Hope’s Highest Bidders

12. Nikki

12

NIKKI

I barely slept last night, and because of that, it’s making it even harder for me to cope today. I’m missing Ethan, and on top of that, I had a flat tire on the way to work this morning. Luckily, I was able to get a hold of Bobby, and he drove me to work with the promise of having my tire fixed and my car delivered to me before the end of the day.

I walk into the breakroom to put my purse away when I realize I left my lunch in my car that is sitting on the highway between Whiskey Run and Jasper. Damn, can this day get any worse?

“So tell me all about it!”

I turn quickly when I hear Lila come in the door behind me. I had called my friend earlier in the week and filled her in on everything. She’s looking at me with a worried gaze, no doubt thinking something’s happened. “Uh oh, what’s going on? Please tell me he did not fuck up again.”

I roll my eyes and try not to take offense because I know she’s just worried about me. “No, he did not fuck up. It was just a rough morning.”

She giggles as she opens the locker next to mine and puts her purse away. “Oooh, rough, huh? Is that how you like it?”

I playfully swat at her. “Har, har, funny.” I clear my throat because I know I might as well tell her. It’s not like I’m going to try and keep it from her because she’ll get it out of me. “So, uh, Ethan didn’t come with me.”

She slams her locker door. “What do you mean he didn’t come with you? Like to work today? Or...”

I close mine and avoid her gaze. “No, I mean, to my house. He’s staying at the cabin.”

She holds her hands up in front of her. “Hold up. He’s staying at the cabin? Like to pack up or are you saying he’s going to live there while you live at home?”

I take a deep breath and walk over to the table to sit down. “I’m not sure. We didn’t talk about it, but I’m going back this weekend to see him.”

Her mouth falls open. “So what? He’s going to be a weekend husband? I mean, I’m not judging you, but are you sure this is what you want? What about when you have kids? Is he just going to miss it all and you all go see him on the weekends?”

I don’t even mention to her that I could already be pregnant. The truth is, I didn’t think it all through. “I’m not sure,” I tell her sadly.

She grabs my hands. “Oh Nikki... Look, it’s going to be okay. Just take it one day at a time. You said he loves you, and I mean he did pay twenty million dollars, so I have to think he was being truthful about that.”

I nod my head. “Yeah, he loves me. I think he’s just trying to figure it all out.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but I shake my head. “Let’s talk about something else. How were you last week? What’s up with you?”

She pauses, and for a second I wonder if she’s going to just let me change the subject. “Well, uh, nothing happened. I worked all week, but I do have plans for this weekend.”

By the smirk on her face, I have to ask, “Oooh, with who?”

“No one. I’m going to the rodeo.”

I slap my hand on the table and sing-song to her, “To see you know who?”

She rolls her eyes and jumps up from the table. “He’s retiring, and it’s his last ride. I want to go watch.”

I stand up and cross my arms over my chest, all the while smiling at her. “Oh, I bet you want to see him.”

“Stop. It’s not like that. My dad mentored him. He’s a friend of the family. Trust me, there’s nothing going on there. I think the buckle bunnies are more his type.”

She gestures to her plus size figure and rolls her eyes, but I don’t know what she’s talking about because she’s stunning.

The truth is, Lila’s always talked about her dad’s friend the rodeo star. It’s obvious that she likes him, but I can never get her to admit it. “Whatever you say.”

She opens her mouth, but I hold up my finger when my phone rings. “It’s Ethan. Can we talk at lunch?”

“I’ll see you then.” She hugs me quickly and walks out of the breakroom.

“Hey, you,” I say into the phone. We talked for hours last night, but I’m just as excited to hear his voice again.

“How are you?” he asks me gruffly.

I pull the phone away from my ear and look at it as if I can see his expression or something. “Uh, hey, I’m just fine. How are you?”

He’s quiet before he asks, “So you’re not going to tell me about the flat tire?”

I start to laugh. “Oh yeah, I had a flat tire this morning, but it’s no big deal. Bobby came and picked me up. He brought me to work and said he’d take care of the tire and get my car here to me. Why would he call you about that?”

He’s quick to ask, “Why wouldn’t you tell me about it?”

“Uh...” I start, but I don’t finish because I’m not sure what to say to him. This past year, Bobby really helped me out and didn’t hesitate calling him.

Ethan’s voice is deep when he asks me. “You didn’t think I could handle it?”

I shake my head with a look at my watch. I need to get to the imaging unit before I’m late. I shut the door of the breakroom and walk down the hall. I pass a few nurses and paste a smile on my face and wave at them. “No, it’s not that. I didn’t want to stress you out or feel bad for not coming with me. I mean, I would have told you, but I hadn’t talked to you yet.”

His next words shock me. “You didn’t want me to come with you.”

I almost stumble on my feet. “What are you talking about? I want to be with you all the time. Of course, I wanted you to come with me.”

His voice drops. “You didn’t ask me to...”

I know I shouldn’t get mad, but even I can hear the hurt and anger in my voice. “Ethan, you pushed ME away. I chased you for a year and practically forced you to marry me. I’ve tried to prove my love to you at every turn?—”

“You didn’t force me to marry you.”

I laugh, and it sounds bitter. “I didn’t? Are you sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, you were perfectly content with your life without me. I backed you in a corner, and in true Ethan Cannon nature, you had to save me.”

“I want to be with you, Nikki.”

I get to the imaging unit, and my boss is pointing at her watch. I know I’m late, and that’s not who I am, but instead of just hanging up, I challenge Ethan, “Then prove it.”

I barely get the words out and I hang up the phone, putting it on silent. “Sorry about that. It won’t happen again,” I tell my boss.

She looks at me worriedly. “Everything okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, I’m good.”

I walk in to my first patient of the day and focus on them. I already regret my harsh words to Ethan, but I know they needed to be said. I guess I’ll just wait to see what he does with them.