Page 38 of Naughty Nicky

I laugh. “I’m not Derrick. I actually prefer dramas over this shit.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whines. “I thought you were enjoying it the whole time.”

“I think I nodded off a few times,” I tell her honestly.

“Ugh, what a waste of time. Just like all those stupid nights I was with Derrick.”

I have no idea where the hatred for her ex suddenly came from, and I don’t really know what to say. “I’m sure you had some great times with him. I mean you did travel the world with him.”

“Yeah, but maybe I should have done it alone.”

“Would you have?”

She looks at me curiously. “Why would you say that?”

“I just mean if you could travel solo now, wouldn’t you be doing it?”

She scoffs. “I told you I’m not traveling because I ran out of money.”

“You sure it’s because you don’t want to do it alone?”

She glares at me. “Stop trying to pick me apart.”

I hold up my hands in defense. “I was just asking a question.”

She huffs, and I think she is going to yell at me, but she doesn’t. “You’re right. I don’t know if I would have. It was just so easy to run away with him when I first met him in Chico. I just thought I was so in love. I guess I was. But I was stupid too. I didn’t know that he was cheating on me.”

I never understood why people cheat on other people. If you feel like you need to start looking for something else, then just end what you have. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugs. “It is what it is. You know, when he broke up with me, I thought it was just because we couldn’t afford to travel anymore and that was all we really had. But no, he was talking to this girl we met in Phuket who was traveling solo. She was so nice to us and super helpful, even gave us this long list of places to go to around Southeast Asia. I had no idea he slipped into her DMs months ago when things started to become a strain on us.”

I reach over and rest my hand on her calf and give a light squeeze. “He sounds like an asshole. But I know there were good days. Just remember those. Not every relationship you have is going to be perfect. Remember that.”

“I guess you’re right.” She stares off into the fireplace for a few moments. “Sorry you had to watch that stupid movie.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Yes, it was.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “You’re right, it was.”

“Well, I guess I should head to bed. It’s late. But my dad said that I might be able to get home tomorrow.”

Disappointment hits me square in the chest. I don’t want her to leave. I’ve been enjoying my time with her instead of just sitting here alone in my thoughts every day. “Yeah, you might. As long as the roads are plowed, I should be able to get you home and hopefully find a tow for your FJ.”

She yawns and stands up, stretching her arms above her head, lifting up the T-shirt of mine she is wearing. I look away before I get any more stupid ideas.

10

PENELOPE

Ihead to the bedroom, excited when I hear Nick following me.

“Are you sleeping in here tonight?” I ask him curiously.

“Ugh, no. I just came to grab a pillow and some extra blankets for the couch.”

I turn around and see him standing in the doorway. He leans his arms on the doorframe. The urgent need to kiss him again.

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