Page 61 of Seal the Deal
Andrew shoves his hands into his pockets, unable to explain how those words feel like sandpaper to his soul. He’s spent his entire life doing just that, wanting life to be easier for the people he loves. Making himself as small as possible became as second nature as did masking.
“I don’t like having those.”
“Wants and needs?”
Andrew nods.
“We’re going to work on that.”
“I feel like maybe I misheard you,” Andrew says. “It sounded like you said ‘we’re going to work on me having wants and needs.’”
“That’s because that is what I said. You’re helping me with my family problem by being my fake boyfriend, so I’m going to help you learn to be selfish.”
Hearing Nicki repeat it doesn’t make it make any more sense. Amanda and Denise said he was difficult and grumpy and didn’tcare about anyone but himself and yeah, maybe some of that is true, but there’s more to this story—there’s more to Nicki.
“You don’t need to do that, really. I don’t need you to feel obligated.”
“Do I look like I feel fucking obligated?” Nicki retorts.
“No, you look pissed off.”
“That’s just my face.”
“You never look pissed off in your ad campaigns.”
“You paying a lot of attention to me?” Nicki smirks, looking decidedly less grumpy about the prospect. He really is a cocky asshole.
“Your face is everywhere, it’s hard to avoid,” Andrew grumbles. “They have your poster in my break room.”
What Andrew doesn’t point out is that the poster is technically of the entire team, but Nicki’s the only one Andrew ever paid attention to. He doesn’t think he has a thing for hockey players, it was always just Nicki and his aesthetically pleasing face and endless tattoos. Nicki doesn’t feel the same about Andrew though, which is for the best probably. He’d only be disappointed eventually.
“I knew you were obsessed with me,” Nicki says with the air of someone used to being the center of attention and reveling in it.
“Not obsessed,” Andrew corrects. “Besides, they make you seem very…personable.”
“What can I say, they pay me a lot of money to be charming.”
“So you can be charming when you want to be?”
“I can be charming when it’s required,” Nicki corrects, “but it’s not real. It’s all a show—a version of Nicholas Whitmore the public loves. It’s easy to show people what they want to see.”
There’s something in his tone that suggests maybe he doesn’t like the fame and notoriety the way Andrew assumed.
“And who is the real Nicki?”
“A grumpy asshole who is gonna help you learn how to be a little more selfish. You’re too fucking nice.”
It’s obvious Nicki is done with his introspection, but Andrew’s not sure he’s ready for Nicki’s attention to be focused on him. This is the time where he would usually let himself fall into the background, letting one of his brothers take center stage. Unfortunately, none of his brothers are here, and the only person Nicki is looking at is him.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea,” Andrew tries.
“Stop overthinking. We’re doing this”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Nicki, no.”
