Page 93 of About to Fall

“It explains a lot, actually. About why he handled me and Théo the way he did. It wasn't just about distraction. It was about—” He searched for the word. “Projection. If he couldn't have it openly, why should we get to?”

“Still depressing.”

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed quietly. “So is that a yes to Christmas?”

I should have said no. Meeting the family was a big step. We'd only been trying for a few weeks. This was moving fast, probably too fast, and I had a long history of fucking things up when they started to matter.

But Nicky was looking at me like my answer mattered. Like I mattered.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll come to Christmas.”

His smile was worth every terrifying implication.

39. Nico

Adrian was waiting in front of his building, taking a puff from his vape as I turned the corner. It was just starting to snow. He was wearing a grey wool coat that skimmed his calves and a dark green scarf. With his pink hair, the effect was almost Christmas-y. At his feet were several shopping bags bearing the Holt Renfrew logo.

He tucked his vape into his inner pocket when he spotted my car. I popped the trunk and he loaded his bags in next to mine before rounding to the passenger seat. Small droplets of water clung to his pink hair and he looked like a sugarplum fairy.

He leaned over the console to kiss me and he tasted like a crisp winter's morning and herbal sweet.

“Merry Christmas, Nicky.”

“Merry Christmas, Adrian.”

He slipped a small, silver wrapped package into my hand.

“Do you want me to open this now? I have something for you too but it's in the back.”

“I have something for you to unwrap in front of your family but this one is not suitable for family presents.”

I tore into the heavy paper and slipped the lid off a plain black box. Nestled inside a velvet cushion was a heavy gold keychain engraved with Nicky in script, attached to a small remote. I picked it up—it didn't look like a car remote. It only had three buttons: power, plus, and minus.

I glanced up, confused, and was taken aback by the look of pure want on Adrian's face.

“I'm sorry, I don't know what this is?”

“It's the remote to the vibrating butt plug I slipped in half an hour ago.” His voice was low, rough at the edges. “So my ass would be ready for you tonight. My end of the night Christmas present.”

“Holy shit.”

I gleefully pressed the power button and hit plus twice. Adrian gasped, his hand shooting out to grip my thigh, nails digging in through my jeans.

“Fuck—Nicky—”

“You're going to sit through Christmas dinner with my parents with this inside you?”

“That was the plan.” His breath was already uneven. “Though I'm starting to question my life choices.”

I hit plus again just to watch his eyes flutter shut.

“You're evil,” he breathed.

“You started it.”

I turned it off—merciful, for now—and pulled away from the curb. Adrian's hand stayed on my thigh the entire drive, grip tightening every time I hit a bump in the road.

◆◆◆