Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“Hello,” I answer, out of breath from the escapade I went through to get to the phone before it stopped ringing. Excitement is streaming through my body, where the past few months it’s been sporadic. I understood the reasoning behind it. That didn’t mean I liked to be lumped into a category where Nico would be a late night caller, whether it be in the form of hearing his voice on the other end of the line, waking up to my cell alerting me of a text, or my absolute favorite is when he uses his key and slides in bed with me.
“La vita mia,” Nico replies, voice deep, throaty, and darkly delicious. A thrill works its way through my nervous system.
“Nico,” I respond, relaxing further into the messy sheets beneath me, moving until I’m snuggling back beneath the covers to ward off the coldness that somehow seeps through to my bones. The way his voice says those three words, they’re enough to make me feel like a young schoolgirl swooning over her first crush. You know, when the guy gives you that look where you’re pointing at yourself, looking over the shoulder to make sure said guy isn’t looking at someone behind you.
“Fuck, Journey, you’re in bed right now, aren’t you?” He sounds like I’m naked in bed with my fingers between my legs with the baritone of his voice. Obviously, that’s not the case, but who am I to let him think otherwise? Besides, it’s not every day I get a good morning call, so I’m going to milk this for all I’m worth.
“I am, and where are you? Sitting in your office in suit pants, dress shirt opened at the collar, sleeves rolled up to your forearms?” I ask, visualizing it more than I’d care to admit. That look of Nico’s is my absolute favorite.
“I wish. I’m on my way to the next meeting before I can hopefully grab a few hours of sleep. You have this week off, correct?” I can feel the crinkles in my forehead crease, wondering why he needs sleep when it’s only just now morning, unless Nico worked all night once again.
“That’s the plan. I’m going to see if maybe Mom or Dad wouldn’t mind helping me out by dropping off the twenty bags of clothes at the women’s center. There’s no way they’ll all fit in my car, not unless I want to take four or five trips,” I chatter aimlessly when I’m sure Nico is calling for a reason.
“I’ll have Enzo line up a man to haul it down to my SUV tonight when I pick you up.” I roll to my back. My day is looking brighter by the minute.
“Okay, I don’t have a problem with that, but you’re being awful vague, Nico. Is there something you aren’t telling me? Like, wasn’t the whole you being who you are, we’re supposed to not be out in the open? Your SUV parked in front of my apartment in the middle of the night and leaving at random hours won’t send alarm bells off to others, but this might.”
“Got it covered. There’s a reason behind everything, trust me.” Nico knows I do, implicitly, or I wouldn’t be the one in the shadows the past few months, him acting like a late night caller only coming to me in the middle of the night or me going to his place when it’s dark out, only to have to leave in the early hours of the morning. Which has only happened one or two times. He may not require but an hour or two of sleep; the same can’t be said for me.
“Then I guess I’ll see you later?” I question, since he’s going to keep things a mystery for the time being.
“You will. I’ll call when Enzo is on his way. Wish it were me picking you up, but I’ve got more meetings to take care of. Soon, Journey, it will be me, though.” It seems Nico’s got more up his sleeve than I know about. I only hope it’ll be good news for the both of us.
“Nico, you can call, but a time for when to be ready would be nice to know as well.” The snark leaves me. He knows better, growing up with a mom and a sister. It’s not like we’re the type to be ready within five minutes’ notice.
This time, it’s Nico who chuckles into the phone. The annoyance that was simmering above the surface disappears. I never could stay mad at anyone, not my brother when he was chasing off boys, our father, who grounded me when I was attempting to sneak-in past curfew, or Delaney when I know he’s in one of his moods. One joke, a smile, or a laugh, and everything seems to be okay. A grudge holder I am not. “Can you be ready at four?”