Meet Me in the Penalty Box (Orchid City, #1)(25)

“I am so sorry, Nico,” I said softly as I continued to watch him. “I know that doesn’t really help, but I really am sorry for your loss. I can’t even imagine how that must feel for you.”

He slowly pulled his gaze back to mine and gave me a sad smile. “Thanks, love. It’s been two years already, but sometimes it feels like we just lost her yesterday. I appreciate your kindness, though.”

“If you ever want to talk about anything, I am always here for you.”

“Actually, I do want to talk about something.” His smile grew tighter and he raised an eyebrow. “You just got out of a relationship before moving here? What happened?”

Shit.

My stomach instantly sank and I swallowed roughly. “I was dating someone I had met in college but I realized he wasn’t the one.”

“How did you know that?” he asked without missing a beat.

“Because he gave me an ultimatum. I was in the middle of building my own portfolio and trying to find a professional job. He wanted me to give everything up and follow him.” I paused for a moment, shaking my head. I didn’t miss Connor at all, but I hated what he did to me. “I had to choose. Either follow him or he was moving on without me. I didn’t follow him.”

Nico stared at me for a moment and slowly sat up in bed. He took my glass of wine and set it on his nightstand along with his own glass. As he turned back to face me, he closed the distance between us. His fingers were soft as he brushed a stray hair from my face while sliding the other around my back and under the covers.

He pulled me flush against him, his blue eyes shining down at me as he rolled me onto my back. A smile lifted the corners of his lips as he settled between my legs.

“I’m glad you didn’t follow him.”

I smiled back at him just as his face dipped down to mine.

So was I.





CHAPTER TEN





NICO





As I rolled over in bed, I slid my hand over the sheet feeling for her. My eyebrows pulled together and I peeled my eyelids open as I noticed that the bed was empty. It was still warm where she was laying and I moved over, burying my face in the pillow. It still smelled like her and I inhaled deeply, savoring her scent.

The bathroom door opened and she stepped into my room, fully clothed. She didn’t notice me at first and her footsteps were quiet as she moved about the room, collecting the rest of her things. I watched her in silence with one eye as the other was pressed against the pillow.

She glanced over at me once more and I kept my breathing steady with my eye barely open. Her gaze lingered but she didn’t take a step closer. Instead, she turned on her heel and was as quiet as a mouse as she made her way to my bedroom door.

“Leaving without saying goodbye?” I quipped as I lifted my head to look at her.

Harper gasped and turned around to face me. “I didn’t know you were awake.”

“So, you were still going to leave anyways?” I threw back. “You surprise me, Harper Jensen. You didn't strike me as a hit-it-and-quit-it type of girl.”

She stared at me as she defensively crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not how I am at all. You were peaceful and I didn’t want to disrupt you.”

“I call bullshit,” I argued as I sat up in bed. “You thought I was still asleep and saw it as your chance to escape. Are you trying to run away from me, love?”

She laughed softly and the sound was like a melody. “You’re ridiculous. I’m going home, Nico. I need to get a shower and have shit I need to do.”

“Shower here.”

Harper shook her head and waved her hand. “Bye, Nico.”

“Text me so I know you got home all right.”

She was already walking through my apartment. “I’ll think about it,” she called out as I heard the elevator ding. She was in it and the doors were sliding closed before she gave me a chance to respond.

Rolling over in bed, I grabbed my phone and opened up our message thread and began typing.

Nico



If I don’t hear from you, I will come and make sure you’re okay myself.





It didn’t take long for her to respond. She wasn’t even out of my building yet.

Harper



You don’t even know where I live.





A smile pulled on my lips.

Nico



Don’t underestimate me, love. I can easily find that out if I need to.





I didn't need to see a response back from her. I only needed one from when she got home. Locking the screen of my phone, I set it down on my bed and headed into my bathroom to brush my teeth and relieve myself. I had to get to practice in a few hours, so I quickly hopped in the shower, even though I would be getting back in later on.

It didn’t take me long to wash my body and hair. As I stepped out of the shower and toweled off, I heard my phone ringing from my bedroom. My stomach did a somersault and I wanted to punch myself in the nuts for a reality check.

There was no reason for me to be acting like a little boy who had his first crush. Harper wasn’t the first girl that I was ever with and given the circumstances, I’m sure she wouldn’t be the last. Although, I wouldn’t complain if she were the only girl I would ever be with again. She does something to me—something I need to shut off.