Chapter Eight
Nico
“Can I walk you to your building?” Roman asks as we get off the bus.
I appreciate how polite he is. Almost old-fashioned.
Asking if he can walk me to my building and to the bus stop instead of just assuming he can.
It’s adorable, especially because it doesn’t quite fit the way he looks.
I don’t like stereotypes, but sometimes you can’t help it at first glance, and a first look at Roman would give you the impression he’s an asshole.
He’s the opposite though. The complete opposite.
“You could, but…” I pause, looking up at him.
“But?”
“I’m wired and wasn’t planning on going back to my room.”
“Oh, okay… uh—”
“Walk with me?” I ask, tilting my head and smiling sweetly at him.
I watch the way his eyes change, from nervous to something else.
“Yes.”
We walk deeper into the Village, moving up and down the paths. Other people are out tonight too, just mingling, not ready to say goodnight either.
“What does home life look like for you, Roman Blake Callahan?”
He huffs a laugh, I assume at his name.
“I’m not home a lot,” he begins. “Travel a lot for games between the states and Canada. When I am home, it’s pretty quiet. Television. Reading. Cooking. Spending time with Taco.”
“So, you’re just a regular domesticated old man then?” I ask, smiling.
He smiles too. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” I say. “What else?”
Roman scratches his head, then shoves his hands into his pockets.
“Not much else. I visit my parents when I can. Go for walks with Taco. I like to sleep late. Work out. Every now and then the team will have a meet up, and I try to go to get out of the house. McVoy, that’s my buddy, he invites me out to clubs and bars sometimes, but that’s not really my scene.”
“No? I mean, I can see a club not being your thing, but a bar? You look like the poster child for a dive bar.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he says carefully.
“It’s a compliment, Big Guy. Promise.”
We move through the buildings and go around the dining hall. There are streetlights everywhere, lighting up our path. It’s so bright it almost feels like daytime. We passed my building a while back, but I have no idea how to get back that way if I needed to.
“Which building is yours?” I ask.
He points to the left. “E.”
“What floor?”
“Fourth.”
“Are you rooming with someone?”
He nods. “McVoy.”
“Just one? Good for you. I have two roommates.”
“Bummer. Tell me about your home life.”
I sniffle and pull my hood a little tighter.
“Unless you’re too cold and want to go back…” he adds quickly.
I look up at him. “I’m from Canada, I’m fine.”
“If you’re not, you can tell me. I won’t be mad.”
“Good. Because I’m all about things being consensual.
” I wink, and he holds my gaze for just a moment but then looks away.
“Home life… hm, where to start? Well, I live with my parents because… well, just because. We have a big family house. My grandparents live there too, which makes it easier to help take care of them.”
“It must be nice seeing your family all the time.”
“Eh… sometimes. Most of the time, I guess.” I laugh a little. “It can be overwhelming at times, especially when my grandparents get into their feisty moods, but I love my family. They’ve supported me my whole career.”
“Mine have too. I’ve considered moving closer to them, but I like my space and privacy.”
“I’d go crazy if I was alone. Probably the biggest reason why I haven’t left.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he says.
“So, have you never thought of settling down with someone?” I ask.
He doesn’t respond right away, and I’m not sure if he’s going to. I realize that’s a very personal question, but that’s never stopped me before.
“I’ve thought about it,” he says slowly. “And I’ve decided that if there is someone I can stand to be around, to have in my space, then they’re the person I should be with.”
“That is a good point. Smart.”
“Yeah, except I can’t stand most people for more than a hockey game,” he adds, laughing a little.
“You hang out with me a lot,” I note as we come to stop under a streetlight, a bench not too far off.
He looks from me to the bench, then gestures at it. We go to sit. It’s relatively private over here, especially at this time of night.
“I like being around you. You have a calming presence.”
“Really?” I blurt out. “Never heard that one before.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, usually I get told that I’m too cocky and I talk too much.”
“I like your confidence.”
“And the talking part?”
He smiles, looking down at his feet. “You don’t talk too much.”
I bump him with my shoulder. He looks up at me, his green eyes glinting in the light.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he says, his voice raspy. His gaze goes to my lips again and I can’t help but lick them. His part, and I so badly want to kiss this man right now. But I can be impulsive, so I don’t. “What else do you do at home?” he asks. “Tell me something I can’t read about online.”
“Something you can’t read about online? Wow. That’s an impressive question.”
He smiles, ducking his head again.
“Let me see,” I say, rocking my head back and forth as I think. “I like staying up late because the house is quiet. I like it because it’s silent, and I can think, but there’s still people around, so I don’t feel lonely. Oh, and… this is so bad. It’s embarrassing actually.”
“What is it?”
“You have to promise not to tell anyone. Ever. Like… ever.”
“Promise I won’t.”
“My guilty pleasure movie?” I look around, then lean closer. “Blades of Glory.”
His eyes widen and he chuckles. “No way.”
“Yeah, it’s so sad, I know. But it’s hilarious. I mean, it’s so cheesy that it’s good.”
“It is funny,” he agrees as he checks his phone and sighs. He looks up at me, meeting my gaze.
“Are you going to turn into a pumpkin?” I ask.
He grins again. “No, but I do have morning skate, so I should get to bed.”
“Of course. I forget about your early morning practices.” I get to my feet. “Gross.”
Roman laughs again. “It’s not great.”
We walk back toward the buildings and veer toward his, and I remember it’s a turn right after the dining hall. But don’t ask me where it is beyond that.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Uh, walking you to your building.” I gesture that way.
“Not a chance. Come on.”
He keeps walking, and I stare after him.
“Where are you going?” I call out just loud enough he can hear, but not so loud that it’ll disturb others who may be sleeping.
Roman looks at me over his shoulder. “Walking you to your building.”
I roll my eyes and hurry after him.
“I’d be fine, you know.”
“You told me you are terrible with directions. I won’t be responsible for Nico Laurent going missing before he wins the gold.”
My insides warm. “You think I’m going to win the gold?”
He glances at me. “I know it.”
Damn, I really want to kiss this man.
We make it to my building, and just like last time, I swear he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t.
He says good night and watches me until I’m safely inside.
I get to my room, and the others are already inside sleeping.
I text étienne so he knows I made it back safely and that I’ll see him in the morning.
I take a shower and go to bed, thinking about Roman until I fall asleep.