Chapter Five
Nicky
With his laptop on the kitchen counter, Nicky checked another item off his list. Planning the Christmas celebration for all his friends had seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Nicky had the space to host and with his office closed for the next two weeks, he should have had plenty of time.
He was clearly a glutton for punishment, because who would volunteer for this much stress?
The final grocery order needed to be completed and sent in.
Nicky had ordered most of the main food to be delivered on Christmas Eve.
Still were some things that he needed from the store.
Like wine. Did they need wine? Nicky was fairly sure that most people ordered wine.
At least that was what his caterer had informed him.
Except he didn’t drink, so he didn’t know what kind to purchase.
He continued to scroll through the wine listings as his phone buzzed.
Absently he saw the notification of a visitor and accepted before he went back to scrolling. Red or white? He’d tried using Google only to receive the response that both would pair fine with a turkey. How was that a good answer? Nicky huffed. And why were there so many choices?
Damn! Nicky froze. What if someone had an allergy to something that he’d ordered? Nicky picked up his phone to text Liam when someone knocked on his front door.
He didn’t have time to deal with a visitor!
Who would even be there? Nicky had so much still to do before he had to get ready for his date with Law later that night.
His goal had been to get at least half his list done so he could enjoy his evening.
If people didn’t constantly put him on hold or give him their suggestions on what else he needed.
Nicky knew that they were just trying to be helpful, but it was stressing him out!
Nicky started the text to his bestie as he strode toward the front door. He would get rid of whoever was there and… He yanked open the door to blink at Law standing on his front porch.
“Hey,” Law said with a warm smile.
Nicky frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Law’s smile fell. “We have a date?” It came out as a question.
“Yeah, at seven.” Nicky waved his phone around. “Obviously I’m not ready.” He glanced past Law’s shoulder to find that it was dark outside. “Wait!” Looking down at the phone in his hand, he realized that he had no idea what time it was. Six fifty. It was six fifty?
“Nicky?” Law said his name quietly.
“How?” Nicky asked his phone. The damn thing had to be lying to him. Except it was dark outside and Law was standing in front of him. Lifting his hands, he dug his fingers into his hair and screamed.
“Nicky!”
His hands were yanked from his hair and strong arms wrapped around him.
Nicky buried his face in Law’s soft sweater.
He couldn’t believe that he’d totally screwed up!
Waking up that morning, Nicky had been so excited about his date.
After his shower, he’d even set out a very nice outfit to wear when Law picked him up.
Not the pair of threadbare gray sweatpants or the oversized old college hoodie he currently wore.
“It’s okay,” Law murmured. “I got you. It’s all okay.”
“I messed up,” Nicky said miserably. Like that wasn’t obvious.
“It’s fine.” Law drew back to peer down at him. “Did you lose track of time?”
“Lose track of time?” Nicky screeched. “Where the hell did the last four hours go?”
“I don’t know, baby, where did they go?” Law asked.
Nicky huffed.
“Let’s try this.” Law released him and Nicky did not like that at all. He wanted to be back in Law’s arms. Being held by Law just made all the jagged pieces inside him smooth out. Instead, Law crossed back to the front door to close and lock it.
Oh! That was probably smart. Nicky had just had a little meltdown with his front door wide open. No big deal or anything. What was wrong with him? No! He knew what was wrong. There was too much to do!
“Do you like wine?” Nicky demanded.
Law turned to face him. “It’s okay. Not my preferred drink.”
That wasn’t helpful at all. Nicky scowled. “Great.”
Law strode forward while smiling at him. “Do you like wine?”
“I don’t drink,” Nicky told him. He never drank.
Okay, that wasn’t true. He’d indulged when he’d been in college.
He’d quickly learned that when one drink turned to two then to more than he could count, Nicky might be in trouble.
He’d spent the last two years in college avoiding all alcohol.
Nicky’s fear of becoming his father batted at him until he could no longer stomach most alcohol liquids.
So unless it was socially required, Nicky didn’t drink.
And when the social situation called for it, he was a sipper.
“Then why are you asking me about wine?” Law questioned.
Nicky slumped forward. “I’m in over my head.”
“I’ll be happy to help if you explain the situation to me,” Law offered.
Nicky was past the point of embarrassment, meaning he might as well confess everything. “The caterer suggested wine with the Christmas meal. Of course, they don’t serve alcohol so that’s up to me to figure out.”
“How long have you been working on this?” Law asked.
What did that matter? “Apparently longer than I thought since I didn’t realize what time it was.”
Law didn’t appear pleased with that answer. “How long?”
“After lunch?” Nicky thought. He’d made himself a sandwich and ate it when he’d started organizing his list.
Law sighed.
“Sorry?” Nicky offered.
“You promised Jude last night that you wouldn’t stress yourself out planning this dinner.”
Damn it, he had. Nicky scratched at his right arm. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I do believe that,” Law said. “Where are you working?”
Nicky winced. “The kitchen.” He’d meant to eat his lunch and have some coffee before moving into the living room where he could enjoy his decorations. That always made him happy.
“Go in the living room and wait on me,” Law ordered.
“Are you mad at me?” Nicky had to ask. He’d messed up their first date so he wouldn’t blame Law, but Nicky hated to let people down.
“I’m not mad at you,” Law told him. “Concerned, but we are going to fix that.”
“Okay.” He shuffled his feet as Law pushed at his lower back. Law was still there. He hadn’t shouted and walked out. That had to count for something.
“Go, boy.”
Fine. Law wasn’t giving him a choice. Not that Nicky really wanted one. It was just easier to follow Law’s order.
Nicky slowly made his way down the long hall. It was colder back here than in the front of the house. Entering the living area, Nicky went over to the gas fireplace and pushed the button to turn it on.
Immediately flames rose. Nicky hovered in front of the fire as he looked over his Santa village.
It was just so cool and brought a smile to his face.
He’d seen his first village when he was about eleven.
The sweetest lady that had run the front desk of the library had been obsessed and decorated the library every year with the most beautiful Christmas village Nicky had ever seen.
Nicky had known as soon as he had his own place that he wanted something like that.
A holiday tradition that he could claim as his own no matter where he was in the world or what he was doing.
He'd bought one Santa a year even when he’d been in college and living in the dorms, although there hadn’t been much room. The village hadn’t come until Nicky had rented his first apartment. He’d saved his money for six months to afford the mini village that he still had to this day.
As he’d made more and more money, Nicky had totally indulged himself.
Even though Nicky could afford new decorations every year and did change the theme of the decorations, the villages and Santas were the one constant in his life.
Law cleared his voice and Nicky turned.
“Feeling better?” Law asked as he held Nicky’s laptop still open.
“I really didn’t mean to mess up our first date. I feel horrible.” That was such an understatement. He didn’t want Law to think that he wasn’t taking their new dating status seriously. “I was really looking forward to it. I already picked out my outfit and everything.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Law said, walking to the couch. He sat before patting the cushion beside him. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day. I had several meetings that I had to take and interview a potential employee and yet all I could think about was you.”
Nicky found himself smiling, despite his worry. Law wasn’t acting like he was mad at him though. Nicky headed over to the couch. Sitting, he tucked his legs under his arms while waiting for Law to speak.
“I looked over your list,” Law said. “It is very thought out.”
“I like being organized,” Nicky replied.
“I can tell.” Law set the laptop on the coffee table. “Tasks, deadlines, even how long each item should take. Maybe I should hire you to put my schedule together.”
The praise warmed him. Nicky loved hearing the approval in Law’s tone.
“But I can see why you’re stressing out.”
Nicky nodded. He’d taken on too much.
“I also have a solution,” Law said.
“You do?” That would be awesome.
“I don’t want to overstep,” Law said. “We just discussed how your previous partners made demands that weren’t reasonable for you. Made demands that I don’t agree with. I don’t want to be like them.”
Nicky shrugged. “Just saying that means that you aren’t like them. I…I would like to hear what you think.”
“I don’t want you to think that you’re obligated to take my suggestions.”
“I’d like to hear them,” Nicky repeated. Everyone else he’d spoken to that day had given their opinions and they didn’t even know Nicky. At least Law would have Nicky’s best interests in mind. At least Nicky thought he would.
“First, I would say we should mark what tasks you want to complete yourself,” Law said. He picked up Nicky’s laptop again. “Like wrapping presents. I feel like that’s something that you would enjoy.”