Because Nick was right when it came to the intentions of Edward.
The truth was, I was just mad because I could normally see men like Edward coming from a mile away. Most likely I would have caught it at some point, but what also disappointed me was that Nick saw what type of man Edward was before I did. I was smart enough to know that my ego didn’t like that, but it was more than that.
I was also worried.
I was off my game.
It felt like maybe I was losing control.
And that part I could blame on Nick.
The man frustrated me and distracted me like no other.
I felt vulnerable around him for some reason, and that caused me to make mistakes.
It was like I had my head in the clouds.
Nick ate another piece of his Dragon Roll, chewing slowly, not even worried that I was sitting there starving to death and was going to pass out at any moment.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” I eyed the last two pieces of sushi he had left on his plate.
Nick shrugged. “I should be asking you the same thing. Where’s your gratitude?”
“Gratitude? You can’t be serious.”
“I am. Was I right about Edward or not?”
“Yes, but—”
“I was protecting you.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t need protection. I’m a big girl and have never had problems handling men.”
“I have no doubt about that whatsoever, but I just wanted to make sure, in case you were off your game.”
Off my game?
That’s my line!
I just stared at him.
“You seemed a little distracted,” Nick said.
“Because of you! You distract me.”
“Do you mean today or always?”
“Always.”
He nodded and grinned. “Is it my charm or my good looks?”
“Both!” I threw my hand over my mouth, because it was evident my mouth was much bigger than Nick’s. I removed my hand. “Neither. That’s what I meant.”
He shook his finger at me. “You already put it out there. You can’t take it back now.” He chuckled. “Anyway, my point is that I’ve got your back. That’s what friends are for.”
“Friends?”
“Of course. We’re friends, right?”
“I . . .”
“I mean, I know I drive you crazy, but is that really all my fault? And come on, this is the second meal we’re sharing in two days. This is getting pretty serious.” He laughed.
“First of all, we’re not sharing a meal.”
Nick looked up, studying me. “Look, you don’t have to be my friend. Nobody is twisting your arm. I’m just telling you I would like to be friends.”
He flashed that grin again that seemed to always debilitate my brain.
I huffed. “Fine. We’re friends.”
Nick shook his head. “You are wound up so tight you’re going to snap. Did you ever do the exercises in front of the fountain?”
I sat up in my chair. “Yes. I can’t believe I didn’t tell you, but it was amazing. And afterwards, it felt like I had a buzz.”
Nick nodded, smiling. “I love that feeling. It’s like the Savasana position at the end of a yoga class. Pure bliss. How long did you do it?”
“Honestly, it was only for a few minutes.”
“Hey, that’s all it takes. Even two or three minutes is better than nothing. You can gradually increase your time and benefit even more.”
“I will. And thanks for sharing it with me.”
“My pleasure. And now that we’re best friends, I don’t mind sharing something else with you.”
“Best friends . . .” I laughed, but then stopped myself because it felt weird.
I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I laughed with a man. With Dee, yes, all the time, but with the opposite sex? I was drawing a blank.
Nick gestured to my face. “Laughing looks good on you.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that.
“Okay, here we go.” Nick grabbed one of the two remaining pieces of the Dragon Roll on his plate, dipped it in the soy sauce, and held it in the air toward my mouth, carefully keeping his other hand underneath just in case something dripped or fell. “Open up.”
I stared at the piece of sushi. “What makes you think I want that?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I know you want it.”
I was seriously starting to think that my hunch of him having some form of male intuition was true. Because I did want it. Badly.
But then I thought of Bagel Barney and how he held that piece of calamari in front of my mouth at Jack’s restaurant, only to pull it away.
Nick wouldn’t do that.
It was odd that my gut was confident of what Nick would or wouldn’t do, even after his surprising behavior today. I did trust the man completely.
“Come on.” Nick moved the piece of sushi closer to me, his grin even wider.
I hesitated, but then moved forward, opening my mouth.
He delicately slid the piece of sushi into my mouth with the chopsticks. “There you go. Now, I dare you to tell me you don’t love it.”
He watched me chew.
I felt goosebumps form on the back of my neck.
He really seemed to be enjoying my reaction.
I chewed slowly to my heart’s delight, not wanting to finish it too quickly, emphatically nodding my appreciation. “Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”
“Told you.” He chuckled and grabbed the last piece of sushi from his plate to eat for himself, dipped it in the soy sauce, and surprisingly held it in my direction again.
“Uh-uh. One is enough, thank you.”
Nick shook his head no.
“I’m not eating your last piece.”
He shrugged. “I guess I can just throw it away then.”
“What?!”
I didn’t mean to yell.
A few of the other diners looked in our direction.
“I said I’m going to throw it away. Too bad.” Nick frowned. “All those starving kids in—”
“Okay!” I grabbed his wrist and pulled it in my direction, taking the whole piece from his chopsticks and chewing the divine creation.
He was watching me again.
His eyes on my mouth.
Grinning.
More goosebumps formed on the back of my neck.
He chuckled.
I wiped my mouth, now realizing I had been set up.
My BS detector was dead, obviously.
I shook my head. “You weren’t going to throw that away, were you?”
“Are you serious? I was going to give you one more chance to eat it before I ate it myself.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “You’re crazy.”
“Maybe, but at least I’m not out of my mind like some people I know.” He pointed his chopsticks at me.
We shared a laugh together.
Once again, it was the oddest sensation.
Especially since I’d been frustrated and angry just ten minutes ago.
This was a true emotional rollercoaster, courtesy of Mr. Nick Morris.
I stared down at his empty plate, curious of something that I had just thought of. “Why did you give me your last two pieces of sushi?”
“Why not? Life is more enjoyable when you share it with someone, don’t you think?”