Page 80 of Fate Forever and Always

Nick

Work was hard to focus on with all my thoughts of Callie and how happy I was for things to be progressing as they were. It was the worst time to be distracted since I had a play to run. My co-teacher and I chose to do Babes in Toyland for the winter play. The kids were so excited, and tryouts happened while I was on vacation with Callie, so everything was pretty much just practice when I got back.

We did some staging of the finale, and I had Aubrey helping me with some music. She wouldn’t be able to help me like she had been the past few years because Lincoln needed her.

“Are you sure I can't steal you away from Lincoln's show? We need you more. We have more acoustic songs than he does.”

She knew I was joking, but I had to try. She chuckled and looked me in the eye with all the seriousness in the world.

“Lincoln told me no more orgasms for me if I chose to help you over him, so he wins. Sorry, the orgasms are just too good.”

“Shit, Aubrey,” I laughed. “We are around kids. You can't talk like that.” I looked around, realizing we were the only two left.

She laughed as she walked up to me after packing away her guitar. “Come on, Nick, you know me better than that.” She tapped my shoulder. “Get up and hug me so I can go.”

I stood to hug her. “You’re so lucky I love you, weirdo.”

“No, Nicholas. You are lucky I love you.”

I put my hands up in defeat. “Okay, you win.”

I had a little time to get some paperwork done before I headed home, so I stayed in my office because it was quiet. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long.

There was a knock at my door. It was one of my students.

“Hey, Mr. Clark, I was on my way out after debate club and saw that you have a flat tire. Do you want me to call for some help?”

Fuck, that’s just what I didn’t need right now. “Thank you, Jen. No, I can handle it. I appreciate the warning, though.”

“No problem,” she said in a chipper tone as she went on her way.

After going outside and checking the trunk, I remembered I had used the spare not even a week ago. I called Callie to let her know I was going to be late coming home tonight. Unfortunately, she was stuck in lessons and couldn’t pick me up. I called Link, and thank God he was able to help me out.

Callie already gave me shit for not getting the spare fixed after needing it last week. She harped on me all of last week about how I needed to get it fixed as soon as possible. She even joked about how the only time you ever need the spare is when you don’t have it. I hate that she was right.

I stood there, leaning against my car, scrolling on my phone for about five minutes when I saw a familiar car pull up in my peripheral. I couldn’t place it at first, but then I saw Jake getting out and coming toward me rather quickly. I didn’t move toward him, but my instincts kicked in, and I hit the record button on my phone.

“Are you fucking my bitch?” Jake yelled. He looked like he was on a mission. His face was a deep red, and as he spoke, spit went flying out of his mouth. He looked like a rabid dog.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“Are. You. Fucking. My. Girl.” He was a few feet away and enunciated his words slowly like he was speaking to a damn child.

I laughed, and that made his face flush a darker shade of crimson, if that was even possible. He stepped toward me, leaving only a few inches between us.

“No, I am not fucking your girl.”

He seemed to back up, and just as his anger subsided a little, I added, “I’m fuckingmygirl.” I smiled.

His breathing quickened, and he took another step toward me, but again, I remained unmoved.

“I knew she was cheating on me with your skinny ass. That’s why I started sleeping with other people an—”

I held up my hand to stop him. “Woah, okay, stop right there. We are not going to try to blame you not being able to keep your dick in your pants on Callie. She was faithful to you to the bitter end. Believe me, I wish she’d left sooner. Callie and I never, and I mean never, got together when she was with you.” I paused for a second and decided to break his balls a little more and gestured to my ass. “And thank you for noticing my nice ass.”

“Fuck you and fuck her. You were probably fucking her every time I was out of town.”

I shrugged. “You can believe whatever you want to, dude. I never touched her while you were together. I would never be the other person. No matter how much I loved her and knew that you were wrong for her, I never made a move.”

---