The day I wrote a song about you

Chapter 30: Hot

For once, I paid for the dinner. He hadn't noticed but when he was in his room, changing into something comfy and letting his suitcases in there, -yes, he came from the airport straight to my house-, I ordered some pizza. He was surprised when somebody rang the intercom. He almost asked him to leave since somehow in a matter of minutes, I forgot I had ordered it. I quickly told him it was my treat. He wasn't happy but hey, what could he do about it? Throw it away?

We ate as we chatted, about possible future plans he may have. He was a little off, as if he was lost in his thoughts. I could sense he was also feeling sad and probably tired. Even though he didn't have a good relationship with his parents, or for that matter, none at all, I could understand how much it hurt him to know they didn't accept him.

"What about your mom? Have you talked to her?" I grabbed a slice of pizza from the table before I leaned back on the couch and lifted my knee up against my chest again. The pizza place was just around the corner so it was still incredibly hot. I burnt my lip with the melted cheese and gasped, fanning my mouth right after.

Nico chuckled, the sound making me warm inside. He reached for a napkin and handed it to me, an amused expression on his face. I murmured a quick thanks and wiped my mouth.

Nico became serious once again. "Yeah, I talked to her, asking for help. But she basically said some stupid shit about how I was old enough to live by my own. She said that if my father thought that was the right thing to do, she didn't want to contradict him." He scoffed. "She's a coward. She doesn't want to confront him. She has an open mind, I mean, she works in the fashion world, she can't afford not to, but she doesn't want to be attached to anything, or anyone. I'm a burden for her and she doesn't want to know anything about me." He smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I kind of always knew how they were. I don't know why I always pushed it to the back of my mind, I guess I didn't wanna see it. That's why I always hid my sexuality from them." He glanced at me. He hadn't eaten anything yet. "You know, you expect people to be homophobic, just not your dad."

"Nico-"

"Cara," his gaze intense as he turned to me. He still hadn't eaten anything. "I think I owe you an apology."

"An apology?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah, what I said about your family... your family is really nice, Cara." He looked down at his hands. I stopped eating and lowered my leg. I wasn't expecting him to say that.

"Well, they have their things..." I muttered.

"Yeah, we all do. But they care. You're lucky to have them." He pressed his lips together.

I gave him a tight smile and let the pizza slice on the table. I approached him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, letting him do the same around my waist. It felt weird how comfortable I had gotten around him. I remember the first days I couldn't even look at him in the eyes. I mean, I still struggled with that, but now it was for a whole other reasons. Like the fiery blush that crept my neck up to my cheeks.

"I can be your family." I told him pulling away. "You can see me as..." I poked my cheek with my tongue pensively and smiled at him when I got it. "As your little sister."

Nico chuckled. "Little sister?" He shook his head and smirked, raising one of his dark eyebrows. "I'd rather you be more like a stepsister."

I frowned. Why would he prefer a stepsister when he could have the real one? Maybe he wasn't used to have siblings? "Mhm... okay?"

He laughed. For the first time today, he laughed. And he laughed hard.

"Was that a joke?" I asked confused. "I don't get it."