Chapter 30 Nikki
Nikki
I’m sweating. That’s how unfit I am.
“That’s it, everyone. Good work tonight!” Daisy says, her own cheeks pink, but at least she doesn’t resemble a tomato like me.
I grab my bottle of water and my sweater, getting organized to leave.
“How did you do, Nikki?”
Daisy’s perky voice has me swiveling around, surprised.
“I feel so good,” I tell her honestly.
Her genuine smile widens.
“You were amazing. It’s clear that you’ve done it regularly before.”
My smile falters, but I catch it quickly. I did love yoga. I would do it most mornings. I did it every morning back when life felt safe, before survival became my priority.
“A few of us are going over to the diner for a drink. Do you want to join us?” Daisy looks at me expectantly.
My eyes sweep the room to see who’s left, spotting Rochelle, of course, and Tina from the toy store.
Evelyn, who I know owns the local home decor store, is also here and a few other people I don’t know as well.
“Oh, thanks, but I need to get home to James.”
“Of course.” She frowns. “Is he home alone?” Her concern would be warranted if it was accurate.
He and Sutton spent the last hour together.
It took Sutton a while to encourage me to come to yoga again.
Having tried it a few weeks ago, I fell back in love with it, but it’s hard for me to put myself out there and trust that things will be okay.
With Sutton around so much, the boys dropped me here at the start of my class and then went to his place to watch movies.
“Sutton’s watching him,” I admit, knowing this might trigger more questions.
We start walking out together, the cool night air a little brisk on my cheeks.
“Sutton… as in Sutton Silvers?” Daisy’s eyes twinkle.
“Ahhh, yeah.” I can’t help the warmth that hits my cheeks.
“Connor mentioned that you two were a couple. I love Connor with all my heart, but Sutton Silvers… phew.” Fanning herself, she laughs.
A couple? Sutton’s been talking about us?
My mouth dries as I take in Daisy’s words.
I feel something for Sutton, and those feelings grow by the second.
I try daily to pull myself back. I know getting close is a bad idea, but like being on a diet and craving chocolate cake, I can’t stop.
He makes me feel alive, wanted, heard, and sometimes, that terrifies me more than the past I’m running from.
“He has that effect on people,” is all I say, summoning a light laugh.
Daisy’s joking, of course, but I’m starting to understand what Sutton’s life must be like. Having people gush over you who don’t really know you. What are they gushing for? A fictional character that he portrays on camera?
“He’s a great guy, from what I’d heard. He’s been so professional on set at the distillery, too. Connor’s really excited for the launch of this new batch they’re all working on.”
That has me smiling. “I know Sutton is excited as well.”
Like I conjured him, I hear a truck pull up next to me, windows so dark, making it difficult at night to see anyone inside.
He jumps out, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, his baseball hat still in place, even though it’s nighttime.
“Ladies.” He nods in greeting, and I feel my stomach flip-flop as Daisy’s cheeks grow a little pinker.
“Right on time.” I grin up at him, his eyes solely on me. There could be anyone around, and he wouldn’t notice.
“Your chariot awaits.” Leaning back, he opens the passenger door for me.
“A man after my own heart, that one,” Tina murmurs to me as she and Rochelle walk past, going to the diner across the road. Rochelle gives me a little grin that tells me she knows exactly what’s going on between us.
“Thanks for tonight, Daisy. I’ll see you next week.”
“See you then!” Daisy steps back inside to lock up her studio, and I turn, looking straight at Sutton, who’s watching me intently.
“Did you do your stretches?” He raises an eyebrow at me, a small, mischievous grin dancing on his face. As I step up to get into the truck, he helps me, his hands lingering just long enough to spark something warm in my chest, something dangerously familiar that travels lower.
“Yes…” I say cautiously, wondering what he has planned.
“Good. Now you’re all mine.” He shuts the door quickly and runs around to the driver’s side.
I look into the back seat, where my brother sits, heat filling my cheeks at what he might’ve heard, but then I balk.
Because in the back seat is my brother, with large noise-canceling headphones on and a brand-new tablet in his hands.
“Um, what’s that?” I ask Sutton as soon as he’s sitting beside me.
When he sees my quirked eyebrow, he looks back at James before looking back at me, clearing his throat. “I got that for him today.”
I can’t be mad at his thoughtfulness. It’s no use trying to stop him anyway. “Thank you. I know he’ll love it, but you didn't have to.”
“It’s a twofold gift.”
“Twofold?” I ask.
Sutton reaches over and grabs my hand. I feel his warmth as he looks at me intently.
“I don’t know why you're hiding or who you’re running from.
But I need you safe. I have no idea what’s happening between us other than I really love being with you, and every time I think about danger coming to you, I could burn the world down.
” His grip tightens just slightly, like he’s holding himself back.
“So, in the interest of keeping the world whole, I set up a secure account, one that will only be traced to Sawyer, not to me, not to you. I also installed some security software. So you can track me, and I can track you, in case you need me. In case you need help at any point. There’s an emergency call button.
It calls me, Sawyer, Rochelle, Tanner, then the sheriff in that order.
As long as this is all okay with you, of course. ”
I can barely breathe. I’m frozen with emotion, in equal parts shock and gratitude.
When we left my father’s place in the dead of night, I took nothing.
Nothing that could trace us. I had enough cash to see us through for the first month or so, for travel and food and accommodation.
The last of which I used to lease the cottage for the first month, Rochelle's job came along just in the nick of time.
Sure, I got a new cell phone. One that doesn’t have the internet, hopeful that it couldn’t be tracked. But Sutton has just given us a lifeline that I could never supply. Something in my chest tightens. It’s not fear, but trust. And it hits me just how much of that I’ve lost over the years.
“I… I can’t believe you did all this.” My eyes fill with tears, and Sutton’s hand lifts, cupping my cheek before he grabs my chin and tilts my face up so I’m looking at him.
“I also thought the noise-canceling headphones might come in handy…” Sutton gives me a not-so-subtle look, lightening the mood, and I chuckle, even as a tear trails down my cheek.
“Hmmmm, might be something my brother needs on nights like tonight,” I say playfully.
“Oh…?” Sutton acts all coy. “What’s happening tonight?” He mocks confusion.
“Well, I think I’ll need help getting out of this activewear…” I reach over, resting my hand on his thigh, loving how his jaw clenches.
Swallowing roughly, he nods. “I could probably help with that.”
“Maybe my underwear too…” I whisper as I move my hand up his thigh, my brother completely oblivious in the back seat.
“Hmmm, Tinker Bell…” he growls in a warning, my hand sliding right up to his groin with a teasing brush before pulling away.
“Yes, Sutton?” I look at him innocently.
“Are you saying you want me naked in your bed tonight? Because if not, your hand on my dick is not the right message to be sending a man.” He grins, lifting both eyebrows, and I can’t tame my smile.
Nodding slowly, I whisper, “Mm-hmm. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Let’s go!” Sutton starts the truck like we’re running from a fire, breaking the tension, and a loud laugh bursts from my lips.
When I look back at James, he gives me a big smile and a thumbs-up, like it’s the best day of his life.
My eyes drop to the movie on his screen, seeing Sutton’s latest project, and without knowing for certain, I assume Sutton’s downloaded his entire back catalog to keep my brother busy until well into tomorrow.