Page 37 of For the Plot (The Stone Siblings #1)

James

Ordinary - Alex Warren

“James?” Sasha pushed the door open and peeked her head in. I was lying in bed, scrolling on my phone and trying not to think about Nikki. I wasn’t doing a very good job of it.

I sat up. There was a twinkle in her eye that had me suspicious. "What is it?" I asked hesitantly.

“You have a visitor.” Sasha grinned at me. “I’ll be down in the office, give you guys some privacy.”

My heart leapt in my throat. It couldn’t be… could it? Sasha left the door open for me before heading downstairs, but I sat frozen, heart pounding. God, I wanted it to be her. Finally I gathered myself and walked out into the living room.

Nikki.

Fuck, I had missed her so much. Just the sight of her was equal measures a balm to my soul and a sharp pain that had me feeling like I couldn't breathe.

She was sitting on the edge of the couch, leg bouncing, fingers twining around each other as she chewed on her lip. She was wearing that damn lemon dress, and my heart hurt at how beautiful she looked.

There was a flare of something in her eyes as she looked at me, making me want to be hopeful. But I wouldn’t let myself. Not yet. As much as I was overjoyed to see her, the last thing she had said to me before slamming a door in my face echoed in my head. You’re nothing but a distraction.

But fuck if I didn't still love this woman with every fiber of my being.

“Nikki,” I breathed her name.

She stood up to meet me as I slowly moved towards her, coming to a stop a few feet away. She gave me a tentative smile. “Hey, James.”

“What are you doing here?” My gut clenched as she flinched at my words. But I needed to be careful here. I had no idea why she’d come to see me. For all I knew, she just wanted to tell me off some more.

She seemed to falter at my words, before steeling herself and speaking. “I need to apologize to you.”

I still refused to get ahead of myself. Not until I truly knew what she was getting at.

But I nodded my head, stepping further into the living room, and sat in the loveseat catty-corner to the couch.

Nikki seemed relieved, sitting back down and angling towards me so our knees brushed.

The slit in her dress exposed her leg halfway up her thigh, leaving her knee bare.

I fought the chills that wanted to run through my body at the touch, as innocent as it was.

Her skin on mine would always make me feel something, no matter the context.

I forced myself to look away from her thigh, my mouth going dry with the sight. “I’m listening.” My words were quiet. Not unkind, but still reserved.

I watched her as she swallowed, wanting nothing more than the trace the motion of her throat with my fingers, with my tongue.

“I first need to say that I’m so sorry.” Tears were already welling at her lashes, and I forced myself not to lean forward and brush them away with my fingers.

“I was horrible to you, and there is no excuse for all the things I said. I was overwhelmed and spiraling, and my reaction was to lash out and shut down. I never want to hurt you, but that’s exactly what I did.

And I hurt myself, too.” She let out a humorless chuckle.

“I promise, I will do better at regulating my emotions. The truth is, I’d already been barreling towards a depressive episode, and everything happening was just making it worse, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it, so I just shoved it down.

But I’m going to go back to therapy. I’m going to work on myself.

I want to be better. I want to have the tools to express myself, to help myself in those moments. ”

“That’s great, Nikki.” I gave her a soft smile, and she looked relieved. Like she thought I could truly hate her. As if I ever could.

“I’m sorry for the things I said to you.” She closed her eyes, looking down in shame. “For slamming the door in your face. I wasn’t just overwhelmed, I was also terrified.”

“You were scared? Of me? Nikki, just because you don’t love me back—”

“Oh, god no,” she rushed out. “No, James, I was never scared of you. I was scared of what I feel for you. You know I’m not good with change, and I was scared of what admitting my feelings would mean.”

Finally, I dared to let myself have a shred of hope. “What you feel for… me?”

“I have something to show you.” Nikki picked up the binder sitting on the table. I hadn’t even noticed it, my eyes only for her. She handed it to me, and I took it, glancing up at her in confusion. Opening it up, I saw that it was her book.

“You finished it!” Despite everything, my first reaction was to smile at her. “I’m so proud of you!” She beamed back at me at my words, and my heart soared. God, I had missed her so much.

“Read the dedication.”

I looked down, flipping to the page.

For James. Not only my best friend, but my greatest love.

This book, this love story is for you. For us.

Thank you for loving me.

I sucked in a fortifying breath as I closed the binder, setting it back on the table before looking up at her. Nikki shot me a wobbly smile as she slid to her knees in front of me, taking my hands in hers.

"I love you, James. I’m in love with you.

I’m sorry it took me so long to really see you, to understand my own feelings.

As a romance author, there are still so many things about love that I’m not good at.

But I want to be. I want to learn, and love, and grow with you.

I write words for a living, but no words could ever truly express just what you mean to me.

You’re my favorite person in this world, and I want to love you the way you deserve to be loved.

" She paused, looking unsure and vulnerable. "Is that something you want, too?"

I couldn’t speak, my throat clogged with emotion. Instead, I grabbed her face in my hands and pulled her towards me to smash my mouth against hers.

Finally .

We both groaned into the kiss, melting into each other. As my tongue wrapped around hers, I felt settled for the first time since that door had shut in my face. This was where I was always meant to be.

We only pulled apart when we had no choice but to breathe, and I rested my forehead against hers as we caught our breath.

“I love you so much, Nikki. Thank you for apologizing. I forgive you. I don’t ever want to be without you.”

Nikki burst into sobs, rushing forward until she was sitting on my lap, arms wrapped around me, sobbing into my shoulder. I held her back just as tight, burying my face in her hair and soaking in her warmth, rocking her back and forth as I rubbed soothing circles into her back.

Eventually, she pulled away, sniffling. “Does this mean you’ll move back in?” She gave me that crooked smile, and I couldn’t help myself from leaning forward and capturing her mouth in another kiss, this one shorter but no less passionate.

“You’re never getting rid of me again.”

“Good.”

We didn’t come back up for air again for a long time after that.