Wild Tendy (IceCats Book 2) Read online

  “So, he’s fun.” I close my eyes as his hand snakes around my waist. He pulls me back into him, and I allow him to. At my ear, he asks, “Are you okay?”

  I’m shaking with anger. I hate to admit it, but I’m terrified of my dad. As much as I want to believe he can’t do anything to ruin my shitshow of a life, what if he can? I swallow hard as I shrug. “I hate him.”

  “Yeah, there is nothing redeeming about him.” He kisses my earlobe. “You’re breathing so hard. It’s okay. I’d never let anything happen to you.” He kisses me again. “Seriously, Aviva, this isn’t good for your heart. Breathe.”

  Tears rush to my eyes, and I close them tightly to keep them in. I refuse to cry in front of him. I know he thinks I’m a complete mess. He isn’t wrong. I turn out of his arms. “Thanks. Listen, I’ve got things to do.” I hook my thumb to the shop.

  When a tear escapes, I hide my face, but I don’t do a good enough job. Nico grabs my wrist instantly, pulling me to him. I don’t know why I go; it’s like I don’t have control of my body. I find myself trapped in his arms, pressed against his hard chest, and I come undone. A sob bubbles in my throat, and soon, I’m clinging to him as it escapes. Callie could come out at any time, but I truly don’t care. I can’t keep this in. I’m so scared.

  He kisses my temple, then the top of my head while whispering comforting words. “It’s okay. Nothing is going to happen. I won’t let it. It’s okay, Aviva. Breathe.”

  “I hate him,” I cry, and I hate how hard I’m clinging to Nico. I’ve never let go this completely. Never cried like this in front of anyone, but the thought of losing Callie or even this shop has me freaking the hell out. “I can’t let him take her—”

  “He won’t. Aviva, he won’t. It won’t happen. Jaylin would freak and tear him a new one. Plus, Callie wouldn’t go with him. She loves you. You are everything to her. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Why can’t just one thing go right?” I ask, rubbing my nose in his chest. “Just one thing. I feel like I’m always battling something to get ahead. My car—totaled—but since I only had liability, I’m fucked. But I didn’t have the budget for full coverage because it gave me more money to buy supplies for the shop. Jaylin says I can buy her car, but it’s almost a damn freebie for a hundred bucks. So, that’s a no. I gotta figure out how I’m gonna get a car, and leasing one right now just seems impossible. I think I get ahead on my bills, but then my dad steals money from me. The gym wants money for Callie, and I have to pay them because I refuse to allow anyone to pay her way. But I don’t know how. Callie’s savings is diminishing, and damn it, I need one fucking thing to go right.” He tightens his arms around me as his lips trail along my temple. “Ugh, I’m such a mess. Run. Run now.”

  He moves his lips along my hairline as he shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere.” His words are such a promise. A promise no one has ever given me. Everyone leaves. Well, except Callie and Jaylin. And so far, Nico.

  I hear the door open, the bell chiming, and I freeze. When Callie’s small voice reaches me, I cling to Nico.

  “Everything okay?”

  I don’t even have time to answer before Nico says, “Everything is fine, Callie. Give your sister a few minutes, okay?”

  “Yeah, no problem,” I hear her say, but I know she hasn’t shut the door. “Are you guys okay?”

  I close my eyes, and I feel Nico’s chuckles against the top of my head. “We’re fine. Go inside.”

  Finally, the door shuts, and I hold Nico tighter. He kisses the top of my head, and I open my eyes. The sun is setting, turning the clouds an amazing pink color. I love nights here. I love this shop. I love my sister, and I really like Nico. I don’t want to fight with him. I already don’t have enough time for myself. The time I do have, I don’t want to spend fighting with someone I like. Someone I want to be around. Someone who makes me feel so good.

  I pull back to look at him, only to find him looking down at me. His eyes are such a beautiful brown, and his smirk, it’s breathtaking. “I’m sorry for how things went down that night.”

  “That night was great. It was the morning after.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek, and it thrills me that he thought it was great too. “Right. The night was perfect.”

  “It was.”

  “So yeah, I’m sorry for how I handled things.”

  He shrugs, moving his hand up my throat to my jaw. “I think we should have used better communication.”

  I nod, though I can’t keep from smiling up at him. “Yeah. But I’m sorry I was an asshole when you came in here. Though, you were an asshole first.”

  His face breaks into a grin. “That’s a very backward apology, but you’re right. I was, and you were.” He kisses my nose, and I lean into him. With his mouth moving against the spot between my nose and lip, he says, “I shouldn’t have come in here acting all crazy-pants. I thought you didn’t want me.”

  “I was scared you didn’t want me.”

  He leans back as he slides his thumb along my lip. “So now we know we both want each other.”

  “That’s really good to know.”

  “It is,” he agrees, playing with my lip.

  “What does it mean?”

  “Mean?”

  “For us.”

  “It means I want to be with you.”

  “In or out of bed?”

  He chuckles. “Very much in the bed, but also out of it. I think we could have something here.”

  Could we? I want it so badly, and that has to mean something since I haven’t wanted a relationship in a long time. I felt as if that part of me wasn’t available. But since meeting Nico, that’s changed. I could revert back to questioning my worth to him, but as I look into his eyes, I feel like the most prized jewel. It’s absolutely ridiculous how he makes me feel, and damn it, I love that feeling. So, does that mean we could have something here?

  “I think so,” I answer out loud, and his grin takes over his beautiful face. “I’m insanely busy.”

  “I’ll work for your time. I’ll make subs if I get to see you.”

  Oh heart, be still. “That’s super sweet.”

  “It’s true,” he says with a shrug, a little color filling his cheeks. “I’m busy too.”

  I shake my head. “I can’t stop a puck, and I sure as hell can’t skate.”

  Man, if I don’t love his smile. “Well, I know what our next date will be.”

  Yup, I walked right into that.

  “But before that, let me make one thing go right for you,” he says, leaning into me.

  Between his eyes, his mouth, and his cologne, I’m dizzy. Gone are thoughts of my dad or anything that has to do with him. Nico consumes me, and I have to admit, I’m okay with it.

  “What’s that?” I ask, breathless.

  He moves closer, his lips touching mine. “Let me make you come.”

  Shit, I think I just did. As I gaze up into his eyes, I rise to my tippy-toes and press my mouth into his jaw. “That would make this day a whole lot better.”

  “Good,” he says, kissing my nose. “So, I’ll take you and Callie for dinner and then get Callie her ice cream.” Yup, he gets my heart for how he cares for Callie. “Do you like baths?”

  I chuckle at his randomness. “I haven’t taken a bath in years.”

  He nods. “Then I’ll draw you a bath and then take you right to bed once you’re good and relaxed.”

  I swallow hard as I gaze up at him. “Do you know how sexy I find you right now?”

  He grabs my butt, pulling me closer, and I can feel the length of him. “Pretty damn sexy. I’m a good-looking dude.”

  I snort but just for a second before he captures my mouth with his. As he glides his lips over mine, gripping my ass with his hand, I realize I want this to be real. I want to know everything will work out and fall into place. Problem is, this is my life, and things never fall into place or go well.

  I just hope that doesn’t apply to Nico.

&nb