Page 122 of Scattered Glitter

“Nicholas.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Nicholas.”

“Please, call me Nico.” He gives me a bright, sincere smile that lights up his entire face. It’s the kind of smile he hasn’t shown all evening, though he’s offered many. It makes something in my chest tingle unexpectedly.

I shove the feeling away and smile back. “Nico.”

We walk along the exhibits in unspoken agreement in the direction that takes us farther away from the party. As the sounds of laughter and conversation from the main hall fade into the background, Nicholas’s casual confidence also melts away. He tucks his hands into his pockets as he glances at the artifacts lining the hallway, and his demeanor shifts into something more approachable. It’s not the image of a rich, arrogant man. It’s something more fragile, yet kind of pleasant.

“You know.” Nicholas breaks the silence. “I’d rather be anywhere else too.”

“Why’s that?” I ask, tilting my head, genuinely curious.

“My mother dragged me here like a fucking schoolboy,” he mutters, rolling his eyes. “She knows I can’t stand these kinds of things. Even less so when it’s intheirbuilding.” His gaze shifts toward the distant noise of the party, his expression darkening. “But, as always, she doesn’t give a fuck what I want.”

There’s tension around his eyes, a frustration that runs deep. Levi made him out to be an arrogant jerk, but right now? He seems human. Hurt, even.

“Aren’t you…” I raise a brow before continuing, “… old enough to say no?”

He chuckles bitterly. “Yeah, you’d think so. Except it’snot that easy.” He shakes his head, his jaw flexing. “With my mother, saying no isn’t an option.”

I nod slowly, sensing the heavy weight behind his words. “Sounds rough.”

He exhales sharply like he’s been holding it in. “You get used to it.”

“So, you don’t care for the twins? Or just their building?” I ask, wanting to know if the animosity is mutual.

“There’s… some history there.”

It’s a shorter answer than I’d like, and his mood visibly darkens to the point where I know I need to change the topic if I want him to associate this conversation with good feelings. So I nod sympathetically. “Well, I believe you without needing the details. I mean, I tried to like them. But yeah, let’s talk about anything else.”

There’s a beat of silence, the kind that should feel awkward but somehow doesn’t. Slowly, he smiles, the tension easing from his face. “Like what?”

This would be easier if I knew what he was into.

Now’s as good a time as any to find out.

“We could discuss the big questions in life.”

“Oh, thebigquestions, huh? All right, here’s one for you…” There’s a playful gleam in his eyes as he pauses for dramatic effect. “Would you rather eat ten gallons of cookie dough or ten gallons of ice cream?”

I snort. “That’s yourbig question?”

Is Nicholas Harringtonfun?

“Hey, priorities.” He shrugs, but there’s that sweet smile again. “It says a lot about a person.”

“I don’t know…” I bite my lip, pretending to weigh the options as if it’s some life-altering decision, which it is.I need him to like me. “What’syouranswer?”

“I asked you first.” He smiles.

“It’ssohard.” I pout.

“Fine…” He pauses, giving me a look before finally giving in. “Cookie dough,obviously. It’s the best part of ice cream, so why not skip the middleman?”

“Ten gallons of cookie doughice cream,then,” I say, grinning like a dork. “Checkmate.”

Nicholas stops walking and laughs heartily. “You can’t choose both. That’s not how this works.”

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