“That’s disgusting,” he comments.
I give him my best ‘I don’t give a fuck’ expression before taking a huge bite out of it. I chew it very exaggeratingly, moaning my pleasure in the delicious combination. Though, I may have taken one moan a little too far and we are both acutely aware of that moment.
My jaw stops checking immediately and our eyes lock as we both stand like statues. I’m the first to resume, slowly swallowing my bite before clearing my throat.
“So what time do you and my sister get the hell out of dodge?” I ask.
He stares at me for half a beat longer than probably appropriate before he clears his throat as well.
“Wheels up at two o’clock in the afternoon.”
I nod at that. “Have a nice flight,” I say as I grab my plate and head to my room because whatever this weird tense moment is, I’m not loving it.
“It was your birthday last night?” he asks, his voice surprisingly soft, uncertain almost.
My feet stop on their own accord, no matter how badly I beg them to keep moving. Turning to look over my shoulder, my eyes meet his.
“Yeah.”
He frowns like he doesn’t like that, though I don’t understand what my birthday has to do with him in the slightest.
“You didn’t tell me.”
My face screws up in confusion as I turn to face him fully, taking a few steps closer so I can lower my voice.
“Why would I? When you and I met the significance of ourpresence in the club was not discussed…clearly. Things would have been very different otherwise, Nicholas,” I scoff.
His gaze is unyielding, not allowing an ounce of emotion to show. Though, I do see his fists tighten by his sides.
“Nico,” he says stiffly.
“What?”
“My name. I hate being called Nicholas. Everyone calls me Nico.”
I tilt my head to the side in confusion. “Then why does Carly call you Nicholas?”
He shrugs his shoulders, and I think that’s all he has left to say until he purses his lips as if he is deep in thought.
“Was it a good birthday? Last night?” he asks.
My eyes roam across his face, carefully inspecting for some kind of clue as to what the fuck kind of angle he’s playing at. When I come up short, I decide enough is enough. Turning on my heel, I make my way to my room once more when he speaks yet again, as if he were intent on not allowing my escape.
“We weren’t together, Carly and me. Last night. We broke up…I broke up with her. We got back together the morning after, kind of. She convinced me to at least come meet your parents and we’d figure it out from there.”
I turn to look at him once more with a shake of my head.
“So the first thing you decide to do when you break up with your girlfriend of three years is go to a sex club?”
He has the decency to look ashamed as he looks down at the floor while he continues.
“I wasn’t sure what kind of place it was until I was there then I…” his words trail off as his jaw tightens.
The air is heavy between us for several moments before a word escapes me before I think better of it.
“Yes.”
He frowns in confusion. “Yes?”
