Untitled
I drive to Sweet Dreams. Fitz and Javier sit in the back seat. They aren’t excited about it. But I don’t want Chris asking questions about my security team.
I leave the keys in the ignition and climb out of the SUV.
My eyes flick to two more bodyguards. One’s standing next to a garbage can near the storefront and another is sitting at a picnic table on the opposite side of the entrance. It’s not a good feeling knowing your dad’s enemies could take you out in a heartbeat, all to send a message.
I step inside the ice cream shop. I’m early.
My bodyguards wouldn’t allow me to arrive a few minutes early.
We’ve been here for thirty minutes. They had to assess the area first to make sure it was safe.
Dressed in a yellow tank and little blue jean shorts, I walk in five minutes before I’m to meet Chris.
Creekwood students sit at tables and booths surrounded by yellow and pink walls, shoveling ice cream into their mouths while they chat. Whimsical music plays throughout. The chime sounds above the door for the third time since I walked in.
I don’t want to seem anxious, so I don’t turn around.
“Hey Serenity,” Chris says from behind.
I turn, grinning. “Hello Chris.”
“You look good.” His tongue slides across his lips.
I blush under his onyx gaze.
Nico comes to mind.
Why? Maybe because he’s all I know.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” I ask.
“I love chocolate.” He winks.
I chuckle. “Real smooth.”
“Banana splits are good. I also like mint chocolate chip.” He flashes a handsome smile.
My brows raise. “Mint chocolate chip sounds interesting.”
He laughs. “What flavors do you like?”
I bounce in place. “I love cotton candy and salted caramel gelato. Not together, but they are delicious.”
He stares at me like he wants to eat me whole. Or should I say, fuck me long and hard.
“Never tried cotton candy. I’ll have to try it.”
We approach the counter. I hear a helicopter. Sounds like it’s flying low. Is it on the roof? No.
Fitz says something. Looks like he’s communicating through his earpiece.
My heart lurches in my chest.
Am I safe?
Calm down and focus on your date.
“Serenity?” Chris gingerly squeezes my hand and nods toward the cashier.
I smile. “Two scoops of cotton candy ice cream in a cup.”
I get a cup instead of a cone so I can make a quick exit if need be.
We collect our ice cream.
“Let’s sit in the booth,” Chris suggests.
His eyes move around the ice cream shop. “There’s a lot of security here. Are we expecting the president?”
I don’t bother looking around. “I can’t wait to see what you think about the cotton candy flavor,” I say, changing the subject.
We sink into the booth across from each other. I face the door because that’s what Dad taught me to do.
“Yeah, I figured one scoop of cotton candy and two scoops of mint chocolate chip would work. Just in case I didn’t like the cotton candy,” he says with a smile.
We laugh and grin at each other as we dig into our ice cream.
“I guess I’ll see you on the field. Or shall I say I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines.”
Chris’s face lights up. “You’re a cheerleader?”
“Yes,” I chuckle.
“That’s great,” he shovels a spoonful of cotton candy ice cream into his mouth.
“I’ll take two scoops of cotton candy on a waffle cone,” I hear a familiar voice say.
The tiny hairs on my arms stand on end.
No, no, no.
I feel eyes on me. Instead of looking up, I ask, “What did you think of my favorite flavor?”
Chris moves his head from side to side. “It’s not bad.”
I grin pushing a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth.
“What’s your major?”
His muscled body settles against the high back black booth. “Marketing. What about you?”
“I’m majoring in finance.”
Ignoring those eyes is impossible. I meet his gaze across the shop.
He’s sitting with his back to the window. He never does that. I notice one of his bodyguards standing outside the window, observing the streets of my small college town.
He slides his tongue around the ice cream as he holds my gaze.
Fuck.
He looks so good eating that ice cream. I want him to eat me.
No, Serenity. You don’t.
He flashes a devilish smirk like he’s reading my mind.
“Everything okay?” Chris asks, touching my hand.
The handsome football jock shakes his head. I obey his warning and tug my hand back. Not for me, but for Chris.
“Yes.” My smile doesn’t quite meet my eyes.
He glances over his muscled shoulder. “I know he’s not checking you out while we’re on a date.”
Nico tilts his head in challenge.
“Chris, are you looking forward to the first game of the season?” I ask, trying to distract him.
Besides, guys love talking about football.
“Yeah,” he grins.
“What’s your position?” I ask.
“I’m a running back. Fastest guy on the team.”
I smile from ear to ear. Not trying to piss Nico off, but I know I’m succeeding.
“That’s impressive.”
Nico’s still staring at me, ready to rip Chris apart.
I pretend to hang on to Chris’s every word while my ex-boyfriend stalks me.
Nico makes this impossible. He won’t take his eyes off me. I know he’s foaming at the mouth.
“I was a cheerleader in high school. I always looked forward to going out to eat after the game.”
He leans in. “I heard the pizza spot the team goes to after the game turns a blind eye to sneaking in beer.”
My eyes light up. “That’s awesome.”
I push my ice cream bowl aside with maybe two spoonfuls left. “Chris, I had a nice evening. Thank you,” I say, standing to my feet.
He stands too. “At least let me walk you to your car.”
I can see Nico stand out of the corner of my eye.
Shit.
“That’s not necessary.” I lean up and hug him.
I hear a growl to my right as I pull back. Nico wears a scowl on his face, and his fists are curled at his sides. He’s wearing a white t-shirt that has Penn State football scrawled across the front in bold lettering, dark jeans, and white sneakers.
My heart feels like it will beat out of my chest. Nico has no right being here.
“Of course it’s you. The guy who’s been staring at Serenity the whole night.” Chris arches a brow.
Nico stretches his hand out to Chris. “I’m Nico Pitucco.”
“Chris Thompson,” he says, shaking his hand briefly.
“I attend Penn State. I’ll be seeing you on the football field in a few weeks.”
“What’s up with all the staring shit?” Chris bites out.
Oh shit. Chris is going to get himself killed.
“Chris, Nico…” I start.
Nico cracks a smile as he lifts a hand, silencing me. “She’s my woman.”
“Nico and I are not together anymore. We broke up months ago,” I bite out.
“I flew from school to see you. And you’re on a date with another football player. Clearly you have a type,” Nico jokes.
“So you’re stalking her?” Chris chuckles.
My eyes widen in alarm.
“I’ve wanted to tear your head off your shoulders since I walked in. I don’t want to do it in front of your schoolmates, but I will.” He flashes a devilish grin.
“Let’s go. I’m not afraid of you,” Chris snarls.
I step between them as Nico and my bodyguards approach.
“Let’s go, Chris,” I say, pushing him toward the door.
“Leave now,” Javier urges holding the door open for us.
“What the fuck?” Chris bites out.
I curl my arm around his, coaxing him out the door.
“Javier, don’t step any closer,” Nico warns in a low tone.
“I’ll catch you later, Chris. There’s a situation I need to defuse before it escalates into a war.”
Chris’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “A war? What are you talking about?” His eyes scan the streets, taking in the men standing like soldiers and the rows of SUVs surrounding them.
I don’t entertain his question. “Bye.”
I turn on my heel and step back into the ice cream shop.
Low chatter and eyes fall on me as I approach the two men.
“Stand down, Javier. This isn’t the place for this.” I say, holding Nico’s gaze.
Javier retreats and stalks toward the exit.
“Nico, you shouldn’t have come.” I march out the door.
“Princess, I told you what would happen if you saw other guys,” Nico says at my back.
I whirl around and get into his space. His cologne wafts up my nose as I crane my neck to look up at him. Damn, he’s gotten taller. Is he six- foot -six now?
“We had a deal, Nico.”
“And I told you fucking other guys was not an option.” He bites out, curling a hand around my neck, stepping forward. I walk backward until my back hit my SUV.
I hear weapons being released from holsters.
“I order you all to stand down,” I say to my bodyguards.
My chest rises and falls between us.
“You want my tongue to do to you what it did to the ice cream.” He grins.
It feels like the air is being sucked from my lungs as I stand on the street with my ex, allowing him to hold me like I’m his sex toy.
“Nico, abide by the agreement,” I bite out through clenched teeth.
“You mean like you did when you heard I fucked the entire Penn State cheer squad.”
My body vibrates with anger.
“You had a mouse delivered to each of their dorm rooms. The note said: this is for fucking Nico. Next time you’ll find a horse’s head in your bed.” Maniacal laughter rumbles in his chest.
“The note was so poetic, baby. I jacked off chanting your name.”
I swallow against his tight grip. “Release me, Nico.”
“This little town only has four hotels. My men will collect you in an hour.”
“Nico, you’ve gone too far tonight.”
His nostrils flare. “Every time you attempt to hook up with another guy, I will fucking… take… them… out, Serenity.”
It’s clear I struck a nerve.
“I want your pussy squeezing my dick tonight. You can release your stress by riding my cock until you come.”
Nico hand slips from my neck. “Tell your men they have the night off. My men will keep you safe.”
His words warm my frozen heart.
Don’t give in, Serenity.
He leans in and bites my neck. My nipples harden under his touch.
Nico walks off and climbs into a nearby burgundy Escalade.
Later that night, Nico’s bodyguards came to my dorm room to pick me up. I told them I wasn’t going.
My body wanted that man badly, but I couldn’t give in to him. He thinks he can stop me from dating other men. I won’t let him.