Surprised

Talia’s POV

Exhaling heavily, I made my way into the great amphitheatre, which was the venue of my last lecture for the day.

Kimberly was currently out of town with her aunt for a family emergency, meaning I had to go for classes and even lunch alone, as I had no other close friends except her.

As much as I tried to be friendly, I couldn't get a friend who understood my craziness and strangeness like Kimberly did and vice versa, so we had both been stuck with each other, ever since the first year of college.

As I placed my MacBook on the desk, my phone pinged with a message from her.

Speaking of the devil.

“Hi, babes. I hope you aren't missing me too much. Aunt Sydney and I will be back tomorrow and I'll make sure to bring you lots of goodies. Love you.” The message read, and my face melted into a smile as I typed my reply.

“Hey, how's Texas? I hope the family emergency isn't something serious. And yes, I miss you. You have to come to class tomorrow, else I won't either. Take care and I love you too. My regards to your aunt.”

Thereafter, I sent it before swiping to Niccolo's name.

The last time we had both texted was on the day of the charity event.

Now that I thought of it, Niccolo and I barely texted, talk less of calling each other, which was understandable as he was always in one meeting or the other.

As long as he came home every evening and we had refreshing sex afterward, I really didn't care about it.

The way he cared for me was enough.

“Long time no see, Talia,” A voice came from above, yanking me out of my blissful reverie and tossing me back to reality.

My jaw slacked as I looked up to see Erik Brentwood, my ex-boyfriend, who also happened to be the captain of the college's hockey team.

His father was a notable billionaire who owned the biggest hockey club in the world, and there were millions of rumors of Erik taking over the club after graduation.

“I thought you were in Australia,” I replied, still reeling over the shock of seeing him.

It had been a whole year since we broke up and last saw each other. Days later, he had texted me, informing me that he was going to Australia as an exchange student for eighteen months, so I was surprised he was back after twelve months.

In all honesty, I wouldn't even consider him my ex-boyfriend.

We went out for like three weeks and broke up because I couldn't get over my intense feelings for Niccolo.

In contrast to what I expected, he was quite levelheaded when I told him that there was someone else my heart desired, which made me doubt everything Kimberly told me about him when we started going out.

Apparently, they both went to the same high school and he had allegedky dated five friends at the same time.

“It's nice seeing you again too,” He scoffed, sitting beside me and removing an iPad from his duffel bag. “I see Kimberly isn't around today.”

“Yes, she went somewhere,” I replied, to which he hummed as the lecturer, a middle-aged woman, walked in, holding a briefcase which she placed on the podium.

“Good day, class,” She greeted.

“Good day, Professor Hartman,” We replied before I turned to Erik. “Wait, since when do you study biochemistry? Also, aren't you a fourth year?”

Erik was in his final year of studying chemical engineering.

He was tall with auburn hair and siren green eyes. Although, I felt nothing for him, I had to admit that he was a very attractive man.

Chuckling, he shrugged. “I need to boost my CGPA one way or the other, so I've decided to take this course.”

“Taking a biochemistry course as an engineering student, really?” I asked, raising a brow and he shrugged again.

“I want to know more about the course. I find it somewhat interesting.” He replied, and I nodded before averting my focus to the class.

After two gruesome hours, the class ended.

Packing my MacBook into my bag, I looked up to see Erik staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“I was just wondering if you're dating again,” He asked. “As a friend. You said we could remain friends, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

And now, I was starting to regret it.

“You can say so,” I replied, and there was a slight clench in his jaw, which I ignored. “How about you?”

“I'm yet to find a woman my heart desires,” He replied. “By the way, congratulations. I'm glad to hear that. Are you dating him?”

By him, he meant Niccolo.

“You can say so,” I reiterated, and he nodded.

Soon, Niccolo would ask me out and I would be able to tell everyone who cared to know that I was dating a hot god like him. The thought filled me with so much glee that my lips curved upward in a smile.

“Alright then,” I said, lifting my satchel around my arm.

“Take care, Talia. I will see you around.” Erik replied, to which I nodded before taking my leave.

+

“Hey, girlie,” Kimberly's voice wafted into my ear from the other end of the phone, as I sat in bed.

I had returned from college some hours before.

“Hi, babes. Guess who attended Professor Hartman's class today.” I replied, and she hummed, possibly racking her mind for a good guess.

“You?”

“Come on, Kimmie,” I huffed. “Try again.”

“You know how bad I am at these games, Talia,” My best friend countered. “Who is it? Just tell me already please. Curiosity is starting to gnaw at my heart.”

“How dramatic,” I scoffed fondly. “Erik did.”

“There's no freaking way you're telling me the truth,” Kimberly gasped, and I laughed.

“Believe it or not, babes, he came to class and even sat beside me,” I replied. “Apparently, he's looking to boost his CGPA by taking some extra courses.”

“That's interesting, considering how he's never cared about his academics since highschool,” Kimberly huffed. “He's taking over Dartmond after graduation, so why is he doing so?”

Dartmond was the name of the hockey club Erik's dad owned.

“I don't know,” I shrugged. “Maybe he just wants to. How's everything over there?”

“Very nice,” Kimberly replied. “I had white wine with my cousin's today. It was epic.”

“That's wonderful to hear. I hope the emergency wasn't so serious.”

“Nah, it wasn't. My cousin is getting married out of wedlock, so there's some tension. Nothing much.” Kimberly divulged.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, anyway, I have to go now,” She said. “I'll call you again.”

“Alright, babes. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She responded before ending the call.

Just then, a knock came on the door and I beamed, flapping my MacBook shut before standing up to usher Niccolo in.

“I missed you,” I said, as he wrapped his strong arms around me.

“I missed you more,” Niccolo replied, pressing a kiss to my lips.

Looking into his eyes, I giggled as he pressed a kiss to my nose.

“That reminds me. I didn't know you had a younger brother,” I said, as he led me to bed.

Sitting down, he propped me on his lap and kissed my nape.

“I must have forgotten to tell you,” He replied against my skin, causing me to shiver harshly. “He's seven years younger and owns the nightclub we fucked for the first time.”

“No way,” I spun my head around so fast, I nearly cracked my neck.

“Yeah, he owns several nightclubs across the state,” He divulged, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Don't worry, you will meet him soon.”

Niccolo was most definitely asking me to be his girlfriend soon.

Probably sooner than I even expected, as he was already planning to introduce me to his brother.

I was truly lucky to have such a wonderful man like Niccolo in my life.