Only One Touch (Only One 4)

“I’ll start.” Turning to walk to the DJ booth. “Let’s get this over with so we can eat,” I say, but in reality, I just want to get to my seat.

Chapter 19

Becca

“How are you enjoying Dallas?” I ask Graham when I finally catch him.

“I’m loving it, actually,” he says, smiling. “The team was amazing in welcoming me. From Nico to the coach and even the players. Every person has been helpful.”

“I’m so, so glad,” I say. “Now, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is and show them what you can really do.”

“That’s my goal,” he says, and I have no doubt he’ll make sure he kills it. He is looking to score big with his next contract, and I’m going to do what I need to do on my end to do just that.

“If I can have everyone’s attention.” I hear Nico’s voice boom over the system. The chatter of everyone comes to a stop. The sounds of plates fill the room as they start to serve the first course. “If everyone can get to their seats. Dinner will be starting,” he says as people move to their respective seats. I tap Graham’s arm, walking over to the table and sitting next to Manning. The two chairs beside me are empty.

“I wanted to take a minute to thank you guys for all of the hard work that everyone is doing this year. It hasn’t been an easy year so far.” He points at a guy sitting in a wheelchair. “But I have no doubt with our newest member”—he points at Graham, who just nods at him—“we are going to be kicking ass. Your coach wants to say a little something.” He hands the mic to the coach, and I zone out, mostly because all I can do is look at Nico. His black suit molds to him, and I can see his smooth chest where his white button-down shirt is open at the neck. A chest I licked to my heart's content last weekend. Whether he was on top of me or I was riding him, I made sure I left my mark on him.

“Is anyone sitting here?” Lizzie asks Miller of the empty seat beside him, and she sits down and smiles at me.

“Okay, folks, drink and be merry,” Nico says. I look over at Lizzie, and we share a confused look.

I know the minute the empty seat beside me is being pulled out that he is sitting right next to me. I knew the minute Lizzie came to sit at the table that he would follow.

I side-eye him as he takes a drink from a glass of water. He moves to the side, closer to me when the man places a plate in front of him.

“That was a fine speech,” Lizzie says to him. “I like how you said drink and get merry. That was an interesting choice of words.” Nico looks at her, and I can feel his leg beside mine.

I roll my lips together, trying not to laugh at her. “That is how the saying goes. Drink and be merry.” He starts to argue with her and looks around the table. Layla is the only one willing to tell him the truth.

“I don’t think so,” Layla says while I lean back in my chair.

“I’m going to check Google,” Miller says, and we all groan.

“Is there anything that you don’t check on Google?” I ask, and Layla answers for him, rolling her eyes.

“Nope.” She looks over at him. “He googles just about everything. Last week, he had to google what was an appropriate Christmas gift for a girlfriend of one year.”

“You did not,” I say, slapping the table while Ralph and Manning just shake their heads and laugh at him.

“I did, and I’ll have you know I didn’t take any of their suggestions.” He looks back at Layla. “I went out of my bubble. It is a saying, ‘Eat, drink, and be merry.’”

Nico looks over at Lizzie. “Told you so,” he says to her.

“Let me finish,” Miller says, and we all look over at him. “For tomorrow we die.”

“What?” Ralph says out loud, gasping. “Shut up. That isn’t true.”

“It is,” he says, handing him the phone, and he passes it around the table. Nico is the only one to pass on looking at it. I lean over him to hand Lizzie the phone.

“This is a classic, and I’m never going to let you live it down.” She looks at Nico. “Miller, while you are on Google,” Lizzie says, grabbing her glass of wine and finishing it off, “can you check and see if red is the color for sex?”

“It is,” Manning says. “It has to be.” I look over at him.

“Told you,” Lizzie says, clapping her hands together and pointing at Nico.

“It is not,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s actually a mating tactic for other species.” I take a sip of wine.