“And what about me? Where do I fit into all of this?”
“I’m still assessing the situation.”
“Thought you had my number, princess.”
“I do. You’re a rich, famous, entitled, difficult, pain in the ass asshole.”
“Ouch,” Nicki whistles. “Don’t mince your words.”
“You’re other things too,” Andrew says. Though Nicki didn’t appear offended by his words, this feels important to say anyway. “Protective, loyal,decent.”
“Don’t go ruining my reputation. People might think I’m something I’m not.”
“Would it be so bad if people knew the real you?”
“That entitled rich asshole is the real me.”
“Maybe,” Andrew says, because yes, that is definitely Nicki. But Andrew is starting to suspect there’s so much more. “But there are other parts to you, too.”
“Those parts aren’t for everyone.”
“Who are they for then?”
“Maybe they’re for my boyfriend.”
Digging his toes deeper into the sand, Andrew forces aside the imposter syndrome threatening to crash over him.
“One day when you get one for real, they’ll be lucky.”
“Because of the money and fame,” Nicki snarks, tone sharp in a way Andrew isn’t used to.
“No, the other things.”
“Most people don’t wanna date an asshole. That’s not exactly a winning personality trait, and the people who do, well what they really want is the money or fame.”
“You deserve someone who likes you just for you, Nicki.”
“Selfish asshole and all?”
“Well, your manners could certainly use improving at times.”
“That’s very pointed.”
“The consequence of being the oldest sibling raised by lawyers.” Andrew wiggles his toes in the sand, focusing on thecool compression as the water continues to lap at his ankles. “You are an asshole whose manners could do with a check at times.”
“As you’ve said multiple times.”
“But—” Andrew pauses, deciding laying most of his cards on the table won’t hurt anyone. Not anyone besides him anyway. “Some people like someone being selfish with them.”
“That what you like?” Nicki asks, his eyes suddenly on Andrew and not the sea.
“It doesn’t matter what I like,” Andrew protests. “This isn’t about me.”
“Bullshit.”
“What did you say?”
“I saidbullshit, princess. If this is about me, then it’s about you, too. Stop fucking pretending you don’t have any wants or needs.”
