Page 57 of End Game

He doesn’t say anything, and the longer the silence drags out, the worse I feel.

“We can’t do anything about it, though,” I say hurriedly, whirling around to face him. He pulls his hands away and takes a step backward, giving me space, and yes. Yes, that’s exactly what I need. Getting involved with Nico is going to bring me nothing but problems, and I don’t need that.

I don’t want it. I know what I said to Sienna earlier, and yes, I considered what she said, too, but ultimately I think it would be a huge mistake and lead me to nothing but miserable heartache.

I’d much rather deal with indifference after breaking up with a long-term boyfriend instead of getting involved with a larger-than-life, too-handsome-for-his-own-good superstar who’ll only leave me with a broken heart.

I can barely stand the thought.

“We can’t?”

I slowly shake my head. “It would be a huge mistake. Don’t you think?”

Nico says nothing, staring at me, his brows drawn together. Like he’s confused because he can’t figure me out.

“Yeah.” He says the word slowly, dragging it out. “It probably would.”

“You’re not looking for anything serious.”

He squints at me. “And you are?”

I nod, my voice solemn when I admit, “I’m nothing but a serious kind of girl.”

And I believe that with my entire heart.

“Maybe you’re right.” He says those words, but he also sounds full of doubt.

No worries, Nico,I want to tell him.I’m full of doubt too. More than anything, I’m talking out of my ass and trying to convince myself that I’m not into you like that.

“I think I am.” I thrust my hand out toward him like the awkward weirdo I’ve suddenly turned into. “Cool if we just remain friends?”

Reluctantly he reaches toward me and clasps my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. I feel the pressure of his fingers settle into an incessant throb between my thighs, and I’m desperate to ignore it. “Okay. Friends.”

We shake on it. The biggest lie we’ve ever told each other.

Wonder how long we’ll keep up the pretense.

Chapter Twenty

EVERLEIGH

We’re halfway through the quarter, and classwork has ramped up to the point that I’m in a state of constant overwhelm. Between that and work and taking care of my agreed-upon responsibilities at the house, I’m swamped. I try to do homework locked up in my room, but even with my old AirPods stuck in my ears, I can’t drown out the sound of my roommates and their various friends playing video games. Because when they play, they’re loud.

They don’t have a lot of faults—wait, I’m lying, they totally do. We all do. But for the most part, we’re living a mostly peaceful existence together, especially if I avoid Nico.

Things have worked in my favor lately, though, and I don’t run into him often. Especially the last couple of days since our “agreement.” I’m able to sneak through his bedroom and use the bathroom to take a shower, doing my best not to leave my “girlie stuff”—Coop’s description, not mine—strewn all over the counter. He hasn’t been around much, and I wonder if that has to do with our “just friends” agreement.

Did I insult him? Has he run off and found someone else to mess around with? Is she prettier than me ...?

Wait a minute. I need to stop thinking like that. I don’t care if she’s prettier than me. I don’t care if he’s hooking up with twenty womenwho are more attractive than me. At least I’m not the one he’s stringing along and pretending to care about. Nico Valente is a dangerous man.

Dangerous when it comes to my precious feelings, which are still a little raw after our last interaction.

Men. They’re better left alone if you ask me.

Giving up on listening to the endless string of curses coming from our living room, I pack up my stuff and my laptop in my backpack and leave the house, heading for the campus library. It stays open till midnight Monday through Friday, which is ideal for situations like this. Though I don’t want to stay there too late. I have to be at work tomorrow morning at six thirty.

Groan.

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