She nods. “Did you need something?” She’s grinning as though she knows a secret.
I rock back on my heels, feeling the awkwardness creep its way back in.
She grunts, opening her purse and producing exactly what I came for. “Your face gave you away,” she says, holding it between two fingers. “There’s more in the top drawer,” she says, motioning her head toward the lone dresser in her room. “Get it, girl.”
She hands me the condom, smiling wide as she walks past me, leaving me standing in her room as she makes her way down the hall.
I sigh. At least she won’t be here, and Nina’s asleep.
I grab a couple more from the drawer just to be safe and rush back to my room, finding Nick on his back, peering up at the ceiling.
I close the door quietly, making my way to join him on the bed.
He turns toward me when he feels the bed dip. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Lanie was headed out for the night. She’s going with Adeana to some club.”
“Adeana?” Nick asks, sounding a tad skeptical.
“The blonde you met briefly. Her parents own the place. They’re meeting her friends.”
He nods as if this news satisfies his concern.
A loud, obnoxious yawn breaks free from me, signaling to Nick that I’m beyond exhausted. And I am. I didn’t sleep last night, and it’s caught up with me.
Nick pulls me against him, kissing the top of my head. “You should sleep.”
“No,” I whine. “I’m fine.”
Nick tries to cover his own yawn, but it’s no use. I can see how exhausted he is too. His eyes are glassy, and the lines around his eyes are more pronounced than usual.
“Looks like we’re both beat,” I say, chuckling. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? I get to hold you all night.” He grins. “Sweetheart, I’m not disappointed to sleep next to you. Not one bit.” He places a kiss on my mouth, allowing his lips to linger for a moment. “There will be plenty of nights for us. Tonight, let’s sleep.”
We get ourselves comfortable, me curled into Nick’s side as his breathing evens out. He was more tired than he let on, and I’m happy I didn’t push. He’s right—we have all the time in the world to be together intimately. There’s no rush. This right here, me being snug tight in Nick’s arms, is all I need.
25
Ten of Pentacles
As we pullup to 123 Magnolia Avenue, Ian’s home, I can feel Nina’s tension thickening, morphing into a cloud of doubt and fear.
Nina, Lanie, and I stare up at the regal Greek Revival home, quiet and contemplative.
The place stands proudly amidst a canopy of sprawling oak trees, ivy gracefully climbing the walls, adding a touch of rustic charm. Its imposing façade, a pristine white hue that appears recently painted, keeps the place timeless. The towering columns and pedimented portico evoke a sense of grandeur and elegance. It’s the type of home that makes New Orleans’s Garden District so special.
“What if it’s not him?” Nina murmurs softly, continuing to look forward.
“Then we keep looking,” Lanie declares, and I nod my head in solidarity with that plan.
“What if it is and he turns me away?”
I shift my gaze to Nina’s profile, observing the delicate lines etched around her right eye, and the subtle downturn of her lips.There’s a sense of vulnerability in the way her features soften, as if revealing a glimpse of the inner turmoil she may be experiencing.
“Then I’ll rap him upside the head,” Lanie vows.
I lean forward, shooting her a disgruntled look. “There will be no rapping. We’re not Richard,” I snap.
