22
VALENTINA
Pain in my ass: Gorgeous! I miss you. Do you think I could stop by your office for a quick visit?
Me: Does it matter what I say? You’re going to do it anyhow, so come on over.
Pain in my ass: Have you eaten? Can I bring you something?
Me: I had an energy drink and carrots.
Pain in my ass: …and?
Me: And that’s it.
Pain in my ass: Mi Reina. That is not healthy. You need more. Gotta maintain that sexy body of yours. I’ll bring you something.
Me: No really, I’m fine. Lucy and I are meeting for a quick dinner before she and Chase leave for Colorado.
Pain in my ass: You’ll like what I bring. Just a small snack. And speaking of leaving out of town…I’m hoping we could talk about that.
Me: ????
Pain in my ass: I’ll tell you when I get there. See you soon. Wear something sexy.
Me: I’m wearing pimple patches and raggedy sweats.
Pain in my ass: Oh cool. Me too.
I slam the compact mirror closed and toss it in my drawer with a sigh. Slumping back in my chair, I close my eyes and hate myself for a minute.
“Why am I fixing my makeup? It’s just Nic. Annoying, irritating, handsome, sweet Nic. Errrr!” I push back from my desk and crash into the credenza behind me, shaking the pictures and (fake) plant that sit on it.
The last couple weeks, seeing him more and attending games, has begun to really wreak havoc on my ability to keep him at a distance. Physically and emotionally.
It’s easy to tell myself that this is a job and he doesn’t affect me in any way. But when I see him, my brain goes numb and my body takes the lead. And she’s a thirsty bitch. Add to that the way he looks at and kisses me, and my will is standing on a wobbly heel that is about to break.
I don’t know how much longer I can continue this charade. If I was smart, I’d end this now. He’s playing amazing, he hasn’t done anything to jeopardize all that we have built, and I think he’s strong enough to focus on his training that he won’t be turning to random women to fill the void.
The sooner we can do the public break-up the better.
A soft tap-tap sounds at my door before slowly opening and hinting at the gorgeous man standing on the other side.
“Val? Can I come in?” His voice is low and deep and it tickles the little girl inside of me who giggles in embarrassment.
I shake the thoughts of him, his voice whispering in my ear, away and sit up straight. “Come in.”
The door is pushed wide and behind it stands a man with a smile that would have ovaries bursting all over the world. I don’t see a pimple patch anywhere in sight, but the sweatpants he wears are lethal.
Grey. Every woman’s kryptonite.
Now while I don’t actually know what he’s packing beneath them, I know enough to cross my legs and squeeze my thighs to ward off the tingles that begin to spread. I’m a sensitive ball of hormones and one touch will have me short circuiting.
A grocery bag hangs from his hand and he makes a beeline for me. I stay seated behind my desk because I need the protection. I’m too close to breaking.
“Why are you always feeding me? Are you trying to make me fat?” He sets the bag down on my desk and in a flash, he’s leaning over and kissing my lips.
My eyes don’t even get a chance to close he’s in and out so quickly. The kiss is soft and chaste, like what you would give a spouse, meeting them for a meal on your lunch break. It’s become second nature to him and I don’t know if I like that. The bigger problem could be that I do like it.
“Mi Reina, you’re perfect. But you don’t eat enough . Every time I talk to you, you’re eating a piece of chocolate or energy drink like that’s enough to somehow nourish you..” He pulls the chair closer and plops down then begins pulling items out.
“That’s not true. I eat and drink more than that.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine with a cocked brow. “Chips and queso and peach margaritas don’t count as an actual meal.”
I narrow my eyes and stick my tongue out at him, but he only laughs and continues piling snacks on my desk.
“Jesus, Nic. What is all of this? That’s like a bag of diabetes. Yet you were just giving me shit for eating chocolate?” I scan all that’s laid out before me and pick up a small container. “Oh wait. Here’s some carrots. That makes it all better.”
He snatches them out of my hand and throws me the same tongue out response that I handed him.
“It’s called balance, baby.”
I’m trying desperately not to smile and laugh, but this has got to be one of the most thoughtful yet ridiculous things a man has done for me.
I examine all of the contents of Nic’s bag o’ treats. Crackers and cheese, apple, carrots, candy –I quickly snatch the Cherry Twizzler tidbits– and…
“Spicy Dill Pickle chips? That sounds vomit-inducing.”
“Mi Reina,” he says in shock. “These are the world’s best chips. You’re going to fall in love with them, then fall in love with me for introducing them to you. Well that and for my charming personality and devilish looks.”
“Sure buddy. Let’s play pretend. I used to like that when I was a girl.” I chuckle and open one of the packages of sliced apples. It looks like a toddler’s snack time which seems very fitting for Nic.
“Well if those don’t work on you, maybe I'll win you over with my massive dic–”
“Stop!” I hold my hand up to halt where I know this is going. “That is never going to happen so I don’t need the visual.” Though I already have an idea.
He waggles his brows at me and the smoldering look in his eyes has me imagining him looking up at me from between my legs. The vision comes out of nowhere and takes me by surprise. Moisture begins pooling between my legs and I’m once again squeezing for dear life.
“So earlier I mentioned that I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Mmhm,” I mumble as I immediately begin shoveling an apple into my mouth, coming to the realization that I’m actually starving.
“Well it’s my bye week which means we have four days off. This morning was our last practice.” Crackers and cheese get placed in front of me and I promptly shove one of each in my mouth. “Now I know you know that Chase is taking Lucy to Colorado for a little getaway and he invited us.”
I swallow down the dry bit of cracker and nod. “Yeah. I know. But of course I told Lucy that’s not possible.”
Nic twists open a bottle of mineral water and hands it to me. I take a big gulp, soothing my parched mouth.
“I told Chase you wouldn’t go for it. But I was kind of hoping I could still convince you to go away for a few days…with me.”
My mouth stops mid chew to allow for the words to process. I study him like he’s a Rubik’s Cube that I can’t solve. How could this boy think that I’d want to go somewhere alone with him if I didn’t want to go somewhere with him and friends?
“Yeah. That’d be a no from me, lover boy.” I give him my final word and return to eating the sweet apple and tangy cheese.
A warm hand covers mine that has me freezing and the world going quiet. The effect he has on me is more than I can handle. My once strong will that allowed me to ward off men and all of their bullshit is standing on weak knees.
“Could you possibly just listen before you say no? Please.”
I sigh and pull my hands free, dusting them off and crossing my arms over my chest, prepared to listen to all of his BS and swiftly give him an answer.
It will still be no, by the way.
“You’ve been really amazing with helping me clean up my act and keep my job.
You’ve gone to my games and that means more than you can possibly realize.
I’d like you to think of this little trip as a thank you for all that you have done.
I think anyone else would have written me off, and I’m grateful to you and Monty. ”
I quirk my eyebrow and ask, “So then why aren’t you asking Monty to go with you?”
“Babe.” The word falls so easily from his lips and while I really hated it at first, the sound fills something in me that I’ve grown to crave. “I don’t think Monty would look as good in a bikini as you would.”
“Okay. Now I’m positive my answer is no. Me and you in bathing suits is most definitely a bad idea.” I chuckle at his courage to think I’d be jumping at the chance to be alone with him.
“Hold on. Don’t be so sure. I mean, I’m not opposed, but that’s not the purpose. I truly just want a chance to relax and get to know you outside of the fake parameters you’ve set. Can’t two friends have a good time without it having to mean anything?”
The pragmatic side of my brain begins fighting with the long stagnant fun side and I’m caught in the middle of a fierce battle.
One side tells me this is a ploy to get me into bed and to keep that maximum security wall steadfast. But then there’s this other part of me that is starting to break free from the confines of barbed wire and impenetrable steel, and it’s telling me to let go for once and enjoy life.
Bonus points for doing so with a handsome man by my side.
“Who said we’re friends?” I challenge.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on my desk. “Valentina. I would love to be so much more, but you’re determined to deprive yourself of being happy. So if I can’t have you as my real girlfriend, then I’ll settle for having you as my real friend.”
Punches are thrown as the pragmatic side tries to put the dusty fun Val in her place, but fun Val quickly takes the lead when she elbows pragmatic Val in the face.
I sigh and close my eyes, wondering how bad could it really be. I haven’t taken an actual vacation in about a year, and my trip to Spain with Lucy isn’t until next summer.
“There would be conditions.” His smile turns electric and the frigidness around my heart melts.
Just a little .
“Anything you want. I already found a resort and they said–”
“Wait a minute. First I need to know where it is you want to take me. I’m not going to end up in some frozen tundra. I hate the cold.”
He nods and says, “Good to know. I guess we’ll have to visit my family during the summer. Winter is cold as balls in Philly.” I roll my hand for him to get to his point quicker. “So I thought it would be nice to sit by the beach in Cozumel. I’ve never been so I’m kind of excited about it.”
My eyes widen with excitement. “I’ve never been either, but that’s pretty expensive. Can you afford that on your rookie salary?”
His head is thrown back like I slapped him. “Valentina. Are you serious? Do you know the amount of money I earned from NIL endorsements in college? Not to mention my salary is more than enough to pay for a weekend away with my gir–with my friend.”
My nails tap along the desktop as I continue to think. Do I really want to feel like I owe him for taking me? I know he said this is all because he thinks he owes me in some weird way. But he seems to have forgotten all about the insane amount of money Monty is paying me to put up with his crap.
“I pay for the flights.” He opens his mouth but I silence him by holding up a finger. “That’s a non-negotiable. I won’t share a bed–”
“I found a two-bedroom suite so no worries there,” he adds.
“Good. And we split the food costs.”
“No.”
“Yes. My rules,” I remind him.
“No, because it’s all inclusive so we don’t have to worry about that.”
“Fine. Then how about I pay for an excursion?”
His eyes look at the ceiling, letting the cogs in his brain work. A little too hard, from the looks of it.
He juts out his hand with a wide smile. “Deal.”
I shake it and tell myself that this is bad. Real bad .
Nothing good can possibly come from being alone with Nico Loving. But even more threatening than that is something amazing could happen.