“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company,” he said to me. “I won’t keep you long.”
“Do you want to stay to eat?” Raelynn offered, completely ignoring my wide eyes, screaming at her to shut up behind Nico’s back. “I ordered enough for an army.”
“I appreciate the offer, but according to the look Vera is currently making, I shouldn’t overstay my welcome.”
Nova snorted, and I quickly cleared my face. How the hell did he even see that when I stood behind him?
My confusion must have shown because he turned to me with a knowing smile and explained. “The mirror above your fireplace.”
Looking up, I met my makeup-free face underneath a mop of tangled hair and rolled my eyes. “Duh.”
“Either way, I have work to do at home, and I just ate. I wanted to come by and drop these off.”
He presented a small box from his pocket after setting the food on the coffee table. I gingerly grabbed the item, careful not to brush his skin, and stroked the soft black velvet before prying the top back.
“Oh my,” I gasped, my hand shooting to my mouth. In a soft dark cushion laid a pair of stunning earrings. The rose gold stood out against the sparkling diamonds, adding to the intricate design. At first glance, it looked like a mosaic of diamonds thicker on top. Almost like an upside-down, curved teardrop. But when I looked closer, it was actually a flower made from a pear-shaped diamond and leaf-shaped diamonds draping away from it. “Are these your mother’s?”
“No. I picked these out myself after work when I found out you were dress shopping. I hoped it would work, and it matched your mother’s ring you always wear.”
“Oh,” I breathed, fingering the fine band. For a moment, Rae and Nova ceased to exist. My chest warmed, and I wanted to step into his arms and let him know without words what his gesture meant to me. He’d gone out and got something. Just for me.
I swayed on my feet and almost gave in to take a step forward when Nova cleared her throat.
I blinked out of the trance and snapped the box shut. “Thank you so much, Nico. They are stunning and will look perfect this weekend.”
“Of course.” He ran a hand through his hair as if he was just as uncomfortable as Nova had been with the intimacy. He turned toward the girls and offered a smile. “It was nice to meet you. I hope to see you this weekend.”
“Duh,” Raelynn answered, making him huff a laugh.
“I look forward to it.”
With that, he walked out, and I scrambled to follow.
“I’m sorry for interrupting,” he said again.
“It’s not a big deal, really. Maybe a little warning next time, though.” I gave an embarrassed laugh and gestured at my attire.
He scanned me up and down, and I heated under his scrutiny. Even more so from his easy compliment. “You look good in anything.”
Before he stepped through the door, I snatched his hand on impulse and squeezed. “Thank you again for the earrings. They really are beautiful.”
Instead of offering any more words, he merely nodded and squeezed back before walking out.
As if they’d been counting to ten once the door clicked, the girls screeched on cue to my entrance.
“Oh my god, he’s delicious.”
“Let me see the earrings.”
“I had no idea he’d be so hot.”
“Fuck me, those are perfect. Totally vintage. Nova, you’d even like these.”
“Oh shit. Those are totally vintage.”
“Can I have him? If you don’t want him, can I have him? Just to fuck a time or two?”
I laughed at the barrage of questions. “You guys. Stop. Remember, we don’t like him. He was demeaning to me and still kind of is.”
Both of them fell back, pouting like I’d taken their favorite toy.
“You could always have hate sex. So hot. Trust me. I’ve fucked a lot of people I hate.”
“Stop,” Nova exclaimed, covering her ears.
“Oh, Naughty Nova went back into hiding,” Raelynn joked. “But seriously, have you hit that again?”
“No. And I don’t want to.”
“Okay…” Nova said mockingly.
“I don’t.”
Raelynn shrugged. “Fine then. If you’re not sleeping with him, you won’t mind if I do.”
“No,” I almost shouted.
Her smirk let me know I’d been had, but I refused to let her think it was anything beyond following rules.
“It’s in our contract that we aren’t going to be with other people.”
“Contract? Oooo, like Fifty Shades of Grey?” Nova asked with too much excitement.
“No. It’s more like a prenup.”
“Well, I suggest you take full advantage of your five years and hop on that every chance you get.”
I opened my mouth to deny I wanted to, but it didn’t come out. Maybe I could live in denial by myself, but I’d never been very good at lying to my friends.
“Let’s eat before Raelynn eats you, Nova,” I said, avoiding commenting.