C only laughed, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t have one without the other, or it wouldn’t be you. Nero, the kind and smart golden boy who’s bad at psychology, but also the badass quarterback just a little jagged around the edges.”
I could’ve melted. I would’ve, if not for that one thing about psychology.
“Excuse me? Are you using my inability to fake diagnose mental illnesses as a pointforme, oragainstme?”
That earned another laugh from C, defensively raising her hand up beside her head. “I’m just saying! You’re like really good at everything… except psych.”
Her teasing continued as I led her to our ride, opening the door for her before I rounded the truck to get in myself. It wasendearing to finally see her relax on our date, making it feel like we really were just hanging out, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As C fiddled with the radio and sang along to some songs on our way to the restaurant, I came to the conclusion in that twenty-minute ride that Cosette Evangelista should be considered a traffic hazard.
I couldn’t stop staring at her.
At how she looked glowing under the passing streetlights.
How she’s grown into such a beautiful woman—inside and out. How damn lucky I am that even if things somehow didn’t work out, she and her boyfriends allowed me to have this one night with her.
Though, who am I kidding?
Beneath the surface of this ‘kind and smart golden boy’ really had a darkness not everyone could see. And that part of me?
Well, it would want to burn the whole world down, watching the flames dance, if that would give me Cosette.
23
COSETTE
While I do appreciate Nero’s attention since I have craved it from the moment we met, I am still very concerned because he keeps staring at me, and I do not want to die.
Is this what they meant by ‘be careful what you wish for’?
Fortunately, after twenty minutes of my heart beating fast from bothkiligand fear for my safety, Nero and I made it to the restaurant in one piece.
One look at the white building and I’m seriously debating whether I should even offer to split the bill later. Because what if he agrees and I can’t afford my half? Jesus, that’d be more embarrassing than letting him pay the whole thing.
“Looks expensive, Combs,” I muttered as we walked up the front steps and through the gap between the huge wooden doors that gave us a peek of high ceilings inside.
There was a red carpet on the floor that led to the front desk, and the hand I had wrapped around Nero’s arm tightened a bit at the sight of the strict-looking woman waiting for us at the end of it.
“Good evening. May I have the name for your reservation?” She asked, finally showing a smile as we reached her, and somehow shifting from intimidating to welcoming in a snap.
“Azul,” Nero spoke just that one word, and the woman’s grin widened just a tad bit, as did her eyes.
“Mr. Azul, of course. It is our pleasure to have you here tonight. We prepared the best table in the house for you and your companion. If you’ll follow me, please.” The woman sprang into action, tucking two menus to her side as she motioned for us to trail behind her.
“Do you need to leave anything before we proceed inside?” She asked as we approached what I assumed was the coat check room. But as soon as I looked at the little sign in fancy red and gold colors, my body tensed by itself.
Please leave your firearms and other weapons. Failure to comply will result in a ban.
Nero must have picked up on where my mind was going, and I felt his muscular arm around my waist in an instant, his voice soothing as he lowered his head to ask me in a whisper, “Want to leave your jacket?”
Well, really it washisjacket.
“No, I’m good. I’m a bit cold already,” I said, smiling up at him.
She just tipped her head in a slight nod before gesturing for us to follow her again, and we did without hesitation until we reached floor-to-ceiling black curtains. When the hostess shoved them to make space for us to get through, I almost breathed a sigh of relief as the entire place looked like a normal restaurant.
Sure, it was more luxurious than the other places I’ve been to, but there were people laughing at some tables, and while everyone was dressed to the nines, I’m pretty sure there are families here.
