Page 63 of Terms + Conditions
“Because you still have feelings for this girl?” Raeanne says it as if it were the simplest thing in the world. And it could be if he and Nina weren’t two of the most stubborn people on the damn planet.
“Why don’t you bring her with you to the cabin for the holiday weekend?” Dean suggests when Nick doesn’t answer. Raeanne agrees with him, but I can tell Nick is leaning towards no. It’s been almost three years since he and Nina have seen each other. I thought things would have been cleared up by now, but they’ve held up their “agreement.” Somehow they have even managed to successfully avoid one another at family events.
“We haven’t talked or seen each other in…a long time. Don’t you think it would be a little weird to call out of the blue and invite her on a trip?” Nick asks as if he could hear my thoughts.
“How long is a long time?” Raeanne asks.
Nick’s lack of response catches my attention. He weighs the answer in his mind before finally saying, “A while.”
What does that mean? Have they been talking? I know he’s sent her flowers in the past, but that was on the first anniversary of Ric’s death. Unless they have been talking and keeping it a secret…Does Elizabeth know that? Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t Nick tell me? God, I’m so tired of our lives being filled with so many secrets.
“We talk in our own way.”
“What does that mean?” Raeanne asks for all of us.
“He sends her flowers,” Dean smirks behind his water glass.
Raeanne swoons. “That’s so romantic!”
“Isn’t it?” Dean adds to her swoon. “Roses and peonies. Occasionally throws in something else, butalwaysroses and peonies.”
“It’s weird you know that,” Nick huffs.
“You know those are both flowers of romance and love, right?” Raeanne swoons.
“I’m a secret romantic, sue me.” Nick shrugs, sipping his coffee.
“Just call her, then! It’s been long enough, don’t you think?”
“I’d say,” I whisper, earning a glare from Nick, but Dean smirks behind his water. He didn’t say it, but he sure was thinking it.
“What does she do?”
“She’s an interior designer and decorator but has been helping her brother run their family company for a while now.”
You can tell by the way Nick talks about it he’s extremely proud of Nina. We all are. She has stepped into her own the past two and a half years, opening three new DV offices, and stepping into a bigger role at Villa Inc. to help Kai shoulder some of the weight so he can enjoy being a first-time dad. She’s given a few seminars and guest lectures, all in the hopes of helping others learn how to be successful. I don’t know how she manages to do it all. It makes me tired just thinking about it.
“So, she likes to stay busy.”
“Very.”
But as proud as we are, we all know Nina tends to overwork herself. There have been a handful of times I’ve seen her break down from exhaustion and stress, only to pull herself back together almost immediately and keep going.
“Wasn’t she named Designer of the Year or something?” Dean asks.
“Wait.” Raeanne’s eyes light up, the realization crossing her features. “Are you talking about Davina Villa?” When no one answers, she gasps. “Oh my gosh, you’re in love withDavina Villa?My sister is obsessed with her! Dean, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“Not my business.” He shrugs.
“Why are you applying in New York? You could just work with her!”
“I don’t want to use her for that,” Nick says and sinks a little further into his chair.
“I’m sure she—”
“Rae,” Dean cuts her off. “He doesn’t want to.”
“It’s okay.” Nick offers her a small smile when Raeanne sinks back into her chair. “I don’t want to ask something like that of her. She’s given me a lot, more than I could ever repay her for. And I guess I want to do it on my own. Prove something to myself.”
