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I grab a few grapes from the refrigerator and pop them in my mouth. “Not really. We don’t talk about it. I barely even remember it. As far as Mo, it’s not awkward at all. In fact, things are really quite comfortable between us. We seem to get along as well as we always did.”
“Have you had a chance to talk to her about everything yet?”
“Nah. The time hasn’t been right. But I will.”
“Talk to who about what?” Nikki asks, sauntering back into the room.
Coop rolls his eyes. “Nosy much?”
“I’m his manager. I’m allowed to be nosy.”
“We were talking about Mo.”
“Ah,” she says, nodding slowly. “The woman who runs Animal Haven.”
Coop clears his throat. “She also happens to be the first girl our boy here ever loved.” He nudges my good arm.
“Is that right?” Nikki pulls a tight smile and plugs her phone into the charger. “Just don’t get too cozy. You won’t be here long, Rhett.”
I could probably go home now if I wanted. I’ve only been here a few days, and I’ve already proven I can do most things on my own. It might take me a little longer, but I get them done. And as for the concussion, I think it’s safe to say I’m back to my old self. I’ve had none of the symptoms Dr. Simpson told me to watch out for.
But it’s funny—I was dreading coming back here, but now I’m in no hurry to leave.
“Too late for that. I’ve got Mo helping with the dogs and Coop cooking for me every night, so I’ll probably never leave,” I joke. “Speaking of food, let’s hit up Dirty Dicks for dinner.”
“Actually, you won’t be going anywhere, handsome. I didn’t come all this way to go have dinner at a bar,” Nikki says. “I came here so we could talk about how we’re going to handle your career.”
I cock an eyebrow. “My career, huh? The way I see it, my career is on hold until I rehab this shoulder. And don’t act like you drove across the country to see me, Nikki. It probably took you two hours to get here.”
I grab Coop’s keys, but Nikki snags them out of my hand. She tosses them to Coop. “Sit down, Rhett.”
“I’m not a child, Nikki. Quit treating me like one.”
“You know what?” Coop tosses a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna head out, give you two some time to talk.” He walks past me and leans in close. “She’s not staying here.”
“I know,” I mumble, glaring at Nikki.
The door shuts behind him, and I pull out a chair and drop down, but I refuse to say a word. I’m so goddamn pissed at Nikki for showing up unannounced and talking to me the way she did in front of my brother. If I open my mouth, I’ll likely say something I’ll regret. As much as I hate Nikki right now, she’s the best manager in the market—aside from her father—and I can’t risk losing her.
“You’ve been ignoring my calls.” She pulls out a chair and sits across from me.
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve had one PT appointment.”
I lift a brow. “You checking up on me?”
“It’s my job to check up on you.” She sighs. “And you aren’t making my job very easy. Cut me a break, Rhett. Your career is my business. Your success is my business.”
I grit my teeth. “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
“Give me a little credit; I’m not all business. I was calling because even though you’re my client, you’re also my friend.”
She places her hand on mine, running her thumb along my knuckles. Her voice and face soften, and I start to feel bad for being such a dick because she’s right; we are friends. She was my first friend when I moved away from home, and even after we slept together, we remained close. She might be a bitch most days, but she always has my back.
“I wanted to make sure you were doing okay, and when you wouldn’t return my calls, I decided to come see for myself.”
I pull my hand out from under hers. For some reason it feels wrong, like I’m cheating on Mo, which is absurd because she’s no longer mine to cheat on. And anyway that’s her department. Still, it doesn’t feel right.
