Her heart rate sped up. He had no idea.
Maisie
Possibly
Nick
See you soon?
Maisie
<3
He didn’t send a heart back and she chose not to let her brain spiral about it. If he was on his way back and they had one more night together for who knew how long, she didn’t want to waste it on wondering if he knew how to find a heart emoji.
By the time he came back, she’d tidied up her studio, filled out the online form for the contest, waffled on calling her mom, texted Lexi instead, and changed into something she thought Nick might like.
When he knocked on the door, she was waiting and pulled it open immediately.
He smiled at her, a brown paper take-out bag in one arm and a bouquet of flowers in the other.
Maisie stared at the blue, red, purple, and white blooms of flowers she couldn’t name. No one had ever given her flowers. She bought them for others all the time because they were such a pretty and simple way to brighten a day, but no oneevergave them to her.
“Are you wearing my jersey and nothing else?” His voice came out husky and pulled her attention from the flowers.
She met his gaze, knowing the depth of her feelings were shining like a lighthouse in her own. “Did you bring me flowers?”
“I sure as hell didn’t bring them for someone else.”
She laughed but her chest stayed tight, like there wasn’t quite enough room inside of it to breathe.
“Let me in, Maisie,” he said, his voice low and heated.
She stepped back and Nick stalked in, going directly to thekitchen and offloading his items before turning back and coming to Maisie. Before she could say anything, his hands were on her hips and his gaze was roaming down the length of her, taking in where the shirt ended mid-thigh and her bare legs beyond that down to her red-painted toes.
His eyes came back up to hers and she swore they burned into her. “You’re a goddamn fantasy come to life.”
Her reached out and cupped her face in both hands, taking her in a kiss that she felt all the way through to her soul. He might not use emojis but holy hell the man could kiss. What was the Stanley Cup equivalent for kissing? Someone should make one. Maisie’s hands went to his wrists and held on, her legs close to shaking with her need. She was absolutely ready for him to back her up against the wall and take advantage of the fact that she wore very little—sort of like he had the first night they’d been together—but he surprised her. Nick lifted his mouth, kissed her cheeks, the tip of her nose, and her forehead.
He inhaled deeply like he was using the action to gather himself. “I brought pasta,” he said.
Maisie’s brain was still operating on post–amazing kiss mode, so it took her a second to realize they were actually going to go eat dinner.
“I like pasta,” she said inanely.
Nick smiled at her. “Good.” He lowered his hands but took one of hers and pulled her into the kitchen.
When he let her go, she still felt dazed while he went about pulling plates, cutlery, and glasses out of their spots. He was too big for her space and yet, it felt right having him there. A sharp stitch pulsed under her ribs at the thought of him leaving.
“You okay, babe?” Nick unloaded the paper bag and delicious scents filled the air—garlic and oregano—and Maisie’s stomach growled loudly.Seriously?Nick laughed.
“Fine. Just hungry, I guess.” She’d never minded eating dinner alone. But now, she knew it wouldn’t feel the same. The loneliness would have an edge because she’d knowwhoshe was missing.
“Wanna eat at the table?”
She sat across from him, watching like she was in a Nick-induced fugue state while he spooned some penne and lasagna onto each of their plates, then added garlic bread.
He nudged the plate toward her. “I’m serious, Maze. You okay?”
