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Nick picks me upfrom the restaurant. Parker and I wait at our table until he texts, then Parker pays the check and walks me out the door. Nick is leaning against his motorcycle, waiting for me when we come outside. When he sees me, he lets out a long whistle. “Well, damn. Now I feel underdressed.”
He’s wearing jeans and a Metallica T-shirt under his leather jacket. He’s left the cowboy hat at home today and has traded his cowboy boots for a pair of black motorcycle boots. I smirk. “Actually, I think you’ll fit right in.”
This makes him grin. He takes off his jacket and holds it out to me with a waggle of his eyebrows. I hate to encourage his antics, but I laugh despite myself. As I take my first step in his direction, Parker clears his throat behind me. Oh yeah. I owe him a kiss.
I take a moment to steady myself before facing the music. I can feel him close the distance behind me. “My hands are clasped behind my back, Nora. You have nothing to fear.”
Except maybe how much I like it.He’s so close his breath tickles the back of my neck. A shiver rocks my entire body.
“You want this. Don’t you?”
I’m honestly not sure. Part of me does, and part of me thinks if I do this, there’s no turning back. This isn’t safe, no matter what Parker claims.
“Turn around, beautiful.”
I can’t breathe. My anxiety is locking up my entire body. I’m shaking. It’s just a kiss on the cheek. It’s not even the lips. But it’s what it means that scares me. It’s a move to get closer. It’s a stamp on the end of a night. It’s a goodnight kiss.
“Nora, sweetheart,” Parker murmurs, “if you really can’t do it, it’s okay. I’ll still keep Xavier away from the party.”
I let out a giant breath of relief. My entire body deflates, leaving me feeling like rubber. I hadn’t realized I was so tense. I can’t even accept a kiss on the cheek from a guy I’m attracted to. “I’m sorry,” I croak.
I feel like an idiot. There really is something wrong with me. My shoulders sag at the thought. I’ll never be normal. I’ll never have love or a regular relationship.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. I’m sorry I pushed it. I didn’t realize how serious it was.”
“It’s stupid.”
“It’s understandable.”
I still can’t even turn around and look at him. I’m on the verge of tears, and I just want to get out of here. Nick is waiting patiently at the curb, watching the two of us with a curious expression. No doubt he can hear every word we’re saying. “Thank you for dinner,” I say, not knowing how else to get out of this conversation.
“It was my pleasure,” Parker says. His voice has returned to normal, as if nothing awkward happened at all, as if I’m not a hopeless wreck. “Be careful tonight, Nora.”
“You too.”
I head toward Nick without looking back. When I get to the bike, Nick slips his jacket on my arms without saying anything. I appreciate him not asking me what all that was about. I climb on behind him, and as he revs the engine, he says, “You want to ride for a bit first? We’ve got a little time if we want to be fashionably late.”
He is a wonderful man. A motorcycle ride to give me time to compose myself and get my head back in the game is exactly what I need. “Yes, please.”
We take off, and I immediately lose myself to the thrill of being on the bike. I feel better within minutes, but we drive for twenty before we arrive at the sorority house. It seems to be a casual party, not a wild rager like you see on TV. I’m glad for the laid back atmosphere. It’s perfect for mingling, which is exactly what Nick and I need to do.
As I hand Nick his jacket back, I give him one last pep talk. “Okay, once we’re in there, you have to act annoyed with me behind my back.”
Nick shoots me a questioning look as he straightens his leather jacket. “Why?”
“Because this is asacrificialritual. They have to believe you’re only using me for my power and that you’d be willing to kill me, or they won’t go for it.”
Nick lets his eyes drop to my feet and slowly pulls them back up, smirking. “I can’t want you for your legs?”
I roll my eyes. “Of course that, too, or we won’t look sincere as a couple. Come on, we’ve got to sell this. It’s our only chance.”
“Okay, okay, I promise I’ll be the douchiest boyfriend ever.”
“Thank you.”
Nick laughs, shaking his head. “You ready, 007?”
I look at the house again and take a deep breath. “Yup. Let’s do this. Let’s go rush.”
