Page 30 of Nicky

We walked in silence for a moment, our footsteps crunching on the light layer of snow dusting the sidewalk. I glanced at Nicky, debating what to do when we were about to part ways. Should I offer a handshake? A hug? Was a peck on the cheek too much? Too little? God, when had I gotten so bad at this?

I walked him to his car, our conversation light but threaded with an undercurrent of anticipation. As it turned out, we weren’t parked far from each other. He stopped and turned to me, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“I had a great time,” he said, his voice steady but soft. “So much that… I don’t want the night to end.”

My pulse kicked up, the words sinking in. “You don’t?”

He shook his head, his gaze meeting mine, open and unguarded.

“Do you…” I hesitated, then cleared my throat. “Would you like to come back to my place?”

His brows lifted slightly, and I scrambled to add, “Nothing has to happen if you don’t want it to, Nicky. Just?—”

“Nicholas,” he interrupted, his breath hitching. “Not Nicky.”

“Right,” I said, correcting myself. “Nicholas. Would you like to come back to my place?”

For a beat, I held my breath, waiting for his response. Then his lips curved into a slow, genuine smile. “I would.”

Relief and something else—something deeper, warmer—spread through me. “Want me to drive you in my car, so we can get to my place together?” I hesitated before adding, “We can come back for your car later. No worries.”

He shot me a playful look. “I appreciate it, but I’ll stick with my own wheels. No need to baby me.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Fair enough. I’m not parked far from here. I’ll be back soon and then you can follow me home.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He unlocked the door and slid into the driver’s seat, glancing up at me one last time. “See you in a few?”

“You will,” I said, stepping back.

I made my way to my own car, the excitement buzzing under my skin now tinged with a flicker of nervousness. The memory of the first and only time he’d come to my place hovered at the edge of my thoughts—the way he’d left so abruptly, the week of avoiding me afterward. We hadn’t talked about it, but maybe tonight was a chance to rewrite that ending.

I drove up next to him and then he followed me.

The drive home felt longer than usual, even though he was right behind me the whole way. The tension coiled tight in my chest eased a little when I turned into my driveway and saw his headlights pull in behind me.

I stepped out of the car and waited for him. Nicky climbed out of his own vehicle, shoving his hands into his coat pockets as he walked up the short path to where I stood.

Our eyes met in the glow of the porch light, and for a moment, everything else—the cold, the doubts, the awkwardness—faded.

“Ready?” I asked.

He nodded, a soft smile curving his lips.

When we stepped inside, the warmth of the house enveloped us, and the door clicked shut. I wasn’t sure what tonight would bring, but when I looked at him standing there, I knew one thing: I wanted to find out.

CHAPTER 14

Nicholas

I hovered by the door, suddenly unsure. My jacket was off, hanging on the rack like it belonged there, but my pulse pounded with the awareness that this wasn’t my space—it was his. It felt intimate in a way I hadn’t been prepared for.

The warmth of Markus’s home had wrapped around me the second we stepped inside, chasing away the chill from the night. The heater hummed softly in the background, already working to warm the space, while Markus crouched by the fireplace, striking a match to light the logs. Soft lighting spilled from a single lamp on the side table, casting a golden glow over the cozy space. It smelled like coffee and something distinctly him—a warm, woodsy cologne that I’d noticed during our first hug and hadn’t been able to forget since.

Markus moved farther in, pulling the curtains shut against the dark. The soft swish of fabric drew my attention to the way his broad shoulders shifted under his sweater. I could still feel the solid warmth of his hands from when he’d helped steady me on the ice.

I wasn’t one to linger after dates. They either ended at the threshold with an awkward handshake or, if things had gone well, maybe a kiss that left a promise of next time. So why wasI here, standing in his living room, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest?

He glanced back at me, his eyes warm and expectant. “Make yourself comfortable.”

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