeth and driving me absolutely insane. I have wanted this since he showed up at the shop.
Shit, since I met him.
He somehow gets the door open and walks me inside, guiding me in before kicking the door shut. He holds me in his arms, still kissing me as he locks the door before dropping his keys into a bowl by the door. He pulls his mouth not far from mine. “I am going to undress you, taste every single inch of you, and then put you in the tub where you will relax and not think of anything but how hard you will come when I get you in my bed.”
I draw in a deep breath. His eyes are something wicked for sure. “I think I’m gonna like all of that.”
“Oh, I’m gonna make damn sure you do,” he says against my mouth. “And if I think you don’t, I’ll just bury my face right here.” He cups my pussy, and yup, I’m pretty sure I’m going to die from coming at this man’s hands. It will be a really great way to go. No fucks in the world. Flying on a cloud of desire.