Page 29 of End Game

“How long were you two seeing each other?” I’m repeating my question, but changing the way I say it to see if he’ll actually answer me this time.

“A month? Maybe? Yeah, no. More like a couple of weeks. It didn’t last long.” He shrugs, staring off into the distance for a moment. The wind ruffles his dark hair, making pieces flutter around his forehead, and I have the sudden urge to push his hair out of his face.

Which is the dumbest idea ever, so I keep my hands clutched together in my lap.

“What happened? Why did you two break up?”

“There was nothing really to break up, but I ended things with her because she’s not a nice person.” He returns his gaze to mine, pinningme in place with all that intensity I see shining in his eyes. “And I realized it pretty quickly after we started seeing each other. She was the first girl I’ve actually dated in a long time, and now she’s also the last girl I’ve been exclusive with.”

At that last statement, a full-body shudder seems to take over him, and he’s got a playful expression on his face. Like I’m supposed to find that funny.

“You have a hard time committing? Is that why? Is she mad at you because you might’ve—cheated or something?” I’m taking stabs in the dark. Meaning I have no idea if that’s what he did or not.

Nico actually appears insulted. “What? No way. I’m not a cheater.” He shakes his head.

“Sorry, I just—she was pretty hostile.”

“Because no one ever told her no until I came along. That’s it. Simple as that.” His expression turns firm, his jaw tightening, and I remain quiet, his mood effectively shutting down the conversation.

It is obvious things didn’t end well between them and Portia is still holding a grudge. And maybe Nico is holding a grudge too. Does he regret that they broke up? Does he miss her?

I have so many questions, yet I know I’m not going to get any answers.

“That’s why you told her I’m your girlfriend?”

“I didn’t call you my girlfriend.”

“You implied it.”

“Sort of.”

“There’s nosort ofabout it. You definitely implied that we’re together.” A thought hits me. “And we live together, Nico.”

His smile is slow. “I really like it when you say my name. And you don’t say it often enough.”

I blink at him, annoyed that for the briefest second, I fell under his spell. Yet again. “You need to stop weaving your magic on me.”

“Weaving my magic? What are you talking about?” He actually sounds confused.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I jab a finger at him. “You flirt. Excessively.”

“Defineexcessively.”

I roll my eyes. “All the time. Be real right now. You’re very aware of the power you have with women.”

“Power? You make it sound like I’m a total asshole who wields his supposed power over unsuspecting women.” Now he sounds offended.

“I didn’t mean it like that ...” My voice drifts, and I throw my hands up, frustrated. “Now you’re just twisting my words.”

We’re quiet for a moment, and I nibble on my burrito, my appetite disappearing. I feel like he just turned it on me and made me feel like the bad guy, which isn’t cool.

“I shouldn’t have told her we were together,” he finally says, blowing out an obviously frustrated breath. “It was just a knee-jerk reaction on my part, pulling you close to me and making her think we’re a couple. I haven’t seen her in months, and I didn’t want her getting any funny ideas.”

“You definitely gave her a funny idea,” I mumble. “Making her think we’re together.”

“Wait a second. Do you think that’s a funny idea?”

“She definitely found it impossible to fathom.” I roll my eyes, trying to play it off because I don’t want him to know that it kind of hurt my feelings, how she reacted.

---