Chapter 52: The Couple’s Set

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Couple’s Set

Nicole entered the address into the GPS as soon as we got into the Mercedes. I started the engine, pulled out of the driveway, and glanced at her.

"What time’s the party starting?"

"Seven."

I looked at her again. "And we’re leaving now?"

She adjusted something on the GPS before turning to me with an innocent smile. "Nathan, nobody remembers the people who arrive on time."

I stared at the road ahead. "That sounds like something people who are always late tell themselves."

I glanced at her again. The smile was still on her face, but my attention shifted to the watch on her wrist.

I looked at mine. Same brand. Same color. Same everything.

Then it hit me. The light brown knitwear, the black bottoms, the black shoes, and now the watches. I’d assumed she had picked similar colors because she liked how they looked together, but there was a little too much similarity for that explanation to hold up anymore.

"Did you get us a couple’s set?" I finally asked.

"Mh-hm."

I kept staring at her, waiting for her to say something more.

She didn’t even look at me. "Eyes on the road, Nate."

I watched her for another second — long enough to notice the way she pressed her lips together, trying to keep a straight face and failing at it — then I looked back at the road.

—

A little over an hour and a half later, we turned off the main road and into a neighborhood where the houses had enough space between them that nobody needed to pretend they couldn’t hear their neighbors arguing. The roads were wide, the trees were neatly maintained, and the driveways were long enough to fit several cars without anyone having to play Tetris with their vehicles. Even the streetlights looked more expensive than the ones near my apartment.

Nicole had been chatting with me for most of the drive, occasionally pointing out places we’d passed, but she’d gone quiet as we got closer to the address. I assumed she was checking the GPS until she directed me toward a private driveway lined with low lights and trimmed greenery.

Then the house came into view. It was a modern luxury home with broad windows, pale stone, and warm lights along the entrance. The driveway curved past a landscaped garden toward a garage that looked big enough to fit more cars than I could name without taking a breath.

I slowed down as I approached the cars already parked outside.

There were close to fifteen of them, spread across the driveway and the additional parking area near the garage.

Two Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans sat near each other, one a black E 450 and the other a silver E 350. A BMW i7 was parked a little farther along, beside a Ford F-150 Raptor, and then there was the red Ferrari Purosangue.

That one made me look twice. It was the only car there that really matched the picture I’d built in my head of Nicole’s friends. I’d expected more of that sort of thing, maybe a driveway full of cars that cost more than the houses in my neighborhood. Instead, most of what I saw gave off the impression of I’m rich. You don’t have to know how rich.

I found space near the edge of the parking area and eased the Mercedes into it. After straightening the wheels, I put the car in park and turned off the engine, but I kept looking at the house through the windshield.

Nicole turned toward me and stared. I looked back at her, only to find her wearing an expression I rarely saw on her.

She looked like she was about to say something she’d rehearsed a dozen times in her head, except the words had apparently decided to abandon her the moment she needed them. Her lips parted slightly, then pressed together again.

She glanced toward the house before looking back at me. "The thing is, uhm... my..."

I smirked. "Your friends are rich, and you’re worried I’ll feel out of place?"

She blinked, then opened her mouth—

"And you wanted me to come because, one, you want to spend more time with me, and two, you want me to get to know you better."

"Don’t worry," I continued. "I’m not going to let a few expensive cars get in the way of that."

Nicole stared at me for a moment before smiling, her eyes lighting up with an unguarded affection that made it pretty clear what she wanted to say. She looked so openly happy that I almost wondered what I’d said to deserve it, even though I was pretty sure I knew.

I looked away and reached for the door handle.

"One more thing," she said immediately.

I paused and turned to look at her. Her smile had changed again, this time taking on that cheeky little quality I’d learned to be suspicious of.

"Please wear the suit." She pressed her palms together in front of her chest, giving me an exaggeratedly hopeful look. "It’ll look so good on you. Please?"

I shook my head, looking at her hands before meeting her eyes again. "Fine. I’ll wear it."

Nicole beamed.

She got out of the car, and I followed her around to the trunk. When she opened it, I spotted a garment bag lying neatly in the cargo area.

She lifted it out and turned to me with another smile before unzipping the bag and handing me the suit.

I slipped the jacket on, and Nicole immediately stepped closer with the cufflinks in her hand. She fastened them for me herself, taking her time with each one before smoothing down my collar, and then she stepped back to admire her work.

"Hot," she declared, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

I smiled and shook my head. "Let’s just go in."

She giggled, slipped her arm through mine, and led me toward the house.

—

The house was even more impressive from the inside. The entrance opened into a spacious living room with tall ceilings, warm lighting, and enough seating to accommodate a small class. Music played from somewhere deeper in the house, loud enough to fill the space without making conversation impossible. People were scattered around the room in little groups, some standing with drinks in their hands, others gathered around tables or sitting on the sofas.

We hadn’t made it more than a few steps before someone spotted her.

"Nicole!"

A redheaded woman near the living room raised her glass and waved at us. She wore a black sleeveless top with fitted trousers, and her smile widened when Nicole turned toward her.

"Hey, girl!" Nicole called back, her face brightening.

The woman made her way over, weaving between two guys who were arguing about something on a phone screen. One wore a navy blazer over a plain white T-shirt, paired with ripped jeans and sneakers. The other had on a loose grey sweater and dark trousers, looking comfortable enough to have forgotten he was at a party.

"Look who finally decided to show up," the redhead said when she reached us.

"We’re not late," Nicole replied.

The woman glanced at her watch, then at Nicole. "Uh-huh."

Nicole laughed and introduced me. "This is Nathan."

The redhead’s attention shifted to me, and her smile took on a curious edge. "Oh. So you’re the Nathan."

I wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean, but before I could ask, she held out her hand.

"I’m Rebecca. Nice to finally meet you."

I took it. "Nice to meet you too, Rebecca."

She shook my hand, still smiling, then looked at Nicole again. "You didn’t tell me he was this hot."

Nicole grinned. "I kinda did."

Rebecca finally let go of my hand and smiled. "Well, you two enjoy yourselves. Try not to disappear before I get another chance to talk to you."

I nodded. "I’ll try."

Nicole continued introducing me to the others nearby. There were more greetings, a few handshakes, and several curious looks that I pretended not to notice. I wasn’t sure how successful I was at that last part, especially when two people standing near the stairs stopped talking long enough to watch us pass.

Nicole didn’t seem bothered. She greeted everyone who called her name, smiling and exchanging quick remarks, but she never once let go of my arm.

Eventually, she guided me toward an empty table near the windows. A few chairs were arranged around it, and the music was quieter over here.

"This one looks good," she said as we sat down.

I glanced around the room, catching another person looking in our direction before they quickly returned to their conversation.

I turned back to Nicole. "Seems you’ve told your friends about me."

"Only Rebecca and Tessa." She paused, then added, "Tessa’s the one having the party."

I tilted my head, giving her a curious smile. "What did you tell them?"

"That I’m in love with a certain someone named Nathan Reed."

I smiled as she stared at me, her eyes practically sparkling with happiness.

The guy in the grey sweater I’d noticed earlier reached our table and greeted her with a calm smile. "Nicole?"

She looked up at him, and her face brightened. "Alex!" She smiled back at him, looking genuinely happy to see him.

His gaze shifted to me, then back to her. Nicole seemed to catch the question before he could ask it.

"Oh, he’s my..." She glanced at me, then back at Alex, pressing a finger to her lips as if she were seriously considering what say.

I suddenly became very interested in whatever she was about to call me.

"Let’s go with, I’m waiting for him to say yes to being my boyfriend," Nicole decided, smiling at Alex.

Alex smiled, then turned toward me and extended his hand.

I took it.

"Alessandro."

"Nathan."

He nodded, his smile still in place, before looking back at Nicole. "We’ll catch up later."

"We will," she replied with an easy smile.

Alex gave us one last nod before walking away, disappearing into the crowd.

I turned back to Nicole, but something about that handshake kept bothering me.

For just a second, Alessandro’s expression had changed. It was subtle enough that I couldn’t be sure I’d seen it at all, but I could have sworn his eyes had lost some of their warmth when our hands met.