After I swallow a bite of my roast beef hoagie, I nod. “It is expensive, but I’m mostly saving up for a trip. I’m hoping to go to Europe for a few weeks after finals. I have to make up for lost time since my ex didn’t want me to do a semester abroad. I have a huge list of historical and literary sights I’d like to visit.”
“Where would you go?”
“England, maybe do a solo trip to Germany or Austria to see the Christmas markets. Who knows? The possibilities are endless.”
Nick frowns again. “By yourself?”
“Unless I find some classmates who want to go too.”
The grooves between his eyebrows deepen. “That sounds dangerous, Abby.”
“I wasn’t planning to walk the streets of Whitechapel at midnight. Anyway, the only time I could do a semester abroad was in the fall, which Ezra hated because God forbid his little lucky charm wasn’t available for him twenty-four seven.”
He puts his sandwich down. “Lucky charm?”
Part of me feels like I’m betraying Ezra by sharing this, but then I remember all of the women he sank his dick into when we were dating, and my remorse instantly evaporates. “You know he was superstitious, right?”
After Nick takes a drink of water, he nods slowly. “He has a pretty serious pre-game routine.”
“Sure. Let’s call it that. Guess who was part of his ritual?” I wave my hand. “That’s why he and I were arguing that night I knocked off your bumper. He wanted me to go with him to open tryouts if he wasn’t drafted because he thought it would increase his odds of making a team.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to admit that’s why Ezra dated me in the first place, but it’s too embarrassing to say out loud.
“Abby, your ex was an idiot.”
Hazel’s head jerks up. “Daddy, we don’t call people idiots.” She must be parroting something he says.
“Sorry, kid. You’re right.” When his daughter looks down, he mouths, “Idiot.”
I laugh. “Anyway, I plan to do all the things he didn’t want me to do. Go to Europe. Highlight my hair. Get contacts. Wear sexy—” I cut myself off when I realize what I was about to say in front of Hazel. “Wear fun clothes.”
My God, Abigail. Shut up.
This is my problem. I overshare.
I shove my sub in my big, fat mouth before I say anything else embarrassing. Because Nick isn’t interested in my Cinderella dreams.
When I brave a glance at him, he’s smirking at me. “Fun clothes, huh? Like that tube-top dress?”
Heat blazes up my face. “We’re not discussing my wardrobe malfunction, Mr. Silva. Ever.”
He chuckles as he gets up. “Gonna go hide my toothbrush. Be right back.”
I can’t help how my eyes gobble him up as he walks away. His t-shirt stretches over his broad shoulders, and his jeans mold to his perfect ass.
While my ex had a great body, he was on the leaner side. Nick is taller and more muscular. Kudos to whatever weightlifting regime he’s doing because Daddy Silva has it going on.
I wave a hand over my face to cool off and chug some water before I incinerate. Maybe I should’ve left Nick and Hazel to their lunch because lusting over my boss can’t be healthy.
I do not need to be obsessed with another football player.
Hazel hands me a black olive, and I dutifully hide it in a napkin. I only have three more months until the end of the semester. I just need to keep myself occupied, then Nick and I will graduate and go our separate ways, and I’ll have dodged a bullet.
That sounds like a good plan.
I smile at Hazel. I can do this.
11
