Sutton

I school my face, not wanting to give anything away to Jason.

But I need to get out of my seat. I need to go to Nicolai.

I watch as he turns away, shoulders slumped, walking toward the exit. This is my last chance before I lose him all over again.

"Jason, I need to use the restroom," I say abruptly, my gaze darting to his just as he glances back at me. "Wine hit."

His eyebrows furrow in the center of his forehead and his eyes narrow dubiously. "The food will be here in just a second, Sutton. Can you wait? Make sure it all came out to your liking?"

"No, I—I need to go," I say, pulling my hand from his.

He looks over his shoulder and my stomach drops to my feet.

But just as he turns, Nicolai disappears around the corner toward the restrooms. Thank fuck.

He heaves a sigh and dips his chin in a nod. "Fine, but don't take forever, okay?" he says, impatience creeping into his tone.

I fight the annoyance crawling over my skin and give him my fakest, brightest smile. The more he fights me, the further away Nicolai gets, and I am losing my chance to see him. I will never forgive myself if he leaves thinking I've actually fallen for Jason. "I'll only be gone a minute."

Getting to my feet as calmly as possible, I take off in the direction Nicolai went. When I round the corner into the side hallway by the bathroom, he's waiting for me.

Seeing him is like being lost in the desert for weeks, no water, no shade, no food... and then happening upon the shadiest pool of water with a never-ending supply of drinking water and snacks.

It is everything I've needed for the past two weeks.

"Nicolai," I breathe, placing my hand over my chest, willing my heart to calm down. "I was afraid I wouldn't catch you."

"Sutton," he whispers, lifting his hand like he wants to touch me, but he's afraid I'll run away. "Tell me what I saw back there wasn't real. Or tell me it was so I can just move on with my—"

I grab his wrist and start down the hall, pulling him behind me.

"Wait, Sutt—" he begins, but I cut him off as I drag him into the ladies' room and lock the door behind us, pushing him against it. Standing on my tiptoes, I yank him down by the collar and smash my lips to his.

With a groan from deep within him, whatever protest he was about to give dies on his lips.

He grips my hips, pulling me flush against him. His tongue slides along my lips and I immediately let him in as his hands slide over my shoulder blades and spine before landing on my ass.

Before I know what's happening, he's turning us so my back is to the door and he's pinned me to it. I whimper as he rolls his hips against mine and I feel how hard he is.

Lifting one leg, I wrap it around his waist, and that gives him more leverage to grind into me. The sounds that leave both of us are obscene, and he breaks the kiss, giving us both a chance to breathe.

"Fuck," he mutters, pressing his forehead to mine. "We gotta stop or I'm going to come in my pants."

I laugh and he gently straightens my leg back out so I'm standing again, albeit shakily.

"Again," I tease.

Nicolai squeezes my ass, and he says, "Still a smartass, I see."

"Always." I don't let go of him as I whisper, "How did you know I was here?"

He shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. "I didn't. I've come here every night for dinner the past thirteen nights because I know it's your favorite restaurant. I had no idea how to get in touch with you, so I was just hoping...maybe you'd show up." With a scoff, he closes his eyes like he's embarrassed. "Pathetic, I know. And tonight, I really, really needed to see you."

My lips part and I cup his cheek in my hand. "Nicolai, that's so fucking sweet... and expensive."

He laughs, and every miserable feeling I've had over the last two weeks disappears. Just for this moment. Even though I know it can't last.

Right now, I feel happy. Safe.

"I'd spend any amount of money and eat any amount of carbs for a chance to see you, Sutton."

A lump grows in my throat and for a moment I can't speak. "I wish you could've just texted me, but Jason made me get a new number, and—"

His eyes light up. "Wait. You got a new number?"

I nod and cock my head to the side. "Yeah, the day after we got back to the city. Why?"

He drops his head and plants a kiss on my forehead. "Thank fuck. I thought you'd blocked my number."

My mouth drops and I shake my head. "No! Nicolai, no, I would never."

"Well, I didn't think so, but then I checked Instagram and TikTok, and—"

"I deactivated my Instagram because who cares about posting pictures when life sucks? And I forgot I even had TikTok, to be honest."

The relief is etched into his face, and I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him so tightly he squeaks when he speaks next. I loosen up my grip with a grin.

"But your TikTok account... I checked and it was gone, but then I checked on my backup and it was still there. So that means that you'd blocked me. Or that's what I—"

My face heats and I pull my phone out of my purse, tapping the screen until I'm into the app.

"Fucker! Jason blocked you. He must've logged into my social media from the web or gotten my phone in the middle of the night or something."

His jaw ticks and his face reddens, but he just looks down at me with so much love that the anger dissolves as quickly as it appeared.

"I can't even bring myself to care." He strokes my cheekbone and leans down to kiss me softly. "I'm just so damn glad you didn't block me. That damn near broke me, Sutton."

I hold out my hand. "Let me see your phone." He does and I look at the shattered back with a raised brow. "What the hell happened here?"

He gives me a sheepish smile. "I kinda...threw it at the wall when I thought you'd pushed me out of your life."

"Nic, the fact that you even thought I could be capable of that..." I type my new number in and hand it back. "That you thought I was anything but fucking miserable the last two weeks without you."

"I just didn't know what to think. The truth is, Sutton, a lot has happened, and I think you might be in danger."

"What? What do you mean, danger? What kind of danger?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know for sure yet, but I think Jason might be up to some shady shit, Sutton, and I need you to be careful."

I should tell him about the note I found earlier.

"It's funny you say that because earlier, I—"

A loud knock sounds at the door and we both jump, all my thoughts flying from my head.

"Is someone in here?" a female voice calls, and we both clamp our mouths closed.

I hear a male voice outside. My eyes widen and my gaze snaps to Nicolai, mouthing, That's Jason. What the fuck?

"She said she was going to the bathroom. I don't know where else..." I don't hear the rest of his sentence as they walk back down the hall.

We both lean back against the door and let out a breath. "I got to go, or he's going to be calling the police. But we really need to talk."

"We do, but this isn't the time to do it. I need time to really sit and talk with you. There is so much to tell you, and I can't rush through it."

Something in his expression is so incredibly sad, and my heart cracks in two. "Nicolai, please. Let me—"

He shakes his head and grips my cheeks in one hand, leaning in to kiss me.

"Mala tigrica, I know you have to go," he whispers against my lips, leaning in to kiss me. "He isn't going to hurt you. You're much too valuable to him. But please, still be careful. I will text you tonight. Until then, just let me say that I love you. I don't know if it's right for me to s—"

I grip his hips. "I love you. Right or wrong. I don't care."

With one final kiss, I slip out the bathroom door and leave the other half of my heart behind.