I’ll give him a pass since we’re in New York.
As we stroll through the park, Miff places a bag of birdseed in his hand.
I stick my hand out. Nico chuckles as he pours a generous amount of birdseed into my palm.
“I saw the faces you made about walking through the park. Look who’s happy now.”
I laugh. “So what? I love watching the birds eat.”
Standing near the fountain, I toss seeds on the ground. Pigeons surround Nico and me, pecking away at the seeds.
Nico’s gaze lingers on my side profile, but this time it feels different. There’s no possessiveness—only tenderness. Maybe he hopes we can give our relationship another chance.
But I can’t risk trusting him not to hurt me again. The way things are now feels safe; he can’t cause me pain.
And I refuse to be the one who hurts him.
His big hand squeezes my neck. I don’t shy away from his touch. Deep down, I need it. Why did I get wrapped up in him again?
I will cherish this time we spend together because in two years we won’t see each other anymore.
“You two make a gorgeous couple,” an older woman says to my right.
“Thank you,” Nico pipes up.
Probably because he knows I’ll tell the woman, we aren’t a couple.
But I surprise myself today. “Thank you.”
Nico doesn’t puff his chest out or take advantage of the situation. He pours more birdseed in my hand. We enjoy this peaceful time together in the park.
The smile on Nico’s face as he stares at me across the table is electric. It says I could fuck you right here. I’m going through so many emotions today. One minute I’m enjoying the time we spend together and the next I hate him for ruining us. We were good together. The air catches in my throat, and I break out in a coughing fit.
He moves around the table in his brown suit, his hand tracing gentle circles across my bare back, warmth radiating from his touch. The bronze dress clings perfectly to my curves, its zipper’s top resting just below the small of my back. The moment Nico zipped it up before we left the hotel for dinner, he’d already wanted to undo it.
“The water went down the wrong pipe,” I lie.
Our connection makes goosebumps break out all over my arms.
I make a mental note to fuck him in the back seat of our SUVs and in bathrooms at parties. No more of the intimacy.
I gulp down the water. “I feel better now.”
Nico returns to his side of the table. The server returns with our wine. It pays to be in the mafia. I’m only twenty and Nico makes sure I’m served a glass of wine. Who’s going to tell Nico Pitucco no? No one here if they want to live another day.
“Your meals will be right out,” the server announces.
“Thank you,” I say.
“I’m pretty sure my English teacher hates me,” I say with a laugh.
“He paired me with the most unmotivated group of students. I feel like I’m doing all the work myself.”
Nico chuckles. “That was me in accounting. My team had to create a business and handle its finances. One teammate got sick, and another said, ‘I think you’ll finish that part faster than the rest of us.’”
I giggle. “Is it just me, or are some students really lazy?”
Nico and I share a laugh.
