Page 48 of Who's Saving You
My sister and Sloane are asking questions, and honestly, I miss them both. I just need to get out and be normal again, even if I’m dragging a bodyguard with me. If I’m being watched, I still need to go about my life and doeverything I was doing, so no one gets suspicious. So while Nik is at practice, I convince Stone to let me go to Jingle Java and see my sister. He agrees, but, of course, he has to escort me.
Pulling up out front, Stone parks three spots down from the cafe. “Wait here.” He gets out, his head on a swivel, searching the surrounding area. He walks down to the cafe non-chalantly looking in, then back past the car again, down behind us. A moment later he comes back to the car and gets in. “All clear. I’m going to go in first and do a sweep of the coffee shop. I”l look for your sister. If I haven’t come out in two minutes, it means she’s in there and you can come in. Don’t acknowledge me. I’ll get my coffee and come back out to the car and watch from here until you’re ready to leave.”
“You don’t know who my sister is, though.”
He turns to me, eyebrow raised, sly grin in place. “Oh, I know who she is.”
My lips roll in, and my eyes narrow. “I don’t know whether to feel afraid or safe at this point.”
He chuckles. “Safe, Noelle. Always safe with me.”
He opens the door and gets out, and I wait two minutes. He hasn’t come out, so I open the car door and head into Jingle Java myself.
Walking in, I see Olivia at the corner table and wave. She waves back, coffee already in place, and I head to the counter, standing behind the wall that is Stone. I stifle a laugh as I hear the woman call out, “Iced Brown Sugar Oat-Milk Shaken Espresso, light ice, one pump of vanilla syrup.” He hears me giggle and gives me a sideways glance. I stare straight ahead and order my coffee as he takes his and heads outside.
A moment later, with my caramel latte in hand, I slideacross from Olivia, noticing her brows pulled together in concern. “Where have you been all week?”
“A bit preoccupied."
She looks at me, ready to strangle me. “You ditch me and Sloane at the club, and all I get is one text saying you’re fine and Nik is driving you home. Unless you’ve been having wild sex for the past week, there best be a damn good excuse. So, let’s hear it.”
I spin my coffee cup on the table, debating how to go about this. I won’t tell her anything that could jeopardize her safety but I know I have to tell her about Nik. I hate keeping anything from Olivia, but for her own good, I’ll keep it on the surface. If she wants to make her own assumptions, I'll let her. For now.
“So?” she prompts.
“Okay, yes, I went back to Nik’s place after the club.”
“You little ho! I knew it! Wait until I tell Sloane.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s been nothing but a gentleman. A pain in the ass and won’t answer my interview questions, but he hasn’t tried anything.”
“Wait.” She puts her hands flat on the table. “You went home with him and nothing happened?”
“It’s a business relationship, Liv. I’m there to tell his story. That’s it.”
“Bullshit.”
I laugh. “I’m serious.” I have to give her a little more to keep her satisfied. “I will say he’s not the Mister Nice Guy everyone thinks he is, though.”
She rubs her hands together quickly. “Yes! I bet he’s got a whole other side to him. You’d better test that out and report back. He’s too good-looking and walks with that swag to be a dud in bed.”
“Is that all you’re concerned about?”
“Duh. He’s a young, flashy football star. That’s the real story. Oh my god, can you imagine if he sucks in bed? Or worse, has a small dick!”
“Olivia!” I shush her, as her excitability draws attention, but I can’t help but laugh right along with her. My sister is definitely a little wild and always speaks her mind, but I love her passion for life.
I clear my throat. “Well, I can tell you he doesn’t have a small dick, if that makes you happy.”
She slaps the table. “Yes!”
I shake my head. “And no, I didn’t see it, but he was walking around in sweatpants and well, you know.”
“Why don’t you think he’s a good guy, though?”
“I mean, he is. I think what we see on the field and all the charity work, that’s him.” I take a breath and speak lower, “But there’s another side to him. I’m just not sure what that is yet.”
I can’t tell her it’s the kind that comes with security guards.
