Page 70 of Until Now

“Nick,” I sigh. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Dee…”

“Look, I’m sorry. I just… Maybe we should just leave it. I don’t—”

He kisses me. Hard and breathtaking, it reignites the fire in my chest, the same one left to smolder. His fingers tangle in my hair and pull me impossibly close — almost like he’s forgotten how good it feels. How warm and soft…I want more. I need more.

But, we can’t have more.

I push him away, gently, and take one step back. When he reaches for me, I shake my head and run for the elevators.

§

“Nina, open the door,” Nick’s voice comes from the other side of the door. How does he know my room number? I didn’t—

Michaela. Of course, she would give it to him.

“Dee, please.” His voice is soft, pleading. I stare at this side of the door weighing the options. I want to open the door. I want to let him in, but I shouldn’t. How can I let him in when he has a girlfriend in Boston? That doesn’t make me any better than Teagan…

I already miss the feeling of his lips on mine.

I’m going to regret this.

It’s going to end with heartbreak, but who's, I’m not entirely sure. With a deep breath, I unchain the door. Meeting his stare through a small crack, I’m goner and he knows it. Nick pushes the door the rest of the way. He kisses me and kicks the door.

“Nick,” I mumble against his lips. “Nick, wait.” I can’t do this, it’s not right. I don’t want to be like Teagan. I tug my fingers through my hair trying to find the words. “I-I can’t, I can’t do it. I won’t put someone through this. I have been here and I won’t do it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your girlfriend.”

“What girlfriend?”

“That girl in Boston, Alex told Michaela you’re seeing someone.”

He almost laughs. “Sheyenne? Nina, Shey is not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”

“That was her last night, wasn’t it? At the bar. You got a phone call—”

“No, Nina.” It’s stern. “No, that wasn’t her.”

“Who was it?” His eyes shift around the room trying to look anywhere but me. “Why did you act so weird? I mean, when we walked to the bar, things seemed okay, but after that, you got the call…You were weird.”

“I-I…” Fingers scrub down his face and pinch the bridge of his nose. “It was… Look, it wasn’t her. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

“Who was it, Nick?”

He hesitates, “Alex.”

“Okay,” I scoff. “Say that I believe you, that it was Alex — who was in the bar, by the way. That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been seeing this girl.”

“I’m not seeing anyone. Shey is nothing but a friend. Just someone to talk to. An outsider's perspective on things, I’m just trying to figure everything out.”

“Interesting way of doing it.”

“She is not my girlfriend, Davina.”

Then, why does everyone else seem to think otherwise?

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