Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

I blink. “Who says I want to play with his heart? I like him, Nico.”

“Not enough to leave a note or stay the night, though.”

“Wow,” I sing, shaking my head. “I’ve already explained this to Aviva, but—”

“But nothing. You had no intention of staying. You don’t sleep at men’s houses.”

Aviva hides her face as I glare. I can’t believe she told him that. “That may not be true anymore.”

“Then why didn’t you stay? Do you plan on staying?”

I don’t answer him because I don’t know. I’m very particular about my bed. About someone touching me when I sleep. Shit. Do I plan on staying with him or him with me? Why am I questioning this now? Stupid Nico. “I don’t have to answer that,” I say very firmly. “And I’d appreciate it if you don’t just assume things about me. I told my mom about him. Obviously I’m serious about him.”

Aviva’s eyes widen as she looks back at me. “You told your mom?”

“Yeah, I told her to stop setting me up because I’m exploring this.”

“You can explore all you want, but if you have no plans to make something of it, walk away,” Nico snaps, and I hold out my hands in confusion.

“Why are you attacking me right now? It’s very new between Kirby and me. Give us a second.”

“For real, Nico. Back off. They’re grown-ups,” Aviva says finally.

“Wow, thanks,” I say dryly, and she rolls her eyes.

“True. But Kirby has never had anyone on his side. I’m just looking out for my best friend. I don’t want anyone hurting him,” he says then, and I know he’s coming from a good place. A loving place. The same place I would be in if it were Aviva. But I still don’t like that he judges me like that, even though I’m glad he and Kirby are now best friends like Aviva and me.

“I get that I haven’t had the best track record, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but honestly, Nico, I truly like Kirby, and this could be something. I know I may not know how to be in a relationship and I know he has a lot going on, but I want to learn. I want more. I do. I want what you two have.”

Aviva grins while Callie squeezes my forearm, but Nico isn’t convinced. “Well, I hope you aren’t blinded by what Aviva and I have and wanting that when you’re not capable of it. Some people just aren’t meant to be in relationships.”

My first instinct is to cuss him out, but Aviva is right there. “That’s enough. Don’t talk to my best friend like that. I get that you are worried for Kirby and Celeste, but like I said, he’s a big boy.”

“For real, Nico. Jay is a wonderful person,” Callie says confidently.

“I don’t doubt that at all. I just don’t think she is a relationship person,” he says simply and with no cares in the world. How can he be so cold?

“I think she is,” Callie says then, but I can’t even appreciate her.

“Nico, I think you’re truly being unfair. I may never have been in a monogamous relationship with a man, but I have been in one with Aviva and Callie. I have loved and been there for them for almost my whole life.” Callie grins at me as Aviva nods. “If I remember correctly, you weren’t a relationship person before Aviva either,” I point out. “You wanted to be, but no one was ever enough until Aviva. Why can’t that be the case for Kirby and me? Why are you already doubting me when it’s just starting?”

He doesn’t answer right away, and Callie shakes her head. “Don’t let him get to you. He’s in a mood ’cause I’m going to college and we have a shoot with his ex, Shelli Adler.”

“Exactly. He’s being an ass,” Aviva says, rolling her eyes. He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he just drives, his shoulders taut. I want to yell at him, I want to hate him for his words, but it’s hard to when he loves Aviva and Callie so much. When I know he’s a good man, just looking out for his friend.

I don’t want to hurt Kirby, and I don’t know if I can be the woman he deserves, that Celeste deserves. But deep inside, I want to try.

Problem is, Nico’s accusations are my fears.

I’ve always loved Nashville.

It’s a great city and very gorgeous, but I swear, I have never seen a college like Bellevue University. It like a mini town with its own shops and things for the students to do. Callie’s dorm is basically a huge mansion that holds all twenty girls on her team. Her room is spacious with a big window, and of course, we decorated it to the nines with all kinds of boho stuff and pictures of us together. I may have gone overboard on decorating, but I wanted to make her room a home away from home. In my opinion, it’s incredible.