“I need to clean up,” she tells me, and I set her on her feet. Then she tips her face up to mine, so much attitude when she says, “So do you.”
Fuck, I love her.
CHAPTER 24
JO
I’m notbig into theme parties, but I wasn’t going to say no to Nico’s invitation to the Iron’s holiday sweater party. He said they do it every year with gifts and games and prizes for the ugliest sweaters. All the employees and players plus their families are welcome, and because everyone thinks I am now part of Nico’s family, it would be weird for me not to show up.
No matter how muddled the past few weeks have made me about what exactly Nico and I are doing, we made a deal. He held up his end of the bargain by coming home with me, and now I have to do my part and convince Mr. Fitzgerald and the rest of the Iron front office that he has changed from playboy to committed fiancé, wearing matching sweaters.
Since one of my favorite movies isTheNightmare Before Christmas, Nico ordered us matching Jack and Sally sweaters. They’re not at all ugly, and I fully intend to wear mine a lot. I even bought a black skirt and patterned tights to wear along with it.
Nico knocks on my door as I’m finishing my makeup and pursing my lips in the mirror, wondering if he’ll like the bright-red lipstick I used instead of my usual color. He doesn’t disappoint when I open the door to him, and he rakes his gaze overthe length of me, eyes eventually landing on my lips. “You look hot.”
It’s hyperbole, but the compliment makes me go all gooey anyway, melting when he tugs me toward him, his hands bracketing my neck, thumbs rubbing back and forth along my jaw. “Can I kiss you?”
I lean into him in answer, sinking my fingers into his coat. He licks into my mouth, pulling at my lips as if trying to get my lip stain off, and when he pulls back a moment later, he shakes his head, annoyed he couldn’t do it.
But then I notice his eyes, the tension in the outer corners. The way his shoulders are drooped over. His hair appears as if he’s been messing with it all day.
I lace my fingers with his, bringing him into my apartment. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Except he’s not, and I brush my fingers over his clean-shaven jaw. He started shaving again on December first, saying he’ll stop again once play-offs begin. He looks handsome either way, although I can tell something is bothering him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Tired, I guess.”
I suppose so. It’s almost halfway through the season. I knew how hard the players worked, but I guess I never really appreciated how much they taxed their bodies. The amount of travel alone would be difficult for anyone, but then to be playing a brutal game? It’s amazing the players can stay standing.
Leaning into his side, I slip my hand beneath his coat to rub his back. “Do you still want to go?”
“You’re not getting out of it that easy,” he says with a laugh and kiss to my head.
“Well, I don’t know. I thought after the thing today, maybe…”
He brushes his hand over my hair. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“You saying you’re fine pretty much translates to you’re not fine.”
He forces a smile. “I am.”
I don’t believe him, although I don’t know what could have happened. The Iron have three days off, and he was booked for the Speak Out campaign today, working as one of the celebrity spokespeople for sexual assault victims. He spent a few hours this afternoon doing a photo shoot and taping a few social media videos. He told me to pack a bag because I’d be spending the next two nights at his place before the team traveled to Colorado, having a Christmas Day game.
I made him promise we wouldn’t exchange gifts, but because I know he’s incapable of not spending his money on me, I made sure to have something wrapped up with a bow in my bag for him—a knitted scarf. I wanted to make matching mittens since the pair he attempted ended up being a play toy for Gus, but I didn’t have enough time. I plan on making him a sweater for his birthday in June since it’ll take me a while. I’ve never knitted one before, but I’m sure I can do it.
Like I’m sure he’d wear it even if it were the ugliest thing ever created.
Because Nico loves me.
And I think I might love him too.
I’malmostsure of it.
I can’t be positive because what I thought was love, what I felt for Waylon, was nothing compared to what I feel for Nico.
