12. Booker
Chapter twelve
Booker
“ N icky, how do you feel about us getting you completely drunk and then asking you a bunch of embarrassing and invasive questions?” Tony says with an evil smile.
Nicky grins. “I’d rather you didn’t, thank you for asking first, I guess.”
“Okay, how about we play spin the bottle instead?”
“Not a fucking chance.” There is no way I want to risk someone else landing on Nicky. I don’t want to watch anyone else make out with him. I don’t think I’d let anyone else make out with him.
We had a really great ride a couple of days ago. I got to take him to my favorite place and just talk and be with each other. Nicky also had a great time looking at my ass.
“You’re not being very fun, you know,” Toni pouts.
Jet and Fizz arrive and sit down at our table, distracting me from making a comeback.
“What’s the plan for tonight? I’m thinking shots?” Fizz practically bounces with glee.
Nicky looks at me. “Why is everyone trying to get me drunk today?”
“Booker is horny, and we’re trying to make it easier for him.” Jet smacks Fizz around the head.
“Don’t be gross, dude. Consent is sexy,” Jet tells him. “But seriously, are we getting fucked up tonight?”
“I could get a little sloppy,” Nicky grins. “I have no scheduled web designs or extracurriculars tomorrow.”
“I could have a few drinks,” I say, grinning at him.
“Three beers, three shots. That is our limit tonight,” Jet says, ever the responsible one.
Unless Echo is around.
Pretty soon, everyone has a drink in front of them.
“Okay, we’re gonna play truth or dare,” Tony says, making us all groan.
“Can we not? Some of us are in our thirties,” Fizz says. “Not me, though.” He side-eyes Jet, who just rolls his eyes.
If I didn’t know they were incompatible, I’d swear they were hooking up.
“I mean, I’m down for knowing people’s deep, dark secrets,” Nicky laughs.
Toni zeros in on him. “Well, okay then. Let’s start with you, lover boy. Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” he says immediately.
“I’ll make it an easy one. Sit on Booker's lap.”
“I really fucking love this game.” I widen my legs so he will be comfortable. I feel like I’m vibrating with excitement.
I get to touch Nicky.
“Did you two plan this out?” he asks, but he gets up and sits on me, nonetheless. He wraps his arms around my neck, mine immediately going around his waist.
He feels so right in my arms.
I wish I could hold him like this always.
One day.
“No, but I’ve always been Toni’s favorite.” I tell him.
He just shakes his head and then looks at Jet. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Do you have a crush on anyone?” The tips of Echo’s ears go pink, and he looks away.
“Not anymore,” he mumbles
“Color me intrigued.”
We play a few rounds and drink another beer before it gets back to Toni, and she’s looking straight at Nicky again. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Who was the last person you kissed?”
“Technically, I gave Stella a kiss on the cheek this morning at breakfast.”
Toni rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean. Who is the last person who wasn’t a family member?”
“A soccer player in a bar a couple of months ago when I was visiting Max.”
He sees me as family.
I stand up quickly, reaching out to catch Nicky as he falls off my lap.
“Sorry, I have to go,” I say to four bewildered faces.
I walk as swiftly as I can to my bedroom.
He sees me as family. I’m just fucking kidding myself. Nothing is going to happen between us. The flirting and looks he gives me do not mean a thing because he sees me as a fucking relation. I hear footsteps behind me just as I get to my door.
“Fucking hell, Booker, you know how to run,” Nicky says. I close my eyes, not wanting to look at him when I’m feeling this raw.
“What do you want?” Nicky closes the distance in front of me.
“Why did you run off like that? That guy was before I met you. I haven’t been with anyone since you.”
“Yeah, I get that, Nicky.” I look up at his beautiful eyes. “Why didn’t you say it was me who you kissed last? You lumped me in with my mom.”
His brows knit together in confusion. ”No, that’s not what I meant.”
“You can’t have it both ways, Nicky,” I say, really wanting to be done with this conversation. “You either see me as someone you want to be with, or you see me as family. It can’t be both.”
He just stands there looking at me.
I guess that’s my answer.
“Goodnight, Nicky,”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he says, and I hate that I can hear the hope in his voice.
“No, I’m busy tomorrow.” I go into my room and shut the door. It’s a few minutes before I hear him open and shut his door.
I am such a fucking idiot.
Have I just been seeing what I want to see this whole time?