“Nick?” I yelled. I didn’t chase after him because I still wasn’t convinced it was him. I hadn’t seen him for months, so trusting my body’s awareness of him was a foolish thing to do.
As a sticky breeze swept across my nape, goosebumps prickled my arms. The wind wasn’t the cause of their brisk arrival; it was my body begging for me not to give up. And that’s how we reached this point. My body is overruling both my head and my heart, and there isn’t a single thing either of them can do about it.
I stop fighting the inevitable by kicking off my high heels. After gathering them in my hands, I jog down the scary unlit street. The padding of my feet is barely heard over my raging heart.
“Nick!” I call out again, louder this time.
I stop when he stops, then the entire world stops when he spins around to face me.It is him.
“I knew it was you.” I stare at him, confused as to why he would turn up after all this time. “What are you doing here—in New York?” I’m suddenly aware he may not be here for me.
My panic fades when he answers, “I wanted to talk to you.”
I’m about to reply that he could have just picked up the phone, but I realize that wouldn’t have done him any good. I stopped answering his calls a long time ago.
Stepping forward, he reaches out to rub my earlobe. It takes all my strength not to sigh over his touch. That’s nothing compared to the battle I face when he murmurs, “I’ve missed you, Jen.”
My heart rate kicks up a gear, but the crushing blow I felt months ago keeps me from getting too excited.
“Can we talk?”
My head screams obscenities at my heart, but my body nods before either of them can be heard. Just as he grips my hand within his, a raindrop hits my right cheek. I peer up at the sky, which is blackened with large, dark storm clouds.
When my eyes shoot back to Nick, he smiles before using his thumb to rub away the large blob of moisture running down my face. I can tell by the sparkling glint in his eyes that his brain is playing the same memory mine is currently running. One of the last dates we had before I left for college was at Bronte’s Peak. A massive storm rolled in before we had finished climbing the trillion stairs on the cliff’s edge. By the time we made it back to Nick’s truck, we were saturated from head to toe and laughing like hyenas. There’s nothing overly funny about being caught in a storm, but that day still rates as one of the most fun dates I’ve ever had. It was the first time Nick truly let his guard down. I finally got to see the person he hides behind a handsome face and a panty-wetting body.
That was the day I fell madly, deeply in love with him.
My focus returns to the present when Nick smiles a knee-weakening grin. “Do you want to get wet or do a runner?”
The loud crack of thunder above my head should answer his question on my behalf, but just in case it doesn’t, I squeal, “Run!”
I hate storms in general, so the idea of being outside during one absolutely petrifies me. As the heavens open up to drench the humid night, I sprint as quickly as my mini dress allows. When Nick follows closely behind me, the huge smile stretched across his face slows my steps.
When he catches up to me—and before I have a chance to protest—he throws me over his shoulder like he did at the Dungeon months ago. I squeal loudly before ensuring my panties are hidden from anyone who may be walking in the pouring rain.
By the time we make it inside my apartment building, we’re saturated and grinning broadly. He lowers me to my feet to accept the towels the doorman is holding out for us. My curious eyes float between Nick and the doorman. I doubt they’ve met before, but they have a weird vibe bouncing between them. Sure it’s because Nick and I look like drowned rats, I accept a towel from George before using it to dry my hair. Nick follows suit, but he dries his body instead of his head.
The battle between my head and heart starts all over again when my eyes drink in the way his ripped jeans and blue polo shirt are clinging to his fit frame. Add the exciting visual of his practically naked body to the ringlets of blond hair edging his handsome face, and you’ve got a perfect panty-messing disaster.
Not wanting to be busted ogling him like a freak, I shift my eyes to the side. On the way, I catch sight of the time on the large clock hanging in the foyer. It’s nearly one AM. Allowing my heart to win this round with hope that by tomorrow my head will convince my heart this isn’t a good idea, I shift on my feet to face Nick. “Did you want to come up?”
When he nods, my heart flips crazily in my chest. I hotfoot it to the elevator, needing to distract myself again. After handing our soaked towels to George, Nick enters the elevator cart. I push my desired floor before moving to the far back corner. Even though he’s barely in my eyesight, I can see Nick’s smile reflecting in the stainless steel panels on the elevator doors. I swear I’ve never seen him smile so much.
“What hotel are you staying at?” I keep my tone friendly, praying it will hide the effect his closeness is having on my body.
My knees curve inwards when he replies, “I was hoping I could stay with you.”
My eyes rocket to his. When he grins a full-toothed smile, I force my attention to the elevator dashboard. I need to concentrate on anything other than his captivatingly handsome face before months of hard work come undone. I don’t date players; I’m not even friends with them, so they sure as hell don’t get invited for sleepovers.
When he leans closer to me, his yummy aftershave destroys my defenses. Hating that I’m reneging so quickly, I snap, “You’re sleeping on the couch.”
The elevator doors pop open at the same time his boisterous chuckle rumbles through my core. Ignoring the shake of my thighs, I make a beeline for my apartment. I flick on the lights, illuminating my small but adequate one-bedroom abode before pivoting to face Nick. “I’m going to change my clothes.”
Not waiting for him to reply, I charge into my room. I take my time showering and getting changed, needing a few minutes to center myself. I’m still dazed, certain I’m dreaming.
Once I’m dressed in comfy pants and a fitted shirt, I pace out of my bathroom. When I spot Nick standing in my living room, I nearly bolt back in for a cold shower. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of light blue cotton boxer shorts and a smug grin. His physique has changed a lot since the last time I saw him naked. By change, I mean he's added a nice amount of muscles to his athletic build. His washboard abs now have six precise bumps in the middle of them, and the width of his biceps has nearly doubled.
I stalk him from my post by the bathroom door. He moseys around my living room, taking in every detail of the space in true Nick form. It's only once he picks up the photo I have of him on the mantel do I span the distance between us. “I forgot to take that down.”
