“This is not just a car!”
“I’m sorry, I slept through the class where cars driven by rich and famous people were discussed.”
He put his hand on his chest to pretend to be hurt, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“Let me explain it to you in terms you can understand. Fuck, this car is fantastic. And this is only the second time since I bought her that I’ve taken her out.”
“Are you implying that I should feel fortunate in some way?” He nodded firmly, and I rolled my eyes.
When we finally went off, I relished the sensation of the sun and air on my skin. Although he was keeping quiet, Nicholas reached out to take my hand and I noticed a faint smile on his face.
“Hey,” he said and gave me a fleeting glance before returning to the road. “I want you to know that, as much as I enjoyed your jealousy, I would never cheat on you.”
I was deeply aware of that. That would be the first worst crime in his eyes.
“I know.” But I was interested in his prior relationships outside of Rosemary. ” Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“You cannot possibly have been alone since… Rosemary. Have you dated a lot of different women?”
His jaw tensed. “Are you sure you want to know? If you do, I won’t lie to you.”
That was worrying, but I couldn’t help but be curious. “Yes.”
“I haven’t always been a saint.” His sigh was loud. “I went through women like clothes for a very long period. I never misled anyone. They were given the heads-up not to expect anything romantic from me. No attachment would ever develop. Those encounters had no strings. I’m not pleased with it. That was just how I handled the situation.”
I listened to what he said as my concerns were reinforced. Though it wasn’t as though I hadn’t anticipated it, it still stung to think about him with other women.
“However, you gave me all the perks of a relationship. Why the abrupt shift in how you think? Have you ever attempted something similar with someone else?”
“Like our arrangement?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“No. The last two years, I made an effort to date a few women.” He stopped and turned to face me. “I felt alone. But it was unsuccessful. Either I didn’t trust their motives or they demanded more than I was willing to give. They were not what I wanted. I believe at some point I came to the conclusion that if I wanted someone for the long run, I would have to set the rules.”
“And then you came across me.” I scowled as I considered what he had said. “It makes me sound incredibly silly and naive.”
“I wish you wouldn’t approach it that way. The day you first contacted me, in my opinion, might have been the happiest day of my life.”
The man could say the simplest things and make my heart flutter even without wanting to.
“Really?” I squeaked.
He raised my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. “There is no other woman I could have imagined creating a life with other than you.”
My heart thumped, and my cheeks warmed. Despite the fact that I wasn’t as experienced with men, I had a gut feeling that Nicholas was my perfect puzzle piece.
He grinned and held our fingers together as I allowed those pleasant feelings to wash over me. We were leaving Quentin when I paid attention to my surroundings.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He laughed. “We’ll arrive there shortly. I promise you will have fun.”
I soon understood where we were going. He pulled up in a parking lot next to the stadium.
“A game of football?”
He smiled and nodded. “Are you a fan of football?”
I sighed. “Really, I’ve never watched a game. Maybe with my dad when I was little.”
“Well, a football game is impossible not to enjoy. You’ll know soon enough.” He stepped out and gave the young valet a large sum of money, pledged a sizable bonus if the car was returned to him in pristine shape.
I shook my head in disbelief. He really loved his car. The stereotype was not far off from the truth.
Nicholas took my hand and brought me to the VIP section. He kept prattling on about the origins of the game. The stands were crowded and there were people everywhere. While navigating the crowds and finding our seats in the front row, Nicholas kept me curled against his side.
“Is it always this crowded?” I asked.
“Not always, but we are playing our mortal enemies today.”
I had no idea what that meant, but I listened to him babble on about rivalries, divisions, and overall hated for the opposition. I was occupied with people-watching, soaking up the sun, taking in the music, and taking in the breathtaking view of the field.
It was the essence of what summer should be.
Nicholas began identifying the players as they emerged from the dugouts before the national anthem started playing. Even though I had no idea what was making him so happy, I noded and grinned at his beaming face. Merely seeing him smile was sufficient for me.
I had a basic comprehension of the game, but as it continued, I found myself truly enjoying it. It was simple to become overexcited as the crowd cheered. Nicholas kept his arms around my shoulder throughout the game. He only put his hands away when we were buying snacks and food. I also noticed Nicholas covertly interacting with some of the players: sometimes nodding or waving at each other.
“To whom are you waving? He seems to know you. I believe I have seen him in a commercial.”
He grunted and clung to me more tightly. He told me a name I of course did not know. “He’s a friend of mine, and I think he is attempting to seduce you.”