Page 87 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Nick chewed on the side of his mouth.

Tom finally interjected. “Guys, this is not eleventh grade. Nick, I’m glad you’re finally spilling the beans, but don’t you think it would make, like, a ton more sense if you just went over there and asked her yourself?”

Nick scowled.

“Maybe nothing happened!” Tom threw an arm up in the air. “Only one way to find out. Look at her! She obviously wants to talk to you, if you ask me.”

Tom waved at Courtney, making a point of being obvious. Courtney managed an awkward wave in his direction, as did Gia.

“No one asked you.” He jabbed Tom in the gut lightheartedly and grinned.

But Tom was right. It was time to have it out with her, like it or not.

Tom punched him back then looked him in the eye. “It’s now or never, man. What’re you gonna do?” He put an arm around Angela again and she tickled him. He laughed.

“All right.” Nick said, matter-of-factly, ignoring their antics. He clinked his bottle of beer against Tom’s and then against Angela’s. “Fine. I’ll talk to her.” He started to walk away, then called back. “And will you two take your hands off of each other for more than thirty seconds?”

They laughed, and Nick heard Tom. “Ten bucks says he leaves the premises in the next thirty seconds.”

Nick snorted softly, laughing again.

* * *

The sun was settingas Nick crossed the yard. Courtney looked up and caught her breath as she saw him walking toward her. It was finally happening. Her legs felt like jelly. She straightened her shoulders and tried to compose herself.

Nick stopped in front of her, beer in hand, his mouth edged up in a half grin. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

Gia stuck out a hand with a set of perfectly manicured pink nails. “Hi, I’m Gia.”

Nick took it, greeted her generously, and shook. “Nick. It’s nice to meet you.”

Nick turned back to Courtney and Courtney wasn’t sure what to say, and an awkward silence fell over the group.

Gia cleared her throat then turned and pointed. “You know what? I’m going to go see if Marcy needs any help,” she said. “I haven’t seen her in hours. I’ll just be over there if you need me.”

“Okay. Thanks, Gia.” Courtney gave her a grateful look and she strolled off.

Courtney gazed up at Nick, swallowing. Her throat felt dry. She had a desperate urge to throw her arms around him, but that, of course, would not do.

“So, what’s going on?” asked Nick. “I hear you’re friends with Marcy and the others now.”

“Yeah,” Courtney said, her voice a little too high-pitched. “Kira introduced me. It’s been great. They’ve been so nice, all of them. And Gia’s super nice. She’s new in town, too.” Courtney exhaled.

“That’s cool.”

“Look, Nick,” she started in. Courtney gazed into his eyes and her knees weakened further. “This has been killing me. Can we go somewhere and talk?”

He stared at her for a second, searching her eyes, but not answering. Was he going to say no?

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her gently through the crowd. For a minute, it felt like nothing had changed between them. Like they were at a party as a couple, making the rounds through groups of friends and strangers—laughing, talking, holding hands.

But they weren’t. She might be truly losing him—at any time, once they started to talk. She had to make him see that the thing with Austin was all just a terrible misunderstanding.

Nick led her away from the party to one side of the apartment building where there was a bench. It faced a long, grassy hill that led down to a narrow stretch of sand along the lake. He let go of her hand and sat down on the bench, and Courtney settled in next to hi, both of them keeping their distance.

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