Only One Touch (Only One 4)

Grabbing the towel and wiping my face, “It’s a good thing.” He smiles at me and tilts his head back for a kiss. “How long did you sleep?”

“If you left me alone after round three, it would have been longer.” I kiss him. “I’ll sleep well tonight.”

“What time is your plane?” I ask, and he pulls me onto him. “I’m all sweaty,” I say.

“I like you sweaty,” he says, and I shake my head. “Let’s get in the shower.”

“One more for the road.” I laugh with him and he picks me up, carries me back to my bedroom, and we both get to work later than was scheduled.

He doesn’t call me that night but he does text me.

Nico: My bed smells like bleach.

I laugh and send him back a text.

Me: Better than wet socks

I think that he isn’t going to answer me back, but he shocks me by calling me on FaceTime. “A text and a FaceTime,” I joke with him. “I’m impressed, Mr. Edward.”

He laughs and I see that he’s lying in bed. “I missed your face,” he says. “How was your day?”

“Uneventful. Same old. Little bit of small fires here and there but it made the day go a bit faster,” I say. “The game was good.”

“We should have won,” he says. “But you can’t win them all.”

We talk for a bit longer and I hang up the phone and turn off the lights. I ignore the fact that I miss him. I ignore the fact that I didn’t ask when he is going to be home and when my phone rings the next day and I look down hoping it’s him, it’s then I know that I’m in it more than I can admit.

“Hello,” I say, seeing it’s Manning.

“Hey there,” he says and since he’s left Murielle he’s been happier than he has ever been. He’s been even friendlier with the reporters. “Busy?”

“For you,” I say to him. “Never.”

“Good,” he says. “Meet me in an hour.” I look at my watch.

“It’s five o’clock,” I say.

“I know, we just landed,” he says, and I lean back in my chair.

“The last time you asked me to meet you in an hour, your whole life exploded.”

“I can assure you there is nothing wrong,” he says, and I hear him honk his horn at something. “I’ll text you the address.”

“You owe me,” I say and get up to go home, changing out of my skirt. Instead, I put on tight black pants with a loose silk shirt. I’m walking out of my building when the car gets here, and I get in.

I go on Instagram and see that Nico added a picture of the game last night. I try not to think about him getting in and not calling me. I don’t have time because we pull up to the restaurant.

I walk in and see Manning sitting down at a table in the back with a woman beside him. He smiles when he sees me. “There she is.”

“Here I am,” I say when he gets up and comes to me, kissing me on the cheek.

“Becca,” Manning says, looking over at the beautiful woman who has red hair and green eyes. “This is Evelyn.”

My mouth opens as I finally meet the woman who gave life to this man again. “It’s so great to finally meet you,” Evelyn says. Getting up, she comes to me and gives me a hug. I get it now, why he feels for her. “I’ve heard all about the infamous Becca.”

“Well, I don’t know what he said,” I say to her, smiling, “but if it’s good, it’s all true.” She laughs and goes back to sit down in her seat. Manning sits next to her.

I sit in front of them. “I’m almost afraid to ask what this meeting is about.” I put my hands on the table as the waiter comes over, and we order drinks. I turn back to them, a little nervous. “So tell me.”

“I,” Manning starts. “Actually, we wanted to take you out to thank you for everything that you did for us.” I look at him as he puts his arms around Evelyn, and she looks up at him with hearts in her eyes. He kisses her lips. “I don’t know how it would have gone down without your help.”

“Well,” I say, “after seeing the two of you together finally, I’m going to go out on a limb and say it was worth it.”

“Sorry I’m late.” I hear from beside me and look up, shocked to see Nico. He’s wearing jeans and a sweater.

“No worries,” Manning says, and I can only watch him.

It happens almost in slow motion. His head comes down, and he stops right before my lips. “Hey,” he says right before he kisses my lips in front of everyone.

Chapter 22

Nico

“Hey,” I say right before kissing her lips. I hear a gasp coming from the other side of the table, and I know that there will be questions. I pull out the chair beside her and sit down, propping my arm around her shoulders.