Of course, I scroll down.
She’s pretty but so ordinary for him.
Gold-digger alert.
He could do so much better!
Why is he slumming it in some small town?
Did he knock her up? Is that why?
Life isn’t fair.
My stomach drops. It’s worse than what I thought.
“Hey.” Nick takes his phone back. “Don’t. They don’t know our situation. They don’t know us.”
“It doesn’t look like anyone wants us together,” I say, trying to sound unaffected.
“They will never like anyone I’m with. Ever. You’re gorgeous, and haters will try to tilt your crown. Don’t let it get to you, okay? All that matters is you and me and what we think.”
“Okay,” I say. “What do you think?”
“Forever might be nice,” he says.
I crack a smile and pull on yoga pants and a sweater.
Nick sits on my bed, watching me. “When’s the last time you took a real day off and just rested?”
I try to think. “Um …”
“Exactly.” His hands rub my hips. “Spend today catching up on sleep. I’m going to get us breakfast. Real food, not just coffee and croissants.” He kisses me. “I’ll send a car for you at seven.”
“A car?”
“Trust me.” He stands. “You need actual sleep if we’re going to be up late tonight.”
“Ooh, what does that mean?” I ask.
“Tonight is our secret,” he says.
“Absolutely,” I say.
The anticipation of what he has in store is almost too much. Because this, us, whatever we’re doing—it’s ours. Just ours. The rest of the world doesn’t need to know the details.
The town thinks we’re dating, but they don’t need to know about our situation behind closed doors, about the list, about what really happens when we’re alone.
Am I already breaking rules by wanting to shout from the rooftops that Nick Banks just gave me an orgasm in my shower?
“So pretty.” He kisses me once more.
“Should I wear a dress? Jeans? A parka?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says.
“Nick!”
“Wear whatever makes you comfy. But we’ll be outside.”
