Page 17 of For the Plot (The Stone Siblings #1)

Nikki

Coming Home - Part II - Skylar Grey

Delete. Delete. Delete.

I dropped my head and banged it repeatedly against my desk.

It had been two days since I’d gone to visit James at work.

Three days since we humped ourselves into oblivion.

I had hoped that even though we hadn’t done much, it had been enough to get me started on my writing.

But I had spent the last three days sitting in front of my laptop, trying to get words down to no avail.

All I had to show for myself was one paragraph, and I didn’t even know if iI was going to keep it.

The female main character’s friend was helping her get the guy she was in love with to fall for her as well.

I’d had the plot in my head since book one, and I had been excited to write it since then.

But it just wasn’t clicking, and the characters weren't doing what I wanted them to.

And that was when I could get any words down at all.

I knew I needed to be writing, that my clock was ticking, but the words were still just out of reach. Deep down I knew that one day, one moment of intimacy, wasn’t going to just magically fix me—but you try telling my brain that.

Just thinking about that night with James had my core clenching with need again.

I don’t know what had come over me to be so bold when I straddled him.

Well, that wasn't quite true. I knew it was untamed lust. My need to come had been more than my fear of being so vulnerable.

How James knew I needed to be bitten, II had no idea but was more than grateful that he has intuited it.

We still hadn’t talked about when we were having the next lesson, partly because of the fact that, besides that random trip to the bar, I had been holed up in my room since then.

I wasn’t avoiding him; I had just been spending most of my time trying to convince my brain to write something, anything .

But to be honest, a part of me was also probably avoiding him, not ready to confront whatever feeling it was that I had while watching him flirt with customers at the bar.

Besides, we still needed to figure out the next time we’d be home alone.

Collins didn’t go back on shift for four more days.

Unlike me, however, Collins had a very active social life and regularly left the apartment voluntarily, so there was always the possibility of him being out one night between now and then.

I looked down, realizing my screen had gone dark while I’d been staring blankly at it, fantasizing about what it would be like when James really touched me. I blinked at the reflection staring at me.

I looked like I hadn't slept for a week, and I was still wearing the same stained Billie Eilish concert tee I’d put on when I got home from the bar two nights ago.

It was a very sad sight, and I knew I needed to step away and come back again with a fresh…

everything. I lifted my arm to sniff my armpit—yep, definitely needed to start with a shower.

Picking my phone up to check what day it was, I saw it was a Tuesday. Perfect .

Tuesday was family dinner night, and I could use the distraction.

Our family was pretty casual, and we had decided on a designated day of the week where anyone who was around was welcomed for a nice home-cooked meal.

I didn’t go often, due to lack of time awareness, or just not wanting to put on real pants and leave the house, but I really needed it today.

I pulled up the family group chat, shooting a message.

Family dinner tonight?

Robyn

Omg, she’s alive?

Alex

Tbh, I thought she’d just been abducted by aliens or something

Noah

I told you all I saw her last week.

Robyn

Yeah, but you could have just been looking at your reflection and forgot

Noah

*unamused emoji*

WE AREN’T IDENTICAL

Alex

You sure about that?

Ezra

I’ll be there

Thanks for being the only normal one here Ezra

Robyn

Omg, I told you Alex, Nikki is Ezra’s favorite, he never makes sure to come when I’m at family dinner

Noah

You literally live at home, you’re there every time dumbass

Robyn

I’m telling mom you called me that

Definitely already regretting this decision

My family was a lot , but to be fair, so was I.

I shook my head, smiling down at my phone as I left my room for the bathroom.

One of my biggest ADHD struggles was object permanence.

I loved my family more than I could express in words, but when they weren’t in front of me, I often forgot about them.

It made me feel like a shitty person sometimes, but I wasn’t actively choosing to forget about them and I didn’t love them any less; my brain was just wired differently.

Especially when I was in my drafting cave. But whenever I did remember to come up for air, my family was always there and waiting for me with open arms.

I turned the shower on, getting my music set up while the water warmed up. I couldn’t stand silence and always had either a TV show or more likely music playing in the background. Being left with my own thoughts in silence? Please don’t torture me like that.

Back in my room after the shower, I was getting dressed when my phone pinged with a new text. I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat when I saw James’s name on the screen.

I swiped the message up, smiling at his text.

Guess who just told me they have a date tomorrow and won't be home?

Let me guess, he’s tall and annoying?

Damn, NikNak, you talk about all your friends that way?

Hey, you all know the meaner I am, the more I like you

ANYWAYS

As I was saying, Collins will be out tomorrow night. And isn’t there a game tomorrow too?

How many times do I have to remind you I never know when sports are happening

Nerd *eyeroll emoji*

And don’t you forget it *winking emoji*

Alright, just confirmed and there is indeed a game tomorrow

Tomorrow then?

As long as you feel ready.

I have an admin shift tomorrow, I’ll be home from the bar around 9

Tomorrow it is *blushing emoji*

I set my phone down, smiling as I got dressed for family dinner. The smile stayed on my face the entire drive there.