Page 39 of Meet Me in the Penalty Box

“I think Ryan is going to propose,” she mused out loud as she looked over at me. “He’s been acting really strange and nervous around me lately. My sister said he stopped by to talk to our parents, which I found strange. There’s no reason why he would be there without me unless it was something he didn’t want me to know about.”

I stared at her for a moment as I smiled. “This is amazing, Ava. Have you guys talked about it at all?”

She shrugged. “I mean, yeah, but nothing in depth. I don’t know. He weirdly asked me to go to dinner with him next Friday night, which seems weird too. Like, since when do we need to plan ahead for a date?”

“Oh my god.” My eyes widened as everything she was saying was pointing in the direction she was thinking. “He’s definitely going to ask you. This feels like something straight out of a movie.”

“I feel like I could vomit,” she said with a laugh as she shook her head. “I mean, not about saying yes or anything, but like the anticipation. He’s either going to propose or break up with me.”

“He’s definitely going to propose,” I assured her. “Everyone sees the way he looks at you. He’s obsessed. He’s not breaking up with you.”

Ava turned to face me and raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of obsessed… Nico Cirone?!”

I grimaced in an attempt to hide the way my lips were curling upward and I ducked my head. “I know, I know. You can’t say anything to anyone, though.”

“He’s the guy from the club that night too, isn’t he?”

I looked back up at her and nodded. “I didn’t want to say anything because that was obviously just something random. But yeah… we’ve been hanging out and talking since then.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she said loudly before taking a sip of her drink. “I mean, I can understand why you wouldn’t want anyone to know, but shit. He’s fucking hot as hell and I’m your best friend.”

“I’ll lose my job if anyone finds out about it and I can’t afford to lose it right now.”

Ava nodded and fell silent as she looked around the room. “What if you didn’t have to work for the Vipers anymore? What if you could make your dreams come true and do this full-time instead?”

I looked at her as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “I mean, that’s what my goal is. There’s no guarantee that it will happen or work out. Working for the Vipers right now is a sure thing. That’s what pays my bills, and I can’t jeopardize that.”

“Tonight is obviously going so well. If we can use this to get the ball rolling, you’re going to have people calling you all the time.” Ava pulled out her phone. “My cousin is due in, like, two weeks to have a baby. I’m forcing her to book a newborn shoot with you.” She looked up at me and her eyes were wide. “And my one friend who is getting married. The photographer she originally hired recently backed out, so she’s going to need you too.”

“Ava,” I started as I shook my head at her. “You can’t just force all of these people to hire me.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. I’m not forcing them. It’s all word of mouth. You’re a talented photographer and we’re going to make this happen for you.” She smirked and winked. “That way you don’t have to be Nico Cirone’s dirty little secret.”

“I’m not his dirty little secret,” I argued as I lifted my glass to my mouth.

Ava nodded. “You’re right. He’syourlittle secret.”

I almost spat my drink out and half choked on it as I swallowed down the liquid and laughed. “Oh my gosh, Ava,” I laughed as I shook my head at her. “That sounds so bad.”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re not,” I said as we both giggled. We quickly finished eating as the wedding began to shift again and it was time for the two of us to get back to work.

As much as I didn’t want her pushing my work on other people, I was excited for the possibilities. For the different jobs and making my dreams come true.

But more importantly, I was excited for what this could do for Nico and I.

He wouldn’t have to be my secret anymore…

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

NICO

Shifting my weight on my feet, I checked the time on my phone again. Harper told me about twenty minutes ago that she was leaving the venue. She should be here any minute. I couldn’t help but feel a little awkward standing outside of her door with a bouquet of flowers. I didn’t tell her I was going to be coming by and I suddenly felt nervous about being here.

What if she didn’t want to see me? Was it weird that I came here with flowers like she just won an award? I was insanely proud of her for chasing after her dreams and making a name for herself. I just wanted to show my support and this was the first thing that came to my mind.

Movement from down the hall caught my attention and I looked down to see Harper walking toward me with her bags of equipment. She was wearing a light gray dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her black heels clicked against the floor beneath her feet and I couldn’t stop my eyes from trailing along her bare legs.

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