Page 5

5

NICKY

Present day

I wake up with a smile on my face, sitting up in bed and stretching with my arms up overhead. Sunlight filters through the window curtains. Birds are singing. Bright optimism fills the bedroom, and I’m honestly looking forward to the day.

We’re a few days into the New Year, and today is the first step of my new and improved life. I couldn’t be more excited.

I may not know exactly what my new job will be about, but it doesn’t matter. I trust Cash. It’s going to be great.

I eagerly swing my legs over the side of the mattress. And then, I hear noises. Sex noises .

“Yes! Yes, baby!”

“More!”

“Ooh- wee !!”

I’m hurriedly making my bed, cringing at all the grunting. And then loud squealing. A bed frame squeaking.

Oh god. Really? Again?

Emma and Jasper have been going at it nonstop ever since they dropped Sparkle off at my parents’ place last night. Jeez. I know they’re madly in love and all, but it’s Monday. Don’t they have other shit to do?

With a sigh, I try to ignore all the sex-ing and start getting myself ready for work. I can’t be mad at my brother and my bestie for trying to ‘get some’. Especially when they were kind enough to take me in as a temporary guest in their home.

When I initially gave Cash the green light to find me a job, I thought the whole process would take a bit longer. But he had an employment opportunity for me within days.

Now, the stuff from my Chicago apartment is packed in boxes in my parents’ attic and Emma offered me a guest bedroom until I get on my feet. And here I am, in Honey Hill, ready to start my new life.

Although I was glad for Emma’s invitation, the constant loving that’s taking place on the other side of this very thin wall is reminding me not to get too comfy here.

I’ve already started looking at house listings. Sure, I’m just window shopping the local real estate market for now, but maybe—just maybe—I’ll manage to afford a reasonable mortgage on my new salary.

Sure, I could ask my parents or any of my siblings to co-sign with me. Hell, if I asked Cash for help, my name would be registered on a property deed by the end of the week. Harry would have me a house built from the ground up. And without hesitation, Grammy would reach under her bed and hand me that shoebox of five dollar bills she’s been saving up since the ‘90s. My family is supportive like that.

But I want to do this one thing on my own.

I’m 24 years old. I want to start taking more responsibility for myself. I’m aware that home ownership could very well be an incredibly far fetched dream at this point in my life. But I’m nothing if not an optimist.

I guess the direction of my fate all depends on whatever this job is that Cash has in store for me.I’m super appreciative that he has anything for me at all. But at the same time, I’m really hoping this job will pay well enough for me to get on my feet quickly. I can’t stay with my horny best friend and her hubby forever.

“Yes!”

“Smack it! Again!”

“Some more!”

I jump into the shower, flat-iron my hair and shimmy into my sharpest business attire, all in record time. I’m in the kitchen, sitting at the island and eating my colorful cereal when Jasper and Emma stumble into the room. I turn just in time to see my friend draped all over my brother and grabbing at his—

“Oh my god! Ew!” I nearly jump out of my seat.

Emma startles when she spots me sitting there and her face turns fifty successive shades of red.

“Shucks. We forgot you were staying here, Nicks.” Jasper says it with a chuckle and he looks a little too proud of himself.

I glare at my brother. “Wow. Thanks.” I deadpan.

“He just means that you’re so quiet, and when Sparkle spends the night at her grandparents’ house, we’re not used to being…quiet,” Emma explains more politely, her own eyes twinkling with humor.

“I’ve noticed.” I shoot her a fake scowl.

I figured that staying here would be my safest bet out of all of my family members. I mean, Emma and Jasper have a young child living under this roof, for crying out loud. Turns out, I was wrong.

The bittersweet truth is, I’m surrounded by happy, oversexed couples all around. Harry and Nadia are always running around their house naked and grabbing at each other.

Cash and Meghan are usually conjoined at the genitals, and on top of that their house is covered in cat hair.

Alana may be pregnant but that doesn’t stop Davis from trying to get handsy with her at every turn. It clearly doesn’t matter the time of day. Those two are always all over each other.

Even my parents are newlyweds and I would die-dead if I walked in on any of that action.

I’m glad that the people I love have all found love. I just don’t want to witness the nitty-gritty of it, up close and personal.

I should have moved in with Grammy.

“We’ll be good, I promise. We’ll stop groping each other all over the house,” Emma assures me—even as Jasper starts groping her all over again.

“What?! I don’t consent to that,” my brother starts, but he gets elbowed by his wife.

“I mean it. We’ll be on our best behavior for as long as you’re staying with us.” Emma ignores her man’s pouting. “And, Nicky, you’re totally welcome to stay as long as you need.”

When Jasper opens his mouth to complain, she digs her elbow further into his side.

“Thank you. Both of you,” I say sincerely. “I know this isn’t ideal for you guys, and as soon as I learn more about my new job, I’ll figure out my living situation.”

Jasper drops down onto the stool next to me, stealing my box of cereal. Emma rounds the counter and makes a beeline to the coffee pot.

“In all seriousness, I’m glad to have you here, Nicks.” My brother reaches over and messes up my hair—ugh!—before pouring milk into his bowl. “With you out there on your own in Chicago, you were too far away. Now that you’re here, it’s easier to protect you from any dipshits who might be out there trying to mess with you.”

When he says that, I flinch. My brother doesn’t know that the last guy who hurt me was his very best friend.

“I don’t need you all up in my business.” I throw a Fruit Loop at Jasper.

Trust me—I’ve learned a lot from my failed situation with Simon. I did a lot of self-reflecting over the past few days about where I went wrong. With Simon, I settled, I compromised myself, I let myself get strung along. I wasn’t protective of my heart. I handed it over to a guy without requiring him to do anything to earn it. And then—big surprise—I got hurt.

That’s on me.

I accept my responsibility in that whole mess. Now, I’m trying to be gentle with myself as I patch up my bruises. I mean, we all make mistakes, right? The important thing is that I’m trying to learn my lessons and move on.

From now on, I’m sticking to my standards. I’m not lowering them for any man. And I’m serious about staying single for the foreseeable future. I’m a pretty damn awesome woman, if I do say so myself, and I’m not afraid to be by myself for as long as it takes.

Just as Jasper is about to launch a handful of cereal in my direction, Emma whirls around. “Okay, you two. Behave.”

“Yes, mommy,” my brother replies with a devious grin that makes me a little nauseous.

My bestie shakes her head and, with a lingering smile, shifts her attention to me. “Are you excited for your first day of work?”

“I am.” A large grin stretches across my face. I nod with determination. “I’m ready to take on a new challenge.”

Jasper points at the clock on the stove. “Your first challenge is going to be getting across the Sin Valley Bridge on time.”

“Oh shit!”

With a squeal, I tell them goodbye, grab my purse, and run out the door. Jasper is letting me borrow one of his cars today so that’s one less thing to worry about. The drive across the bridge to Sin Valley usually only takes a few minutes as long as there’s no traffic. But with it being a Monday morning, things are a tiny bit slower than normal.

Only a few minutes into my drive toward the address where Cash told me to meet him, he calls my cellphone.

I put it on speaker. He gives me a hasty debriefing on what to do when I arrive at the front desk and who to talk to about my new job. When I press him for more details, Cash just tells me that he’ll see me in a few, and that he’ll explain my first assignment to me then.

I’m dying to know more, but Cash is being all grumpy and impatient to get me off the phone. Typical. I try to memorize his instructions and promise to meet him at the office shortly.

Just as I’m pulling into the oversized lot at the back of the building, my phone rings again. It’s my mother.

“Hey, Mom. I can’t talk long. I’m headed into the office,” I say quickly as I’m pulling into a parking spot.

Her kind, familiar voice spills from the phone. “I know, sweetie! I’ll be quick. Are you excited for your first day at work?”

“So excited.” I smile, looking in the rearview mirror to reapply my peachy nude lipstick. “More than anything, it will be a good distraction from my recent heartbreak. Guys suck.”

After everything that transpired in my love life, I sat down with my mother and told her all the pathetic details. She offered me the empathy I needed to stop feeling so stupid. And some solid advice for figuring out my next steps forward.

“I know it hurts, baby girl,” she says softly now. “I know you’re still upset over what happened. But, as you get older, you’ll come to realize that not every ex-lover is a villain. Some guys are just temporary placeholders in your life. When the real hero shows up on the scene, you’ll be grateful that there’s not some side character hogging his spot in your life.”

Those words hit me squarely in the middle of the chest. My mom and dad stayed divorced for fifteen whole years after their split. For a while, my mother had this deadbeat boyfriend in her life. But thank god, she finally left that loser. Pretty shortly after that, my parents got back together and now they’re re-writing their happy ending.

Mom isn’t settling for the wrong guy anymore. It’s so good to see her blissfully in love. I’m wondering if her ex was just her placeholder.

Maybe my mom’s right. Maybe one day I’ll decide that Simon wasn’t a bad guy. He just wasn’t the right guy for me. Maybe he was just my placeholder.

“Thanks, Mom,” I say on a sigh. “I just need to avoid the side characters for the foreseeable future until I figure out what I really want.” Until I’m brave enough to go after it.

“I trust your decisions, baby girl.” I hear the smile in her voice. “I love you, and I’m so happy you moved back here.”

“Me, too. I love you, Mom.”

I hop out of the car and my heels click clack as I make my way to the building’s back door. I follow the arrows to the lobby.

Damn, it’s fancy here.

Aside from the moving boxes lined up against the walls, everything’s all modern and beautifully designed.

Good thing I dressed up. I catch sight of my reflection in the shiny glass walls. I’m in full-on business mode. Blazer. Pencil skirt. Sleek bun. There are shoulder pads involved.

I’m gonna kill it today.

A tall, well-dressed woman with smooth, dark skin and long braids greets me in the lobby. She identifies herself as Florence, the head of the PR department and my immediate superior. She welcomes me to the team and ushers me into a nice, sleek conference room.

The vibe is good. Stylish furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Even the plant in the corner is thriving here.

“Sorry about the mess,” she tells me. “The organization is still putting down roots. We’re in the process of unpacking. Getting everything up and running is taking a bit longer than expected.”

I can empathize with that. “Oh, I totally understand. I myself am living out of suitcases at the moment.”

Florence smiles, looking relieved. “Get comfortable. Make yourself a cup of coffee or some tea,” she tells me as she heads out the door again. “We’re just waiting for everyone to arrive.”

Everyone? Who’s everyone? The organization? Huh? What does that mean?

Nervous questions start to bubble up but I push them all back. I’ve already decided that this is my fresh start and anxiety is definitely not invited to the party.

I select a tea bag from the assortment laid out on the table in the corner. I dunk it into a cup of steaming hot water before taking a seat in a cushy conference chair. I dig the toe of my stiletto into the plush carpet under my feet. Ooh! Fancy and shit!

I catch myself gazing out the large windows, enjoying the view. Right across the street, there’s a cute little park where I can see kids all bundled up and skating on the ice.

I smile. This is it. I’ve officially started my new life.

I have a feeling today’s gonna be a great day.