Chapter 21 Nick
Nick
While we’ve texted back and forth throughout the week, we’ve both been busy with work which has prevented us from getting together again.
A few times this week I’ve stopped in at Holly House to say hi but even when I show up in person, she’s scrambling around helping guests, answering calls, or generally busy running the place.
Sitting in my cabin taking shelter from the snow that won’t seem to quit falling, I grab my phone off the corner of my sketch table.
Hey sugar. How’s dinner at my place sound?
I’d offer to go to her place but knowing her and Eve are roommates now and the fact that Eve threatens me with some sort of bodily harm any time I come around, I bet that option is off the table.
I would but I have to stay late tonight. Belle has plans and we have a party doing a late check-in. Rain check for tomorrow?
I scowl at my phone. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough. But I also understand how seriously she takes her job.
Totally. What time is the group getting in? You want some company while you wait for them?
That’s really sweet of you to offer but I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to stay past ten for a group to get in. They’re flight is delayed I guess so I’m assuming they’ll get here after eleven, maybe later if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Want me to bring you coffee to help you stay up?
Do you really want to see me that bad or are you just horny?
Why can’t it be both?
I just want to see you. Is that so hard to believe?
There’s a brief pause before she starts texting me again.
I guess not…
If you wanted to bring coffee by later I won’t say no.
To seeing me or being brought a cup of coffee?
Why can’t it be both?
Lol
I’ll bring you something after dinner. See you tonight wife.
I’ll see you tonight.
Once the sun has gone down and it’s about an hour before the coffee shop closes, I head in her direction.
After a quick pit stop to grab her drink, I hold the hot cup in my hand and head for Holly House.
The town is decked out in its Christmas best. Trees in the square are decorated with ornaments and have empty boxes wrapped in patterned paper underneath them.
The lights wrapped around every nook and cranny as far as the eye can see reflect off the fresh snow.
Many of the stores have closed for the night—the shopowners who run them have already gone home to spend the evening with their family.
Turning down the road to Holly House, I think about how I’ve ended up where I am.
Back in Evergreen.
Married to the girl I was stupid enough to break up with even though I still loved her.
And as recently as last weekend, hooking up with said girl who is now a fully grown woman who still has my heart twelve years later.
My cheeks burn from a mix of the wind chill blowing across my chin and at the memory of what happened between us last weekend.
I still can’t believe she crawled into my bed in the middle of the night and asked me to fuck her.
I’ve spent all week trying to convince myself that it actually happened yet it still feels like a sort of dream.
A dream that I’m still obviously living in as I walk up the front steps of the inn and find her sitting behind the front desk looking as stunning as ever.
The place is quiet, the only noises are that of the plates being cleared from dinner and people enjoying a night cap in the dining room.
The large, antique fireplace in the library is alive with a hot fire that keeps the entire lower floor toasty warm.
When she sees me, she looks up from the guest book and smiles.
“Hey, you. I’m glad to see you survived the arctic tundra out there,” she jokes, stepping out from behind the desk and walking towards me.
“I’d walk through a blizzard if it meant getting to see you, sugar.” I don’t even try to stop myself from pulling her into a hug and kissing her right there in the small lobby space.
I feel her hands try to push me away but I don’t let her. Once I’ve gotten my fill of her, I lean away and smile.
“How is it possible that you look this good after working all day?”
“Probably because I went home after lunch, took a nap, changed my clothes, and came back,” she explains, taking the coffee from my hand and smirking at me. “Thanks for the evening pick–me–up.”
“I told you I’d bring it over. How’s it been?” I walk towards the desk with her and slip my coat off.
“Slow. A lot of our guests have already checked in for the weekend. I’m just waiting on the Johnsons to get in later this evening. They’ve rented out the entire top floor and two rooms on the second floor.”
“Woah, big party.”
“It’s what you can do when you have pro football money and you’re looking to escape from the world for the holidays,” she answers easily.
“Wait, Johnson, as in—”
“Yeah, the same Johnson who used to play in the NFL in North Carolina. He and his wife plus their families are coming in for the week before Christmas. But don’t tell anyone that, I don’t need the town bombarding him. He’s trying to keep a low profile.”
I move my fingers in front of my lips as if I’m zipping them shut. “My lips are sealed.”
She finally takes a sip of the coffee I brought for her and shimmies her shoulders. “God this coffee is good. I don’t know what they put in it but it’s always perfect.”
“I’m glad I brought it to you then. I’m always happy to bring you some, you just have to ask.”
She stares at me for a beat, the corner of her lips tipping up.
“I know you would. You’ve always gone out of your way to make me happy…
” Her voice trails off and I wonder if she’s thinking about the same thing I am.
The one time I made the selfish decision to ‘try new things, new people’ instead of choosing her.
I still want to clock myself to this day for the reason I gave her when I ended things.
‘I don’t want to wake up one day and regret not having seen what’s out there. Don’t you want to try new things when you’re at school? See new people, have new experiences?’
What a boyish thing to say. But I was only a boy. One who knew he had found his forever but was too afraid to admit it. Fear got the best of me and the only thing I’ve regretted in my life is when I ended things between us.
My mouth opens and I’m about to say something when someone rounds the corner from the hallway.
“Hey, Noey, I’m about to head out. Do you—what the hell are you doing here?” Eve scowls when she sees me leaning on the desk talking to her best friend.
“Eve,” Noelle cuts in, her tone defensive and on edge.
“I’m here checking in on my wife. Is that okay with you?” I reply, standing tall so she knows I’m serious.
“No, it’s not okay with me. You might have the town fooled but you haven’t fooled me.”
“There’s no fooling here. I haven’t said anything I haven’t completely meant.”
“Really?” Noelle’s voice is small and her eyes are wide and innocent looking as she glances at me.
“Absolutely.” I smile at her before turning towards Eve again. She seems to study me for several long seconds before huffing out a breath and looking at Noelle.
“I’m heading out for the night. I would offer to stay with you but it looks like you already have company.” Her eyes flit to me. “I’ll see you at home once the Johnsons get here?”
“Yep. Hoping to be home before midnight.”
Eve waves at her friend and does a stellar performance of ignoring me completely as she walks out the front door. Once she’s gone, Noelle scoffs out a laugh and shakes her head.
“That girl is something else.”
“She only cares about you. She’s a good friend.”
“She worries too much.”
“About what?”
She looks like she’s about to reply but changes her mind and focuses on something else. Tipping her head to one side, her eyes narrow.
“Did you really mean what you said? About meaning everything you’ve said?”
I frown at her and wonder why she’s stuck on that.
“Yeah, of course I did. And I do—have—wait?” I take a second to get my words together. “Yes, I meant what I said before and I have meant everything I’ve said since coming home.”
She looks at me for a second longer before nodding.
“Well thanks for bringing this by. It was really nice of you. Text me when you make it home so I know the abominable snowman didn’t eat you on your way.”
Now it’s my turn to frown at her.
“I’m not going anywhere, sugar.”
“What do you mean? You were here to bring me coffee, you brought me coffee, and now you can go.”
I shake my head and press my lips together. “Unfortunately, that’s not how this partnership works. If one of us has to work late, we both have to work late. I’m here for the longhaul, baby.”
“You really don’t have to—”
She tries to protest but I’m walking away, heading for the library where I know the old board games and cards are stashed. Grabbing Battleship and a deck of cards I walk back to where she’s standing.
“So do you want me to kick your ass in cards or would you rather I sink your submarine?”
Her mouth opens to say something before it morphs into a smirk. Battleship was always our game growing up.
“Oh, you think you’re going to sink my submarine?” She barks out a laugh. “I don’t think so. Bring that game over here and let me show you who the real winner is.”