Page 55 of Seal the Deal
“Home.”
“We just left my home. You know, the place surrounded by paparazzi.”
“Not yours, princess. Mine. Or should I sayours.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Nicholas guns the accelerator, speeding towards the exit while granting Andrew a self-satisfied smile. “Did I forget to mention that part? You’re moving in with me.”
10ANDREW
“I thinkthere’s been some kind of confusion here. I’m not moving in with you. I’m just with you for a few hours until it's safe to go home and they’re gone.”
“No confusion,” Nicki counters, exiting the freeway at what is surely an unsafe speed. “The paparazzi are like vultures. They won’t be gone for a while.”
“They might,” Andrew tries.
“Maybe,” Nicki concedes, tone sharp and thick with annoyance. “They’ll be back either way, which is why you’re going to move in with me until all this shit blows over.”
“That could take weeks,” Andrew gapes. “Even then, it’ll likely be a shit show when our deal ends, and we have to break up.”
“We’ll just fake date longer then,” Nicholas shrugs.
“But you said?—”
“Stop paying attention to what I say,” Nicki snaps.
“Are you calm enough to be driving?” Andrew asks, not usually one to enjoy being a passenger. Even in such a nice car. He can’t believe he’s in an honest to god BUGGATI. He can’t wait to tell his brothers. Jason’s going to be so jealousand Charlie—well, he won’t care. Or maybe even talk to Andrew.Shit. He’s never kept something like this from his twin before.
“I’m fine,” Nicki says, sounding anything but. Andrew doesn’t know him well enough to recognize all his tells yet, but the tension in his body is unmistakable even if the exact source is less clear. Andrew’s not entirely sure if Nicki is mad at the paparazzi, at Andrew needing him, or their relationship being exposed so publicly. Maybe all three.
“You don’t seem calm enough to be driving,” Andrew says in what he hopes is a non-threatening tone. Something about Nicki reminds him of a half-feral animal.
“You’re safe with me, princess.”
Princess. Nicki and that goddamn nickname. Andrew knows Nicki only uses it to rile him up, to unsettle him, but it’s working. Yeah, it’s teasing and provoking, but something about hearing that name in Nicki’s thick New York accent makes Andrew feel some kind of a way, and he doesn’t understand it at all. There’s a hell of a lot Andrew doesn’t understand right now.
“That is not what I’m worried about,” Andrew tries.
“You can lie to yourself but not me. Now stop fucking staring at me, you’re making me nervous.”
“I didn’t know anything could make you nervous,” Andrew replies, somehow soothed by the knowledge that he can unsettle this man right back. It’s the switch he needs to recenter.
“Just look out the fucking window.”
“Have you eaten today?” Andrew questions. “You’re cranky.”
“I’m always fucking cranky.”
“Crankier then.” Andrew concedes. “So?”
“It doesn’t matter if I ate.”
Well, that answers that question then.
“You’re such a delight, Nicki.”
“Just relax and enjoy the drive to your new home.”
