Meet Me in the Penalty Box (Orchid City, #1)(55)

The closeness between them brought a smile to my lips. Coming from a family where I was an only child, siblings were always something I had been jealous of. I never had someone in my corner like that and there was a part of me that always felt like I was missing out on something. It was just me growing up and I had spent a lot of time alone unless I was with friends.

Seeing that Nico and Giana had each other, especially after losing his mother, made me feel a sense of peace for them both. He hadn’t really told me much about his father, so it sounded like they only had each other left. My heart ached for the two of them but at least they had one another.

Nico insisted that the three of us were going to go to dinner tonight, but I needed to come home to get changed and everything first. We had both been going back and forth between each other's places and it was getting a little annoying. It seemed like I never had the things I needed when I needed them.

My phone vibrated in my hand as I let myself into my apartment. A smile touched my lips when I saw his name and opened his message.

Nico



I made reservations for tonight and we’ll be by to pick you up around six.





Let me know that you get home safely, love.





He was something I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t used to having someone checking up on me to make sure I was okay. I wasn’t necessarily estranged from my family, but we weren’t close. Nico was always checking to make sure I got home safely and I couldn’t help but really feel the sincerity behind his actions.

They spoke so much more than words, yet they were just a different way of him telling me he really did love me.

Harper



I just got inside my apartment.





There was no hesitation before he texted me back immediately.

Nico



Good. I miss you.





I tried to stifle the laughter that bubbled in my throat. I shook my head while I collected some clothing and headed into the bathroom to get into the shower.

Harper



You just saw me and you’ll see me again in a few hours.





Nico



That only makes me miss you more. Can I just come over now?





His words did something to my heart and I wasn’t sure it was a feeling I should trust. He had proved himself to be trustworthy. He was nothing like my ex and I knew that now. I just was afraid of the way he made me feel. Things like that were always too good to be true.

Maybe that wasn’t true. Maybe I just needed to let go of my fear since I had already decided to take the risk with him.

Harper



What about your sister?





I set my phone down as I turned on the shower and undressed before his next message came through.

Nico



She knows how to get an Uber. She can meet us at the restaurant.





I half smiled, half frowned as I shook my head at my phone.

Harper



Be a good brother and hang out with your sister. You’ll see me soon enough.





Nico



Fine. But I’m dropping her off at my place after dinner and I want you to myself tonight.





I smiled.

Harper



Sounds like the perfect plan.





Setting my phone back down on the counter, I stepped into the steam and felt the hot water hitting my back as I turned around underneath it. Closing my eyes, I moved my head back and let it run down my long locks.

My thoughts drifted to him as I washed my body and my hair. He had become my addiction. I was either with him or if I wasn’t with him, he was what I was thinking about. He occupied every inch and every corner of my mind. Nico was here to stay.

Nico was the most unexpected thing I’d ever had happen to me and I wouldn’t have traded any of it for anything else. Even if things weren’t going to turn out as I had hoped they would…





As I sat in the front seat of Nico’s car, he slid his hand into mine and I looked over at him as he pulled out of the parking lot. It was just the two of us and I was surprised when I got into the car and didn’t see his sister. He claimed that she said she didn’t want to go out tonight, but a part of me was questioning whether or not she really meant that.

“You didn’t talk Giana out of coming to dinner with us, did you?”

Nico chuckled softly as we sped down the street. “I promise you I didn’t. The thought definitely crossed my mind but she was the one who beat me to it.”

“She really just didn’t feel like going out, or what was her actual reason?” I quizzed him.

He shrugged. “She said she was tired and didn’t feel like going out tonight. I honestly think she just wanted to give the two of us some time alone, but I wasn’t going to argue with her on it. G is a big girl and can make her own decisions. If she didn’t feel like coming along, that’s on her.”

I studied the side of his face. “The two of you don’t really see each other that much, though, right?”

He shook his head as he glanced over at me. “Maybe every month or so. It just depends on what we both have going on in our schedules.” He paused for a moment. “Did you not want to get dinner with me tonight?”