Page 73 of End Game

“It’s cool, Dollar. You can have her.” His arm tightens around my shoulder, and Frank notices, his gaze zeroing in on Nico’s fingers skimming my upper arm.

Uh-oh.

“What, so you two are together?” Frank sounds incredulous.

“Frank, it’s not—” I start, but Nico cuts me off.

“We’re giving it a shot. Seeing where this might take us. Right, Ever?” He gives me a little shake, gazing down at me, and I glance up at him, noticing the faint pleading in his eyes.

Go along with this. Please.

“R-right. That’s wh-what we’re d-doing.” I’m stuttering like an idiot, and the last thing I want is to see Frank’s reaction.

I’m sure he’s hurt. Angry. He has every right to feel that way too.

Portia laughs. “Sounds like the two of you are sooooo confident about your relationship. Good luck with that.”

The last sentence is directed at me, and I’m suddenly fuming.

“We’re very confident,” I tell her, my voice firm, my gaze still on Nico, who’s now glaring at Portia. “It just happened so quickly and ... unexpectedly.”

“Right.” Nico glances down at me again, and I rise on tiptoe, resting my hand on the solid wall that is his chest right before I do something I’ve imagined doing countless times since the bathroom incident.

I press my lips to his.

A surprised huff of breath escapes him the moment our mouths connect, and I remain there, trying to kiss his immobile lips.

But it lasts only for a second. Next thing I know, his hand is cupping the back of my head, and he’s returning the kiss. Over and over, his lips eventually parting mine.

His tongue slipping inside for a quick, teasing lick.

I end the kiss the moment our tongues touch, taking a stumbling step backward, but he doesn’t let me go. He’s got me firmly pinned in place against him, and all I can do is stare up at his gorgeous face. Notethe concern I see in his gaze, the faint confusion. His brows are drawn together, and the jovial smile that’s always on his face is gone.

I swallow hard.

So does he.

“Seriously, Nico?” Portia screeches, pushing Frank’s arms away from her as she stomps toward us. “You’re such an asshole!”

Feels like the entire backyard goes quiet at her screaming, and it startles both of us into action. Somehow my hand ends up in his yet again, and he’s dragging me into the house, Portia hot on our heels.

“You’re such a fucking piece of shit, Nico! Leaving me like you did, and for what? This girl? She doesn’t even look good in that stupid gold dress!” Portia is shouting at us as she follows us through the house, causing a scene, but Nico doesn’t say a word.

Neither do I. I just let him lead me toward the short hallway, a gasp escaping me when he yanks me into his bedroom and slams the door in front of Portia, cutting her off from entering the room with us.

He turns the lock just as she starts pounding on the door, making it rattle. “Let me in, you chickenshit! We need to talk!”

“Go away, Portia,” he calls to her. “There’s nothing left for us to discuss. We ended it months ago.”

“I wasn’t ready! You never gave me a chance! You don’t give anyone a chance.” More pounding on the door until I hear Cooper’s steady, deep voice sounding from the other side.

“Hey, Portia. Calm the fuck down, or I’m going to have to kick you out.”

“Just try it, asshole! I have every right to be here.”

“Jesus.” Nico glances over at me, shaking his head. “She’s unhinged.”

“She’s really mad,” I agree, though it feels more like an understatement, describing her that way.

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