Letterman Jacket

35 / eight days before

Nico groaned softly. My fingers knotted themselves into his hair, and his own stroked my thigh, slipping underneath my skirt—

"Are you both about to be ready because—oh, God!"

The door slammed shut, and Theo yelled a string of curses. I dropped my head against Nico's shoulder, face flaming hot as I shut my eyes.

Nico laughed. "Think we just scarred him."

"It's your fault," I told him sullenly, patting his chest. "I'm just going to put on a little makeup before we leave."

He frowned. "Why? You're fine without it."

I grinned. "No reason needed for a girl who wants to put on makeup, babe. I just want to. Wait for a sec."

When I stood and turned, Nico's palm lightly slapped my butt.

I turned around, mouth open in shock while he shot me a wicked grin—like we shared a secret that involved the lack of clothing. "Did you just spank me?"

"I did, and I will again if you don't get your pretty ass moving. Don't make me wait too long."

"God, you are insufferable."

"I love you, baby."

Crass one moment, sweet the next. My cheeks heated and my pulse raced as I ducked inside the bathroom, ignoring my shaking hands as I put on some eye shadow and lip gloss. When I stepped out again, I was met with the fine sight of Nico lying on my bed with his arms outstretched, making a sliver of his stomach and the waistband of his boxers visible. I sucked in a deep breath and bit my lip.

Suddenly, Nico clicked his tongue and drawled, "I know you're looking, princess."

I swallowed hard and turned back around to grab my bag and check my appearance one last time in the mirror.

"We are going to be late if both of you don't stop eating each other's faces!" Theo shouted from the hallway.

Rolling my eyes, I took Nico's hand and we stepped out of my room.

"Finally," my brother retorted.

When we passed him, Nico brought his fist to Theo's stomach. "Learn to knock next time."

My brother bent over with a gasp and clutched his torso. "This is abuse, Thea," he choked out.

"You're overreacting," Nico said, lacing his fingers with mine. I grinned as we bounded down the stairs. "Let's roll."

*

Neon lights flashed everywhere, and the music was so loud it made my skin tingle. Basketball players and students from every school lounged about the pool and the bar, keeping their movements in rhythm with the bass that thumped against the speakers. There was hazy chatter amongst the warm bodies that wobbled on their feet, a cup in their hands, a naughty gleam in their eyes.

Nico kept his fingers tightly locked with mine as we walked through the dancing crowd inside the house, tipping his chin up in greeting to whoever passed that knew him. Theo followed us closely behind.

The kitchen was a lot less crowded. My brother bent down to grab three cans of soda from the cooler. "Here."

"Thanks, man."

I nodded my thanks as I took a long sip.

Nico's fingers squeezed my waist as he set the can down and pulled out his phone with his free hand. "Faust and Beau are just finding a parking space," he mumbled, scrolling through the screen. "Let's wait for them before we meet Sullivan."