Page 15 of Big Nick Energy

“I’m gonna be honest with you… I haven’t been to a kickback in a long time. So, I’m going off what used to happen back in the day. I can’t really speak for how they get down now. For all I know, they could be on some grown folks party shit. They could be vibing to old school music and drinking out of glasses instead of red Solo cups.”

“You’re worried and the whole time they got a charades and chardonnay type of vibe.”

His lips curled into a smile before a light snicker escaped him. “Yoooo… that would be some shit. It could be something low-key. I just wouldn’t want it to be anything like what happened a few years ago.”

“What happened a few years ago?”

He shook his head. “I wasn’t there, but the chapter almost got suspended from Hamilton. It wasn’t invite only, too many people showed up, apparently wild shit jumped off.”

My eyebrows flew up. “So, what I’m gathering is that we don’t know what we’re walking into tonight.”

“Not a clue. It could be anything.”

“Well, I’m up for anything.”

He held my gaze as if he were processing what I’d said. “Well, let me thank Ms. Llewellyn and then I’ll call a car to come get us.”

“You can just ride with me. I drove.”

His tongue ran from one corner of his mouth to the other. “Meet me at the door in five minutes.”

Four

Although I had plans to change into something a little more casual, my outfit was sexy—professional, but sexy. If there was nowhere to sit, the gold heels would eventually present a problem. But overall, I was completely fine with the sudden change in plans—especially since the reason I wasn’t going to the hotel to change was because I was going straight to the kickback with Nick Williams.

“You ready?” Nick asked, coming up behind me.

A chill ran down my spine. “I’m ready,” I answered.

He placed a hand on my lower back and escorted me down the stairs of the library. “Where did you park?”

I pointed in the general area. “It’s not that far.”

He gestured to my feet. “So, you’re good in these?”

“Oh yeah.” I looked up into his eyes. “There’s a lot I can do in heels.”

He licked his lips. “Noted.”

My skin heated as I shifted my eyes away from him and turned on the sidewalk. I knew I was laying it on a little thick, but I wanted to make sure he knew I was interested in more than friendship. Our conversation earlier was good and while I felt like we connected, it wasn’t very personal. It was focused onschool and work. I was ready to transition us into more personal topics.

“So, where do you live?” I asked him.

“Well in a few weeks, it’ll be Northern Virginia. But currently, I’m in Austin.” He put one hand on the small of my back and the other grabbed my elbow as we stepped off the sidewalk. “What about you? Where are you?”

“I’m in Virginia. Richmond.” I swallowed hard as I realized his hand still remained on my back. “About two hours from D.C.”

“That’s what’s up. And you mentioned you’re in social services upstairs. What do you do?”

“I’m a case worker for a school district. I work with a lot of the same demographics you serve.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Makes sense now.”

I pulled my key from my bag and unlocked my SUV as we approached. “What makes sense?”

“Allow me.” He stepped in front of me so he could open my door for me. “Doing this line of work ain’t for the weak.” He smirked as I climbed into the driver’s seat. “And what you were saying up there made a lot of sense. It sounded like you were speaking from experience.”

“I’m very passionate about what I do.”

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