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“That’s when two people are on a board, right?”
He nods. “Yeah, and since I don’t know anyone who can’t surf, well, besides you…” His glimmering eyes shift their focus from our feet to my face.
There it is.
The roulette of Nico’s facial expressions has landed on the in-case-of-emergency puppy-dog look. It’s not nearly as heart-stopping as his signature grin or his perfectly-calculated winks.
But it serves its purpose. It’s impossible to deny.
“Is this your not-so-subtle attempt to ask me to get me to stay and be your tandem surfing partner?”
“I’ve seen you swim. I think you’d be the perfect person for the job.”
He’s lucky he’s cute; otherwise, I’d sucker punch the pout right off his lips. “Maybe, if you ask mereallynicely.”
Nico drops to his knees, and one of the bags breaks open. A jumble of colorful fabrics jumps around us.
“You enjoy being on your knees for me, don’t you?” I bend down to help him.
“It’s the most natural place for worship.”
We gather up the spilled merchandise, and I rise, leaving Nico crouched down beside me. Blood drains from my head, and a plethora of white spots cloud my vision.
Okay, I need some fresh air.
Nico’s eyes remain focused on me, and he takes one of my hands between his palms. “Lily, will you please do me the honor—”
Something hard collides with my lower back, sending my hips straight into Nico’s face. The stranger next to me yanks an item off the rack.
“Uh, excuse me.” I glare at the woman, who shoots me a dirty look.
The fucking nerve.
“Now, I wasn’t going to ask forthisright here in front of everyone, but if you’re just going to throw yourself at me.” Nico’s hands wrap protectively around my hips, and he buries his face deeper into the crotch of my shorts.
Both of his cheeks dimple as I pull out of his grip.
The teasing comment does little to avail the creeping ache settling in my temple. “I need to go outside.”
I bolt out of the store. I’m instantly met with suffocatingly hot air, a blaring siren, and car horns.
August in New York is less humid than this.
I rub my fingertips over my clammy palms and look up the street.Where is that restaurant we passed earlier?
Water. Food.I’ll be fine.
“Hey, Lily.” Nico’s familiar touch clamps around my arm, and I almost collapse into his body. “Are you alright? What’s wrong?”
“I think I need to eat something.” My stomach growls as if agreeing with me. “Uh, I only had a smoothie this morning.”
“That was six hours ago.” He hoists the shopping bags up and scans the surrounding buildings. “Okay, let’s not panic.”
The words open the latch on a music box of anxiety in my chest. “I’m not panicking.”
“What’s your hunger level?”
“Huh?” My voice trembles.
