"Nothing." I said quickly. "I was just overthinking about meeting them.
She narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced, but after a moment, she nodded.
"Don't overthink. I'm here. Nothing will happen."
I nodded, taking a deep breath as we waited for them.
The arena was nearly empty now, the crowd having mostly left.
After a while, the entire team returned, and Rain and I stood up, walking toward them.
"We have two cars." Aiden said. "Nicolas and Amelia will be with us in one car, and the rest of the guys will take the other."
Me and Nicolas? In one car? No, thank you.
Rain glanced at me to check if I was okay with it. I forced a smile and nodded.
Internally, I was screaming a big, loud NO.
"Let's get going. Aiden, you drive. Amelia and I will take the backseat. Right, Amelia? We should give the couple some space," Nicolas said casually.
I shot him a glare and forced out a response through gritted teeth.
"You're right. I have no objections."
I have objections.
Rain, please don't let me sit with him.
"Are you sure, Amelia?" Rain asked hesitantly. "I can sit with you if you'll feel uncomfortable—"
I quickly cut her off.
"I'll be fine. Just focus on spending time with your boyfriend. Weren't you sulking when he didn't contact you for a week--"
She immediately glared at me, and I laughed at her embarrassed reaction. Internally, i was crying.
"Guys, we're getting late. Let's move already." Aiden said impatiently.
We all walked to the parking lot and took our designated seats. I sat at a safe distance from Nicolas, but of course, he noticed.
Without hesitation, he casually scooted closer.
Why?
I shifted closer to the window. He moved closer again.
I finally turned to him, and— another big mistake.
His face was way too close to mine.
My heartbeat picked up. I bit my lip, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. He just kept staring at me, his expression unreadable.
"You haven't said a word to me till now, Am," he murmured.
The familiar nickname made my chest tighten. Damn it.
Before I could respond, the car suddenly came to an abrupt stop, causing me to lose my balance and fall straight into his arms.
"Are you okay?" he asked genuinely. I nodded quickly and moved away from him, regaining my composure.
"We're here, guys." Aiden announced as he stepped out of the car and opened the door for Rain. I sighed and exited as well, Nicolas following closely behind me.
I immediately linked arms with Rain, holding onto her as we walked into the restaurant. I had never been in such a lavish place before. The grand chandeliers, the dim yet elegant lighting, and the soft hum of conversations around us made it clear this was a high-end establishment. Inside, the other team members were already seated, waiting for us.
Rain took a seat first, with Aiden sitting beside her. I found a spot next to an unfamiliar guy, whose name I had yet to learn. Nicolas, however, lingered, staring at us before placing a hand on the guy's shoulder and whispering something to him. Without hesitation, the guy stood up and moved to an empty table, leaving Nicolas to take the seat beside me.
I tried my best to suppress an eye-roll. Jerk. He was still the same arrogant man as before. I also noticed how there were no other girls beside us. Didn't Nicolas said some will bring their girlfriends too? Or he was just wanted to say i was his girl? Bastard.
"Let me introduce you to the team." Aiden said, motioning toward the others. "This is Mason—the one who was sitting beside you earlier—Jonathan, Steve, and Aaron. And, well, you already know me and Nicolas. Also, guys, this is my girlfriend, Rain, and her friend, Amelia."
The team members nodded in acknowledgment before Aiden added, "Alright, let's order."
As everyone began discussing their choices, I found myself staring awkwardly at the menu, feeling completely out of place. I should have never agreed to this. Rain noticed my discomfort and leaned in to whisper.
"Hey, you okay?"
I gave her a small smile and nodded. "I'll be fine."
"I'll order for you, don't worry." she reassured me, and I exhaled in relief.
"Thank you."
She smiled and proceeded to place my order. The entire time, I could feel Nicolas's gaze on me, unwavering and intense, making me feel even more uncomfortable.
Unable to ignore it any longer, I turned my head to find him leaning back in his chair, eyes already on me. He smirked slightly before leaning forward.
"Still ignoring me?" he asked, his voice low.
What else do you expect?
I thought bitterly, turning away. But before I could completely shift my focus, I felt his hand grasp mine under the table. My eyes widened as I struggled against his grip, but he held firm. Glaring at him, I found nothing but amusement in his expression.