Page 20 of Until Now

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I had been in the kitchen trying to return Michaela’s call from earlier that morning, but naturally, she didn’t answer on the first or second try. As I turned to leave with a fresh bottle of water, I’m face-to-face with Teagan. “Aw, poor Nina. Is your boyfriend ignoring you?”

I did my best to contain my eyes from rolling out of my head. “Can you put on some clothes?” I motioned to Teagan’s outfit — booty shorts and green ruched crop top. Did the girl have to dress so provocatively all the time?

“Don’t want Nicky to see what he’s missing?”

“Trust me, he’s not missing anything.”

“Rumor has it you’re celibate now.”

“That happens when you don’t have a boyfriend for a while and when you don’t jump every guy you see.”

“Never stopped you before.”

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The smile on my face infuriated Teagan. “You better watch it, wouldn’t want Nick to go in search of a real woman.”

“If you’re a real woman, then I don’t want to be one.”

“Davina Bay!” Mother exclaimed from the back stairway and Teagan smirked knowing she had won this round.

“Wonderful,” I mumbled.

“I am so sorry, Teagan,” Mother said, making her way to the kitchen. “You will have to forgive Davina for her behavior.”

“It’s no trouble, really, Mrs. Villa. I know how she can be.” The smile on Teagan’s face was sickening.

“She does have a bit of a temper, doesn’t she?” Mother started to pull out ingredients for a martini. “Come, Teagan. I was just on my way to enjoy a drink on the roof, would you like to join me?”

“That would be delightful!” They took the ingredients leaving me alone in the kitchen as my phone rang, Michaela finally calling back.

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I scan through the words of the book in my hands trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. The thought of what is about to happen makes me more nervous than when I used to sneak around with John. This was one of the rules we set in the beginning, but I can’t let him sleep on the floor one more night, it’s too uncomfortable. And, he refuses to let me sleep down there, so… We’re adults, right? We can manage this.

I keep my eyes on the page when the bathroom door opens, but I can’t focus on the words in front of me. I’ve reread the same sentence ten times at this point. I am accurately aware of exactly where he is as he moves around the room — bathroom…closet…laundry room…bed. He hesitates at the bed. It’s brief, but it’s there. He’s considering sleeping on the floor, unsure how this is going to work.

“It only works if you actually get in it,” I say pretending to read.

“I know.”

“I don’t bite.” Finally, I meet his stare. “Unless you want me to.” I’m not sure where the small bout of confidence came from, but it does the trick. We share a small laugh before Nick climbs under the covers and almost instantly his muscles relax against the plush mattress.

I reread the same sentence for what must be the fiftieth time before finally giving up. Turning off the light, I settle further into bed and the Grand freaking Canyon could fit in the space between us. I haven’t shared a bed with someone in over two years, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like this.

I think we’ve both been dreading this moment since I suggested it earlier, but neither of us wants to be the one to break the silence. It’s not until I hear his soft snores that I realize we’re doing it — sleeping in the same bed, at least one of us anyway. Turning my side, I stare at him in the dark. His features are softer when he sleeps, he almost looks younger without the weight of the world on his mind…

Listening to the sound of his breathing, I feel my body finally start to give in to sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

“You went tosee him again?” I walk into the bedroom trying to find a private place to talk to Elizabeth. She called on her way home from the prison where she tried to see Nate again. Personally, I think she wants to find some closure before she opens the next chapter of her life. She’s happy with Josh, happier than I have seen her in a long time, but I think she’s scared to open herself completely to his family after what happened with her own. “Elizabeth, I know you want him to—”

“You don’t understand, Nin.”

“Nate has made it abundantly clear he doesn’t—”

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