18. Evren
Evren
“ I ’m looking forward to your visit,” I say to Mick on our video call. “My brother, Zeki, will pick you and Ben up from the airport and take you directly to the hotel to freshen up before bringing you to the office for the presentation.”
“I can’t wait to see what your proposal is. See you in two days.”
I hang up and stare at the wall as thoughts of Nina swirl around in my head. We’ve been spending all our limited free time together, but we’ve both been so busy preparing for the pitch that most of the time we’ve spent together revolves around work.
She’s been working so hard this week, and I want her to have a break. That’s why I called Elodie and Hunter and invited them and Zeki out to a bar tonight.
Elodie said Nina likes to party, and yet, I’ve only seen her go out once since we’ve started living together .
It’s time to change that.
By the time we get to the bar, we’re thirty minutes late. My last meeting ran over, and I hate that I’m taking away from Nina’s fun night out because of work.
The neon lights of the arcade bar cast a psychedelic glow on the room,painting the walls and ceiling in a riot of colors.The air is thick with the scent of beer and fried food. Zeki recommended that we meet everyone at this bar and promised that it’d be fun.
Nina and I stand side by side,our shoulders brushing as we scan the room for her friends.
We find them sitting in the corner with Zeki,their laughter cutting through the noise.
Zeki spots us and waves us over. Nina glances at me for a beat, probably surprised her friends are here since I didn’t tell her beforehand, before hugging Elodie and then Hunter.
I’m surprised, too. I invited Elodie and Hunter, but not Jake and Aria, who are also at the table.
“Hey, babes,” Aria says, kissing each of Nina’s cheeks dramatically. “I’ve missed you. Tonight is going to be epic.”
“Remember the last time we were together here?” Nina asks, grinning.
“Oh God, please don’t remind me,” Jake grumbles. “It was horrifying.”
I’m surprised Aria’s here since she lives in New York. Maybe Elodie called her? I’m also surprised Jake’s here. I didn’t think he and Nina were that close, but they apparently know each other well enough to have some inside jokes and that causes a tide of jealousy to rise inside me .
Zeki kisses each of my cheeks dramatically in greeting before winking at Aria.
Aria giggles. “You’re trouble.”
“Who, me?” Zeki asks. “Never.”
“Don’t believe him,” Nina says.
Zeki gasps. “I thought we were friends. Friends don’t cockblock.”
“And I thought we were together ,” Nina says with wide eyes.
Elodie sputters and Aria asks, “You’re together? Like together together?”
“No.” Nina laughs. “But Zeki wishes he was with me.”
“Now that isn’t a secret,” Zeki says easily. “But maybe one day I’ll find true love in Skyrise, especially since I’ve officially decided to move here.”
“You have?” I ask.
“Yeah, I like it here,” he says simply.
“I’m so happy you’re moving here.” I clap him on the shoulder and take the seat next to him.
To say I’m shocked he wants to move here is an understatement, but I’m also excited.
I’ve enjoyed having him around and working with him on Glam Pop.
The past two weeks, he’s done a deep dive into the marketing and the PR departments, helping me with my workload.
He’s not only helping but excelling. He’s got a knack for business and has already made a plan on how to help make those departments stronger.
Nina takes the empty seat on the other side of the table, smushed between Elodie and Aria, already doing shots.
“You know what’s been keeping me up at night lately?” Hunter asks us guys.
“Your wife?” Jake jokes.
“No,” Hunter says, “it’s the fact that octopuses have small brains in each of their arms.”
“Why did you have to say something like that?” Zeki says, shuddering and shooting me a horrified look. “I like to eat octopus.”
Hunter laughs. “Sorry, man. If it keeps me up at night, then I need it to keep someone else up as well.”
“Quick,” Zeki says, “someone give me another fact so that I can focus on that.”
“Over a million Earths can fit in the sun,” Jake says.
“Everyone knows that ,” Zeki says.
“Okay,” I say, “did you know Mozart made a song called ‘Lick Me in the Ass’?”
All three of them stare at me for a heartbeat before bursting into laughter.
“No way,” Hunter says. “You’re fucking with us.”
“I’m serious,” I say. “He made lyrics to it and everything.”
Zeki types something on his phone, his eyebrows lifting as he reads his screen. “Holy shit, he’s right.”
“Of course I’m fucking right,” I say.
Zeki snorts. “I guess you can’t spell classical music without the word ass . ”
A ripple of laughter goes through us and the women all turn in our direction.
“What’s so funny?” Aria asks.
“Oh, nothing,” Jake says. “Apparently, Evren loves classical music.”
I chuckle. “I think it’s all our favorite music now.”
The girls all give us confused looks and Hunter throws his arm around Elodie and says, “I’ll explain later, maybe even show you if you’re lucky.”
“TMI, bro,” Jake says. “TMI.”
“Agreed,” I say.
“Now I have to know,” Elodie says.
Hunter nuzzles her neck and whispers something in her ear before she blushes and turns back to her friends. The girls go back to catching up with each other while we all drink and talk shit.
Eventually, Hunter and Zeki get into a discussion about the most comfortable pants to wear while Nina and Elodie and Jake and Aria form their own bubble.
I lean back in my chair and enjoy the fact that I don’t have to participate in small talk right now.
Being around other people is draining, and being around my employees adds another layer of complication into the mix.
There’s this fear that if I get too close to them, history will repeat itself and I’ll get hurt like I did with Mert.
Hunter texts me practically every week to invite me to drinks with his friends, and I’ve always declined.
It was easier to keep my distance, to keep myself safe.
But being around everyone, actually laughing and having fun, makes me wonder if that was the right strategy.
Maybe next time I should accept, see if Zeki wants to join, especially if he’s wanting to move here. Trying to avoid staring at Nina since I’m not sure how many people know we’re together, I focus on Jake and Aria.
The longer I watch them, the more I pick up on all the subtle clues that they’re into each other.
It’s more than just the way they look at each other, although that’s telling enough—their gazes hold just a second too long, eyes softening with a shared understanding that no one else is privy to.
But it’s the small things, too—the way their bodies instinctively angle toward each other, drawn like magnets.
They lean in when they speak, creating a cocoon of shared space, their voices lowering as if what they’re saying is meant for each other’s ears only.
It’s a relief that Nina and Jake don’t have a thing. He hasn’t been linked to anyone in years, and if he dates, he keeps it quiet. I wonder how long he’s liked Aria.
Nina steals the seat next to me and smiles broadly. “What are you thinking about?”
“Hello to you, too.”
She laughs, cheeks flush, and sways a little in her seat. “Yes, hi. But answer the question. I made a bet with Elodie, and I want to make sure I win.”
“And what did you say I was thinking about?”
“Your possible sewing machine kink, but she thinks you’re thinking about boring financial numbers.”
I grin. “ You win.”
“Yessssss.” She does a fist pump and then turns to me and says, “But seriously, what were you thinking about?”
“That Jake might be into Aria.”
“That’s old news.” Nina laughs. “But it’s not going to happen. Aria mentioned when she was drunk one night that she can’t date anyone. Her parents sound pretty controlling when it comes to her relationships.”
I glance at Aria, sympathetic to her situation. She comes from old money, and I can imagine that comes with expectations that are very traditional in nature. Jake’s in for some heartache if he doesn’t know about this.
“That must be difficult for both of them,” I say neutrally.
“They’ll figure it out if they really want to be together.”
I blink, taken aback for a second, unsure I heard her right. “I never would’ve pegged you as a hopeless romantic.”
“Why not?” she asks with an edge of seriousness I don’t understand.
“I’m not sure. I just got the impression that you were more cynical towards love.”
She shrugs. “I guess when I’m drunk, I like to believe that love can conquer all.”
To say I’m shocked is an understatement. I like seeing this side to Nina, the one she shows only the people closest to her. I’m honored to be included in that group.
“I like the sound of that,” I say, resisting the urge to kiss her when so many people are around .
“Now look who’s acting romantic.”
“I don’t have to act romantic. I am romantic.”
She laughs and laughs and laughs some more. I grin, enjoying the fact that she’s enjoying herself, even if she’s making fun of me.
“You’re funny,” she says. “I like that about you.”
“I think you might be the only person in the world to call me funny.”
“I think not many people know you, then,” she counters. “Come on, let’s go play one of these games.” She waves a hand toward the arcade. “I haven’t played Pac Man in ages.”
“I just so happen to be the best Pac Man player in the room.”
“Ha, those are some lofty words. Care to wager a bet?”
“What are the terms?” I ask.
“If I beat you, you have to owe me a favor.”
“Done,” I say immediately. I don’t care about what the favor is, I’d do it, anyway. “And if I win, I get to buy a couch for the living room.”
She stares at me for a beat before laughing. “ That’s what you want?”
“Should it have been different?” I ask in confusion.
“Of fucking course. I’m basically giving you a free card to request anything from me.”
“Well, fuck.” I sigh, finally catching on to her innuendo.
She pats me on the shoulder. “Better luck next time. ”
She’s so playful, so young, and I haven’t felt so out of place with a woman before now, like I’m too old to get the innuendo the first time around. I’m seriously regretting ever mentioning a couch and?—
“Don’t frown.” She traces her finger between my eyebrows. “I like that it didn’t even cross your mind. You’re the first person who’s never bet a sexual favor, and that wins you points in my book.”
I lean into her touch, starved for it, before saying, “Let’s go play, then.”
She grabs my hand and drags me to the game while her friends give us curious looks. I ignore them and the next hour passes with us trash-talking each other and touching one another at every chance we can get, reminding me of Jake and Aria. Every touch sends a zing of electricity through me.
“Food time,” Aria says, whistling to get our attention.
Nina and I look at the screen, at my high score, and she laughs. “Looks like we’re getting that couch now.”
After more food and drinks, we all call it a night. Nate’s in the driver’s seat as we get into my car. Nina slides into the seat right next to me, so close our thighs touch.
“Thank you,” she says once we’re on the road, “for organizing tonight.”
“Anytime.” I brush my fingers against her thigh, not able to help myself. “You deserve to let loose and have fun. You’ve been working too much. ”
“And what about you?” she asks, whispering in my ear. “Do you ever let loose?”
“I haven’t in a long time.”
“Maybe it’s time you take your own advice.” She places her hand over the front of my pants, right over my quickly hardening dick.
I nuzzle her neck and whisper, “What’s your plan here?”
“I didn’t think that far.”
I chuckle and steal a kiss. “Let’s continue this when we get home.”
She nods and nuzzles into my side, laying her head against my shoulder for the remainder of the ride home. When we arrive, her deep breathing fills the air.
She wakes up when I move us out of the car, but I pick her up and cradle her close to my body. “Go back to sleep,” I whisper. “I’ve got you.”
Nate opens the front door and nods goodnight before I take her to her room. Her soft breathing is a rhythmic melody,filling me with a sense of peace.
She stirs when I lay her in bed and remove her shoes.
“Stay,” she says, grabbing on to my arm.
“I was planning on it.” Undressing down to my boxer briefs, I slide into bed beside her and pull her close into my body.
With her warmth surrounding me, a slow realization hits—I’m in love with Nina.
It’s the realest and scariest feeling in the world.
I’ve never been in love before, but it’s undeniable, this feeling inside me.
I love her when she’s angry, when that fire lights up her eyes.
I love her when she’s happy, her laughter bringing light to my world.
I love her when she’s excited, her infectious energy drawing me in.
I love her when she’s scared, the vulnerability in her voice making me want to protect her.
No matter what emotion she’s feeling, it’s all part of what makes her who she is, and I can’t help but fall harder every day.
I’ve always longed for someone who sees me and wants me for who I truly am, not just for my money or my connections. And out of everyone in the world, I’m certain that Nina is that person. She could have exploited my wealth or status in countless ways, yet she never has.
It gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, she’s everything I’ve always been looking for.