I wanted to tell him that he was overreacting, but he wasn’t.
Ever since that night in the alley several weeks ago, Nicky and I hardly spoke. We would make nice in public, but it never amounted to anything more than that. We hadn’t hung out either.
Veronica had spent time with each of us separately. But nothing else happened between the three of us and definitely not where it was just her and either one of us.
“I just want you to know before you get any ideas in your head, that I’m not fucking Nicky.”
I opened my mouth to argue and tell her that I didn’t care if she did in fact fuck him but let out a hard sigh instead. “Thank you,” was the only thing I could get out.
That conversation had been a few days ago. I realized that both Nicky and I would go through her to find out what the other was doing. She was our sounding board. We had built a fast friendship and I considered her one of my best friends now.
“Noah.”
I jumped, finding Presley standing there with a deep frown on his face. “Sorry. I…”
“Listen.” He came up to me and cupped my shoulders. “I love you. I love both of you. But between you and my brother, I don’t know who’s worse. Whatever you’re doing, whatever it is that you’re trying to prevent, it’s not healthy. For any of us.”
“He hurt me,” I told him.
“He told me what he did but, Noah, it could have been far worse. He even told me that he was scared of his feelings for you. He said that he told you that, so why are you being a stubborn ass and not letting either of you have what both of you want?”
“I…I don’t know.” And I didn’t. Presley was right. I was being stubborn.
“I think you need to go find him.” Presley pulled away and grabbed a case of beer off the table. “You do know that he’s stayed in town this whole time because of you right?”
“I thought…” I had no idea what I thought because it wasn’t like I actually talked to Nicky about it. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” Presley gave me a sly grin. “Guess you’ll have to figure that out on your own.”
“You are not helpful,” I mumbled. Sending Nicky a text, I made it short and told him to meet me at Coffee Beans & Love. When I left the kitchen, I was stopped short by Nicky standing by the front door.
He held up his phone. “I got your text.”
I didn’t bother asking him how he got there so quickly and went up to him instead. Without even hesitating, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him toward me. He took the hint and crushed his mouth to mine.
SEVENTEEN
Nicky
I was kissing himagain. After what felt like a lifetime of us being apart, Noah’s mouth was finally back on mine. I had given him space, unsure if that was what he wanted or not, but I couldn’t be around him for long without needing to touch him. To have him in my arms. To tell him how I felt. It had been weeks since that little conversation in the alley and it had been weeks from hell.
“We’re leaving,” was the only thing I said before I grabbed his hand and all but dragged him out of the restaurant. I was vaguely aware of people watching us. His friends, my brother, random customers who didn’t know us.
“Nicky.”
I spun on him. The move was abrupt, and it forced him back a step. With wide eyes, he stared at me.
“We’re going back to your place. Not to fuck but to talk. I need to know every single thing you’ve done these past several weeks. I need to know what I’ve missed out on.”
He opened his mouth to argue I was sure, but instead he only nodded.
“Good boy.” Tightening my hold on his hand, I led the way to my car that was parked across the street. When we neared it, Noah pulled his hand from mine, his eyes dropping to what lay in the back seat.
“Are you leaving?” he asked, nodding to the suitcase and boxes.
“Nope.” I went around to the driver’s side of my car. “I’m staying.”
“You are?” Noah joined me in the car, sitting in the passenger seat. “Please tell me you’re not kidding.”
