As if Nico noticed Tori’s unashamed curiosity as well, he cleared his throat and half stood. “Excuse me. I think I see someone I recognize over there.” He gestured without care in a direction that could have been anywhere within Toddy’s or even outside on the street.
“Oh, okay. Nice to see you again, Nico.”
But he can’t have heard my words because he was halfway across the room before I finished speaking. I turned to Saint, but he was already watching me, his gaze thoughtful.
“Does Nico have something against me?” I asked because I had to know. I thought I’d done okay in the interview, but if Nico had a personal axe to grind, that made another reason I couldn’t work at their office—like I needed another one.
Saint shook his head, the movement slow, and he pulled the corners of his lips down. “Not that I can think of. Why would he?”
I shook my head too. “No idea. I literally haven’t seen him in years.” But there had definitely been an air of hostility, something that kept his back straight and his gaze too sharp and searching. “I’m just going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I stood and bumped my closed fist against the back of my chair before I walked away.
I’d obviously caught whatever was wrong with Nico, because my world didn’t feel quite aligned or balanced. I squeezed between tables placed too close together and headed toward the tiny corridor out of sight at the back.
I’d almost decided Nico didn’t deserve any of my headspace when I glanced to my left, and there he was.
There he was kissing a guy.
Not just kissing, but feverishly groping the guy’s ass as his tongue plundered the guy’s mouth. I stopped and spun in place, my face burning and the sting of pain piercing my chest. I hadn’t meant to blunder into some sort of public porn scene, and there was no way it should have hurt.
But it did.
I swallowed against the sensation and tried to massage it away with my palm. I didn’t get to be hurt because of Nico kissing someone. It wasn’t as if he was mine. He never actually would be, thanks to Saint’s rule. And besides, if I did get the internship… Well. Dating the boss never actually worked out for anyone, right?
I counted each step as I returned to Tori and Saint, who were still chatting at the table, the numbers keeping me focused and thinking about nothing at all. Six, seven, eight…
“Hey.” Saint glanced at me then did a double take. “You okay, Jamie? You’re looking kind of pale.”
“Yeah. Yeah, no worries.” I summoned a smile, but the effort felt weak. “I just have a headache starting so I’m going to go home.”
Tori half moved, more of a threat than actual inclination. “You need company?”
I waved him back down then squinted at the flashing disco lights. The longer I stayed, the more real my headache became. “No, I got this.”
“Probably just the stress of the day.” Saint offered me a small, mischievous smile.
“Yeah, something like that.” I tried to grin in return then swung away toward the door. Suddenly, Toddy’s felt small and claustrophobic, and all I could smell was Nico’s cologne, as if he walked beside me. But he wasn’t there, and I drew big inhales of the cooler evening air as I stepped out onto the street.
I just had to remember the rule. That would get me through. I nodded. Yeah, I was so over this crush. Goodbye, Nico.
Adios, dasvidaniya, ciao. Goodbye.
4
Nico
Ahh, Monday morning and a helluva lot better than Friday. That wasn’t usually the case, but I’d spent the entire weekend fucking Jamie Caldwell right out of my mind. In fact, Jamie who?
I smiled. Much better.
I whistled a little bit as I strode toward my office. When Jamie had said he was gay, it took all of my strength not to kiss his beautiful mouth right there in front of Saint and some twink. It had looked so soft, his lips so perfect when they parted, almost asking me to take them and claim them as mine. It seemed impolite not to.
I shook my head. But I was strong again now. I was strong enough to remember my best friend’s gaze on me as I fought the desire to kiss his brother, strong enough to remember I’d found plenty of the Caldwell brothers sexy over the years, and never acted on it.