I turn to face him more, taking his hands in mine.
“Wherever it is, we will make it work. If I have to move, I—”
“No,” Roman says, cutting me off. “No, you can’t leave your family.”
“I’m not a baby, Roman. I want to be withyou. If I need to move, I will. I can visit my family. You can’t give up everything and I give up nothing.”
“I don’t want either of us to give anything up, Nico.”
“Roman, please. Just trust me, okay? And… maybe let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Once we know what team you’re going to, we can talk about it then.”
“Deal.” He leans in to kiss me.
There’s a knock on the door, then it beeps, and it opens.
I look at the both of them with a knowing grin. Connor’s cheeks turn a little pink, which…
“Mon Dieu, Connor. Is that a blush I see?” I say.
“Knock it off, Nico,” Étienne chastises.
“How can I? It’s such a beautiful color.”
Étienne gives me the middle finger, while Connor hurries over to his bag, taking the entire thing into the bathroom.
“You scared him,” Étienne hisses.
“Connor? Scared?” Roman says with a disbelieving laugh.
“He’s fragile,” Étienne argues.
Roman scoffs. “Are we talking about the same person?”
Étienne crosses his arms, popping a hip. “Don’t be jealous that I know him better.”
“Better?” Roman barks out a laugh. “No way. But whatever side of himyousee, I’m glad it’s you and not me.”
He throws his arm around me, pulling me close. I smile up at Étienne.
“I thought we were getting breakfast?” I say.
“I said Connor and I were getting breakfast,” Étienne says.
“No, I’m pretty sure you saidwe.”
“As inmeandConnor.”
“Hm, not what I heard. And I’m starving. Oh, and don’t forget that I drove here…”
“Wow,Rabat-joie. Thank you, once again, for ruining—”
“Uh, uh.” I hold up a hand. “Finish that sentence and you can walk home.”
I get to my feet as the bathroom door opens.
“We ready?” Connor asks, looking at Étienne.
“Yes,” I say. “We are. Right, Roman?”
