Page 86 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Twenty-Three

Nick stared back across the well-manicured grass, ignoring the groups of people standing around him laughing and talking. His heart sank down into the pit of his stomach.

She was here. He never expected that. His pulse quickened.

Courtney was a knockout. That genuine—albeit, cautious—smile she wore right now. It was contagious. Her light-brown hair, and those long legs—in heels? He wanted to run over there, pick her up, and swing her around—and then hold her tight and never let her go.

He said it back before he could stop himself. She couldn’t hear him, but she could read his lips. “Hi.”

Tom and Angela noticed Nick’s distracted manner and looked over to see what, or who, was behind it. Tom peered through the crowd and found Courtney just as Nick turned away. “Dude! Go talk to her.”

“What? No.” Nick tried to downplay it.

“Who?” asked Angela, standing on tippy-toes to look. “You mean the blonde? That’s Gia. She’s single, you know. New in town. Intimidating—you might think. But not once you meet her.”

“No, Sherlock, not her. Courtney. Nick’s been dating her, but they’re having a rough week.”

Angela looked at Nick. “Get out? I had no idea! Courtney hung out with us all day. She didn’t mention it.”

“Very helpful, Angela.” Tom rolled his eyes but grinned and stuck a fist into the pocket of his jeans. He and Angela had attended college together and were still good buddies. “By the way, you need to introduce me to Gia later.”

Angela smiled. “You got it, pal.”

Angela directed her interest to Nick. “So, what’s going on? Why don’t you go talk to your girlfriend, you nimrod?”

Tom grinned again, removing his hand from his pocket and throwing his arm around Angela’s neck. “Because that would be the mature thing to do.”

Angela laughed and tousled Tom’s boyish, short hair.

Nick was indignant. “It’s not that simple.”

“It really is,” said Tom, smirking.

Nick looked at his roommate, lightening his tone. “Did you know she was going to be here?”

“Of course not. How would I have known that? I only met Courtney once, and I haven’t even seen Miss Angie, here, since last summer.”

“Well, heck, if I’d have known you and Courtney were a thing, I’d have told you guys to get here earlier.” Angela threw back a swig of her beer. “Courtney’s been here all day. Nick, your chickie there is awesome. Hung out at the parade with us this morning. Totally cool girl—fits right in with the posse. Kira brought her around last week at The Anchor.”

“Yeah, so I heard,” said Nick sarcastically. Still, he was glad to hear she’d been getting on well without him. He stole another glance at Courtney. Gosh, he missed her.

“So, what happened? It can’t be that bad, can it, Nick? That girl’s an angel. While most of us have been scamming all day, making eyes at everything that wags its tail, she’s been behaving.” Angela made eyes at Nick’s tanned, muscular frame. “Of course, now, I can see why. She’s got a stranglehold on some prized meat.” Angela laughed at her own joke. “Nick, you havegotto go make up with her.”

Tom laughed. “You really know how to sum it up, Angie. But stop objectifying men. You’re making us feel used.” He laughed and Angela laughed back, and Nick finally joined in. They all took long swigs of their drinks.

Nick shrugged and turned back to them both with a look of surrender. “She’s got another dude, all right? I found them together at her place, last week, after she was out with you and Kira.”

Tom looked shocked. “Oh.” He made a point of making the word last an extra-long time. “So, that’s what’s been eating you, Mr. Grape? You should’ve told me, dude.”

Nick let out a breath through his nose.

Angela flashed a mischievous smile. “Oh. So there’s a dark side to Little Miss Girl-Next-Door, eh? I like it.” She was quiet for a few seconds. “Come to think of it, I did see her talking to some guy at the bar for a while. And, I’m not sure when she left. She didn’t say goodbye.”

Tom looked half amused, but he pulled her in tighter for an affectionate hold and scolded. “Okay, Angela, so now you’re really not helping.”

“Yes, she is.” Nick cut in. “Go on, Ang. What happened? Do you know? Who was that guy?”

Angela flipped back her long, raven-black hair. “Actually, I think Kira said he was her ex-boyfriend? From out of town, something like that.”

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