Page 7 of Nick

“Well, Jax, what do you think?”

“I’m in shock. I can’t believe it turned out this nice. You’ve done a great job decorating the place. Where does the light fixture go?”

“This way,” I told him, leading him to the back of the shop. “Do you think it’s too big?” I asked him, pointing to the fixture resting on the floor.

“Let me see how heavy it is…” He took the lighting fixture up and passed it between his hands a few times. “I think it will work out great,” he told me finally.

“Good, I love this light.”

I left Jax to go back and finish painting the bathroom. I passed Nick on the way back and pointed him in the right direction to where Jax was.

Jax and Nick had the light up in thirty minutes. They came to the bathroom to say goodbye, and this time, they didn’t startle me. I climbed down the ladder and walked outside with them. Suddenly, I heard a loud screech and saw a woman running on the pier straight for Nick. She threw herself at him. If he hadn’t held onto her, they would have toppled backward.

“Nicky, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Why did you stay away so long?”

“Cheryl,” he began, easing her off him, “how are you doing?”

“I’m better now that you are back. You are still as handsome as ever. How about you coming over to my place for old-time sake?” She pushed up against him again, “I will never forget the way you made me feel.”

As I watched, Cheryl got on her tippytoes and planted her lips on his and kissed him. Nick tried pushing her off him, but she was like a suction cup clamped onto his lips. I was getting angrier by the second. If anyone was paying attention to me, they’d see I was hyperventilating. Instead of grabbing her by her fake hair piece, pulling her off him, and pushing her to the ground, I turned and walked back inside. I paced when I went in, trying to calm myself down. I looked up when the door opened, and Axel leaned against the door laughing.

“Mom, you missed the best part. Nick told her she better start running because his wife just went inside for her gun. That woman got out of here so fast. I can still hear Jax laughing.”

I chuckled. The thought of him sticking up for me warmed my heart. “How’s the outside coming along?”

He gave me the eye to say he knew I was changing the topic, before answering, “I’m all finished. I’m going home to shower. I’ll see you when you get home.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a little bit. Can you please put the bread I have on the counter in the oven? Grandpa wants me to bring some tonight.”

“Will do. See you later, Mom.”

“Get home safe, sweetheart.”

I swept and mopped the floors, walked around, and admired everything.My ovens will come on Tuesday. I can’t wait.I soon locked up and walked outside. Nick was leaning on the wall.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Nick, I’m sorry I got paint all over you. But I was shocked to see you standing there.”

“I was pretty shocked myself. I didn’t know it was your shop until I saw you on that ladder.”

“Are you all settled in your house?”

“Yes. I had someone come over and help me. My ex-in-laws are there right now as well. They are moving into their home next week. Do you want to go to dinner with me tonight?”

“I can’t. I’m going to Gramps’ tonight. Why don’t you and Julia come to dinner there tonight?”

“Don’t you think people will get the wrong idea? I mean, if we go to your family’s house for dinner. Won’t they get the wrong idea?”

“What do you mean?”

“They’ll think we are together as a couple.”

What an ass. What does he think we did in Italy? So he doesn’t want anyone to know about us. But he wants to take me out. Does he only want to get some on the side? What a jerk.“We don’t want them to come to that conclusion. Nick, it was just an invite. There were no strings attached. Now I need to hurry home. My bread is in the oven, plus I have to make some fruit salad for dessert.” I knew Axel would have taken the bread out, but Nick didn’t have to know that.

“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

“Hey, I’m not offended. I understand. But if we went to dinner, what if someone had seen us out eating dinner?”

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