Chapter Seven
Nico
Ididn’t sleep worth fucking shit last night.
Put aside the fact that Carly and I slept on a full, a bed that I could barely fit on by myself.
Also disregard the fact that her parents’ bedroom which was right across the hall from us had a reverberating snoring that was so loud, I was convinced the whole goddamn place was coming down.
No, neither of those things are the reason I didn’t sleep well.
My main issue was simple and absolutely fucking infuriating.
A pair of bright green eyes practically haunted me all night.
Each time that I’d drift off to sleep, there they were.
Over and over. New places, new dreams. Yet, the smart mouthed redhead was ever present. Ever enraging.
I don’t know why I told her Carly, and I had broken up.
What did it matter? We were back together now, or at least in our own way.
Maybe I didn’t like that my side of the story wasn’t considered in her version of…
whatever she thinks of when she thinks to that night.
I didn’t like that I was painted as a cheater in her mind, a player.
I thought that maybe if she knew the truth, that sour judgmental look that pinches her face when she even glances in my direction would fade and maybe I’d see the smallest glimpse of the woman I’d met Friday night.
Which believe me, I’m still trying to understand why the fuck I care in the first place.
Running a hand through my hair, I decide to give up on sleep at six thirty in the morning and go for a run.
Jogging always helps clear my head. Big breath in, big breath out.
You push forward, you fight, and you gain distance with every move you make.
It’s poetic if you think about it, but really I just see it as a much needed outlet so I don’t lose my shit on someone or something underserving.
I change into a pair of shorts and slip on a t-shirt and some running shoes before I head out the door.
As my legs begin to stretch out, and my pace quickens, instead of peace overcoming me, I feel chaos.
A million thoughts and moments play in my mind.
All revolving around that same fucking redhead.
Goddamnit. What the hell is happening to me?
Pushing myself to run faster and harder, I attempt to outrun her.
She’s consuming my head and no matter how desperately I want her out, it’s as if she’s making herself nice and comfy.
Like last night, Carly and I started to get into it once again and I wasn’t in the mood.
I told her I needed some air and escaped to the kitchen.
I wasn’t even in search of anything except space.
Carly was laying into me, saying that I’ve been a grumpy ass this whole trip.
She wanted to know what was wrong, why I was so quiet at dinner.
I couldn’t tell her the real reason, though.
I couldn’t tell her that I handled our twelve hour breakup by sinking myself inside her little sister.
So, I fled, only to run into Cassi fucking Fischer.
It’s like my mind can conjure that woman and she appears at the flick of a wrist.
As I circle back the way I came and approach the Fischer household, I feel relief.
After a shower and some coffee we will get all packed up and head to the airport.
We will go back to Boston and Carly and I will…
I don’t really know from there. I’m not sure what to do with her at this point.
I’m tired, I know that. I’m sick and fucking tired of her entitlement and attitude.
I’m sick of being seen as a meal ticket and not a goddamn human being.
Is that really how I feel, though, or am I just trying to justify my actions of the other night?
Because somehow it doesn’t feel as bad if I slept with my ex’s sister as it does if I slept with my girlfriend’s sister.
Semantics and all but sometimes they really fucking matter.
Wiping the sweat off my brow, I blow out a heavy breath and make my way up the front driveway of the house.
Pushing inside, I kick off my shoes and set them to the side before walking into the kitchen.
There I find the coffee machine and fire it up before pouring a glass of water.
Mary told me to help myself to anything around the house and normally, I wouldn’t take anyone up on such things.
Hell, the very concept of depending on anyone or taking anything that is anyone else’s feels… wrong.
I know that’s how families operate and they are just being kind but the idea is so foreign from me I’m more than uncomfortable in how to take it.
I struggled releasing enough control to ride in a car while someone else drove.
That’s why there was no way in hell I was letting Henry pay for dinner last night.
Regardless if Carly and I work out or not, I don’t like the idea of my name being marred with negativity like not paying my way…
or being a sleazeball in sex club. Fuck, why can’t I let that go? I’m starting to fucking annoy myself.
A knock comes from the front door that has me curious.
The house is overall quiet, it seems the whole family is the type to sleep in, which means they are definitely not expecting company.
You’d think a delivery or something would know that it’s too early to knock and would just leave whatever they have at the front door.
Walking through the hall, I come to the foyer before opening the front door. I recognize the face on the other side of the threshold immediately and for some unknown reason, I’m not pleased in the slightest to see him again.
“Can I help you?” I ask stiffly.
He gives me a friendly smile as he holds out his hand for me.
“Hey, Nicholas, right? I don’t know if you remember me from last night. I’m—”
“I remember,” I cut in. “What do you want?”
Alec looks taken back by my directness but shakes it off easily as he holds up the flowers that have been dangling by his side.
“I’m here to pick up Cassi.”
“Cassi?” I question with furrowed brows. “She’s not—”
“I’m here, I’m here! Sorry, I couldn’t find the right shoes,” she says as she steps into the foyer, effectively shoving me out of the way.
I can’t stop my gaze from taking her in.
From her white canvas shoes to her light blue jeans and cropped white tank top accompanied with a leather jacket.
She looks…different. Different than I’ve seen her.
She’s not dolled up in an expensive red gown that is practically painted onto her, nor in a pair of leggings and a baggy shirt with her hair piled on top of her head.
This looks is more simple, casual, and somehow it’s become one of my favorites.
One of your favorites? You shouldn’t have a single fucking favorite. Not only is she way too young and way too off limits she’s…no. No favorites.
“You look perfect,” Alec says, smiling at her like a fucking jackass. “These are for you.”
“Sunflowers? They are my—”
“Favorite, I remember,” he fills in with a smile that seems to turn Cassi to goo.
Are you fucking serious?
“I’ll just go put these in some water and then I’ll be ready to go,” she says.
“Can I come in?” Alec asks.
I answer that for him.
“No,” I say before slamming the door shut in his face.
She looks at me in outrage before rolling her eyes and moving towards the kitchen. My feet follow after her before my mind can talk them out of it.
“What crawled up your ass and died this morning?”
I go to speak when her words hit my ears fully.
“The fuck?”
She lets out a little cackle as she pulls down a vase and fills it with water before plopping the sunflowers into it. Once she’s done, she wipes her hands onto a towel and starts back towards the door. Or at least tries to. I take a step in front of her, blocking her way.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Out,” she says dryly as she attempt to step around me.
I block her easily, and then again when she tries to go the other way.
“With that little fucker?”
She pauses for a moment like she’s trying to wrap her mind around something before she shakes her head.
“I’m sorry, who are you again?”
I don’t respond to her sarcastic quip as she moves past me and for the door.
I sure as fuck make sure to stay hot on her heels though. When she opens the door, I see Alec leaned up against a motorcycle, his smile returning when she steps onto the porch.
“Absolutely fucking not,” I scoff. “Do you know how dangerous those things are?”
“I’ve heard a story or two,” Cassi says, not even turning to look at me as she practically skips towards him.
“Your parents are not going to be happy about this,” I warn.
“Actually, my parents have always loved Alec. They’ll know I’m in safe hands,” she says, casting a look over her shoulder as Alec stands up, offering her a helmet.
She smiles in thanks as he slips it on over her head, clipping it into place before smirking.
He mounts the bike, his own helmet in place as she climbs on behind him.
I watch as she slowly slides her body against his, wrapping her arms around his chest before nuzzling into his back.
Her face shield is up so I can’t tell if she’s looking at me but let me tell you, the move feels deliberate as fuck and has my pulse jackhammering.
Alec starts up the bike and they take off in a flash while I’m left staring as they go, fucking pissed.
Adrenaline takes over as I storm inside, slamming the door shut behind me.
I pace several steps, trying to regain control of my breathing.
I should be in the shower right now, getting ready to get the fuck back to Boston.
So why is it taking everything in me not to call an uber and order them to follow the punk on the tricked out sportster?
You don’t even know her, Nico. What’s the big fucking deal? She was a one night stand. She means, nothing. She is nothing.
I repeat this mantra in my head over and over again, but for some reason, the words won’t sink in. Before I’m able to think this through, I’m climbing the stairs and slipping into Carly’s childhood room. The bed is empty, just the faint sound of the connected bathroom echoing from the cracked door.
Slipping through it, I’m met with a wall of steam as Carly’s silhouette is casted against the glass door.
“We have a problem,” I say, the lie rolling off my tongue without a second of a hesitation.
Goddamn, I should probably feel bad about what I’m about to do but honestly, I’ve never been so sure about a gut made decision.
“What?” she asks as she opens the door slightly, poking her head out.
“The company plane is down for repairs in LA. They don’t know when it will be operational again.”
She looks at me in concern before shaking her head. “Can’t they like, give us a rental plane?”
I stare at her for a moment, slowly blinking.
“No, Carly. That’s not how that works.”
“My insurance covered a temporary car when my engine broke last year, though,” she counters.
I open my mouth to explain how many things are wrong with that statement, let alone the idea of trying to compare the situation of a personal vehicle to a private jet. Something in me just doesn’t have the capacity, though. So, instead I just shake my head and move forward.
“Think your parents will mind if we stay here for a few more days?”
She wrinkles her nose up like she hates the idea of it.
“I mean, I’m sure they’d be thrilled but is that what I want? No.”
I shrug at her as I rest my hands into my shorts pockets.
“We’re stuck in Seattle until further notice.”
“We could fly commercial,” she offers.
I just stare at her for several seconds, her own words sinking in before she laughs.
“Oh my god I can’t believe I just said that. We haven’t flown commercial in years,” she laughs like she just made the silliest joke.
It takes everything in me not to release the eyeroll that is queued up and ready.
“Talk to your parents, we can always get a hotel room if it inconveniences them.”
She waves me off. “They’ll be fine. Though, Dad will absolutely be forcing you out for a fishing trip. Good luck with that one.”
I nod and begin to walk away when she calls out to me.
“Wait, Nicholas. Don’t you want to come join me?” she practically purrs.
My eyes roam over her soapy body as she pushes the door open more. Carly is beautiful, don’t get me wrong. A blind man would be insanely attracted to her. Right now, though, I’m just…
“Not in the mood,” I cut brusquely as I turn to head back into the bedroom.
She scoffs and I hear mutter, “Since when?”
I choose not to respond, gathering some fresh clothes for the day and heading for the guest bathroom to get cleaned up for the day.