Page 163 of Their Cruel Play
The server stops and puts a couple of waters down in front of us. “Your shakes will be ready in a few minutes.”
When she walks off, Nico looks at me expectantly.
“I did dance competitively outside of school. Volunteered at the hospital. Hung out with Kenz. Watched zombie and horror movies with my mom.” I shrug. “There wasn’t much to my life before you came back. How about you?”
He leans his elbows on the table and meets my eyes. “New York was interesting. Tons to do, but it was still easy to get bored. There was no one I really connected with there, even when I tried.”
At least I had Kenz. “No one? Not even the girls you dated?”
He shakes his head. “I saw the guys at football camp, but it was different. They were growing closer together while I had this whole life they weren’t part of. It’s hard to come back here and try to fit back in. I feel like a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit right anymore.”
“I figured you and the guys were still tight since they pretty much welcomed you with open arms.” I smirk. “As much as those guys are huggers.”
Nico smiles a little. “We’re still friends, but I put a distance there. I wasn’t even aware I was doing it, but I pulled away as they got closer to each other. I never figured this would ever happen.”
“This?” I ask as the server puts our shakes on the table and walks away.
“Being back here. Having the opportunity to hang out with them. Be with you again.” He pulls his strawberry shake over to him. “I had to mentally let you all go, or I never would have made it being that far away from you and the guys.”
I sip on my chocolate peanut butter shake. If I’d been the one to leave, would I have clung to Nico back here. It’s not like I sent him long letters or even tried to keep up with him either. Thatpart of our history I need to let go of. He didn’t keep in touch, but neither did I.
“Keeping in touch was on both of us.” I reach out and take his hand. His eyes meet mine. “I didn’t try to keep in touch either. I don’t know if it would have made a difference. Everything that’s happened probably still would have happened.”
“Probably.” Nico squeezes my hand. He pushes his glass toward me. He smirks. “Want a taste?”
I grin. “We’re not ten anymore, sharing shakes.”
Nico shrugs. He pushes it closer. “Why not? You know you want a taste.”
My cheeks heat at his words, but I take his glass and take a sip of his shake while pushing mine his way. The strawberry is sweet and light compared to mine.
“Mmm, I like mine better.” I push his back to him and grab for mine but he pulls it closer.
“I get a taste, sunshine.” He takes a drink of mine and then pushes it back to me.
“What do you think?” I raise an eyebrow and take a sip.
“That I’m going to enjoy kissing you later.” He winks before drawing on the straw in his strawberry shake.
I return his smile and feel warmth bloom in my chest. The server comes back with our burgers and fries.
“Okay, now for the difficult questions.” Nico looks at me seriously.
I blow out a breath and mentally prepare myself. “Okay?”
“Are you still a Ravenclaw?” He doesn’t break and laugh, but I do.
“Seriously?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve gone Hufflepuff? I don’t think I could take that.” Nico breaks a little, and I see the twinkle in his eyes.
“I’m pretty sure Luke is Slytherin.” I pop a fry into my mouth.
He nods solemnly. “I could see that. Caden is Gryffindor. So is Jack.”
“Eli is Ravenclaw.” I point at him with my fry.
“Nah, he’s Slytherin.” Nico grins. “That way you and I are the only Ravenclaws in the bunch.”
