Page 92 of Until Now

“You have a visitor,” Michaela singsongs walking past my office to her own.

Without looking, “Busy, take a message.”

“Should only take a few minutes.” At the sound of his voice, I look up from my computer.

What is he doing here?

“What’s all this?” I point to the load in his arms.

Nick holds up my black and white striped knitted cardigan, the one I had been wearing the day I found Jimmy. “Well, figured I should return this. You left it at the hospital.” But, it’s the bouquet tucked in the crook of his arm that catches my eye. White roses, sunflowers, mums, and daisies. “And, I might’ve heard it was your birthday.”

I blush when he sets the bouquet in front of me, next to it a coffee from Java, and a cupcake from Dani’s Cupcakes. I pick up the bouquet and take a deep breath inhaling their fresh scent. “These are stunning.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”

“I could use a quick break.” I sit in one of the chairs in front of my desk picking at the cupcake. “Sit, I have a few minutes.” I don’t, but I’m not ready to let him go. For some reason, this feels like more than just a casual birthday drop in. It feels like goodbye. “How have you been, Fossette?”

“Fine, just busy. Dad got home last week. He’s started going for walks in the morning with Alex and he hates it.”

“That’s not surprising,” I laugh. I think about the conversation with Daddy from this morning. We should talk, but it’s not a good time. I don’t want to spend my birthday rehashing the last few months. And, I have one million other things to deal with on the other side of that screen on my desk. The silence envelopes us, neither knowing what to say, afraid to say the wrong thing. “Well, thank you for returning my sweater and the gifts, but I need to get back to work. I have to get ready to go to Nashville.”

“Yeah, I should probably get back to the garage.”

“Nin,” Michaela knocks on the door. “Angela’s calling. Said it’s a 9-1-1. I tried, but she won’t talk to me.”

I sigh and meet Nick's stare. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. We’ll talk later.”

I want to believe him, but I don’t.

Nick pulls me to him tightly, almost like he’s memorizing the feel of me against him. He presses his lips to the crown of my head, lingering there longer than just a friendly peck. “Happy birthday, Princess,” he mumbles against my skin and leaves.

Chapter Fifty-Two

FIVE WEEKS LATER

“Daddy!” I burstthrough the door of his office followed by his assistant. I’ve never seen her before, she must be new, some impression I’m making on her. That thought long forgotten — the scene inside my father’s office makes my blood boil. What ishedoing here?

“I’m sorry, Mr. Villa. I couldn’t stop her,” his assistant panics beside me.

“It’s okay, Jenna. Just close the door on your way out.” Daddy reassures her and she looks between us before quietly closing the door.

“Che cazzo ci fai qui?” I hiss.

“Nina.” Daddy tries to stop me, but I’ve already reached my target.

Nicholas Davis.

He sits in the leather chair across from my father refusing to cower to the ticking time bomb in front of him. His lips pulled into a firm line, he tries to exude an air of confidence, but I see through it.

“How can you sit here like you haven’t been lying to us — to me — for months?”

“Nina, per favore,” Daddy pleads.

“Pensavi davvero che non l'avrei scoperto? Did you think you could play nice and maybe, if I found out, I would just forgive you perché eravamo ‘amici?’”

“Davina. Abbastanza.”

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