Page 87 of Elite Player
Still holding Nico’s hand, Fitzgerald slants his dark gaze to me, like something out of a mafia movie. “I suppose I canassume this is your lovely fiancée that I’ve heard so much about?”
Nico places his hand between my shoulder blades once Fitzgerald releases his grip, and I wonder if the older man was subtly crushing his fingers, from the way Nico curls them against me.
“Yeah, this is Josephine Atkins.”
I accept his handshake as well, but it is brief, his eyes assessing me. “I heard you’ve tamed Tremblay here.”
My skin pricks in defense of him. “He doesn’t need to be tamed. He’s not an animal.”
Sheffy hides his surprised cough behind a fist, while Nico gently squeezes the nape of my neck, though I’m not sure if it’s in gratitude or warning.
Fitzgerald takes a breath that raises his shoulders. He is not wearing a fun holiday sweater. Instead, he’s in a crisp suit, though his tie is green and red, but his harsh, craggy features eventually soften and the corner of his mouth ticks up. “I like a woman who stands up for her man. Reminds me of my own wife.”
I feel a whoosh of air against my ear like Nico let out a breath, and I’m not sure what else to say, so I wrap my arm around his waist and tell Mr. Fitzgerald, “That’s what good partners do, right? Stand up for each other.”
“Well said.” Fitzgerald pats Sheffy on the back then tells Nico, “Keep up the good work.”
After he’s moved on to another group, Nico deflates next to me as Sheffy cracks up. “I swear he’s got ties to the Irish mob. He’s scary as fuck, dude.”
Nico pulls me to his chest, kissing my hair. “Thanks, babe. That was perfect. I think he might keep me after all. Maybe offer a contract extension.”
Sheffy and Nico talk about what that might mean for the team, but the giddy, bubbly feeling in my stomach evaporates, leaving a sticky worry clawing up my throat.
If my job—for all intents and purposes—is over, what does that mean for us? For our fake engagement?
I thought I’d be able to handle this, a fun little vacation into a world I would never normally be invited to stay in, but now that I’m here, I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to give up what I found with Nico—a friend and lover.
My stress only heightens as the festivities kick off. It’s a whirlwind of loud music, flashing lights, and never-ending champagne. There are games and prizes, and speeches from some of the upper management, including Fitzgerald. Nico drags me out to the dance floor, where he jumps and flails around with Cubby and a few little kids while I sway a bit with Sheffy, but I notice Nico take out his cell phone twice within a few minutes. Both times, he makes an aggravated face, his joyous energy being sucked right down, and that sticky feeling that I haven’t been able to shake all night grows to full-on Velcro in my lungs. I can’t take a full breath and my palms go damp, the hair on my arms rising even as I feel too hot.
Between Nico’s behavior earlier, the short chat with Fitzgerald, and now this, I don’t know what to make of anything. My previous stable ground has been shaken, and I find myself crawling back into my shell where it’s safe. I excuse myself from the dance floor to find a seat at one of the tables, but it’s not long before Nico finds me, worry crossing his features. “You feeling okay?”
I nod.
“You don’t feel like talking?”
I shake my head.
“Why not?”
“Because you won’t.”
He sinks down on the chair next to me. “What?”
“I’m…just…” I don’t know where to start, and I coast my gaze around the party, all of the laughing faces and sparkling lights. “Overwhelmed.”
“About what?”
“Right now, the party.”
“You ready to go?”
I shrug. “We don’t have to leave if you’re having fun.”
“But you aren’t, so let’s go.”
I accept his hand, but before he can take a step, I stop him. “Who was on your phone?”
“What are you talking about?”
