Page 39 of Put a Rink on It

The car comes to a stop, and Nero gently nudges my shoulder. “We’re home, Ships.”

I open my resting eyes, adjusting to the light in the back seat of the car. “Home?” I squeak.

“My apartment,” Nero rephrases. “Too late to have changed your mind.” A hollowness invades his tone, matching the glum expression on his face. I’m uncertain what’s causing either.

“I didn’t, but it’s way past nine, and you fed me champagne. My brain shut down hours ago.”

He suggested the champagne toast on the plane, and I couldn’t turn him down. I also couldn’t help drinking half the bottle once I started. I’ll be paying for it come tomorrow morning, but it was worth it.

“Let’s get you inside.”

Nero exits the car and swiftly comes to my side, holding out his hand to help me out.

“Why, thank you, Mr. Champion.”

“My pleasure, Ms. Keeley, soon-to-be Mrs. Champion.”

His words nearly have me stumbling out the door, but he’s there to catch me, not letting me fall.

“Too soon?”

“No,” I whisper.

As odd as it sounded coming from his mouth, it’s worming its way to my heart, burrowing in and making a home. Good thing I’m not thinking of when all this ends. We haven’t even announced the engagement, and I’m already putty in his hands.

“Good. Because it agrees with you.”

Again, his statement has me staggering, only not falling over because he’s holding my elbow. “What are you saying?” I’ve asked that question, or one like it, several times over the course of the last week.

Any answer is interrupted when the driver appears with our coats and bags.

“Thank you, Raul. I’ll let you know the plan for tomorrow.”

“Have a great evening, sir. Ma’am.” He salutes us, closing the back door.

Nero walks us to the door of the apartment complex. It’s too dark to make out what it looks like, but even if it weren’t the middle of the night, my brain’s too foggy.

Nero directs me inside, shutting the door behind us, the click of the lock ringing out in the quiet entryway.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” I ask through a yawn.

“You gotta get home somehow. Wasn’t sure you’d want to take the train or the bus. But let’s worry about that in the morning, k? My girl is tired.” He encourages me to sit on the bottom step and removes my sneakers.

My girl.

Can’t let that settle too deep. I get the sense it might come back and bite me in the ass.

CHAPTER 13

nero

The door squeaks softly as I push into Marina’s room. It’s still early, but I haven’t seen her this morning. She definitely stayed up past her bedtime, but I’m not sorry for it. Especially not with the way she glowed most of the night after the proposal.

I find her sitting up in her bed, propped up on every pillow, her phone in her right hand. Her expression is a little weary, but her smile is wide. Even first thing in the morning, she’s breathtaking. What I’d give to experience this every morning.

“You are awake.” She pats the bed next to her, and I climb under the covers, resting against the headboard. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”

“This mattress is mad comfortable. Let me guess—it costs an arm and a leg.”