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Marcus laughed louder than necessary. “You’re a smart ass, you know that? But that’s a good idea. I don’t need to get her anything at all except myself!”
Nik gave the woman some money and took his purchase, hoping to get away from Marcus as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Marcus followed him, uncaring that Nik was obviously trying to get rid of him.
“Will you be at the bar tonight? I could use a wingman.”
A wingman. He has a wife and he still hits on women. Disgusting piece of trash.
“No. I’m busy.”
“Busy? With what?”
“With…” Nik looked around waiting for a good excuse to fall out of the sky. Then he spotted his exit across the street. “With Sam. Yeah, he needs my help with something. In fact, I need to go chat with him right now.”
Nik could feel Marcus’s eyes following him as he crossed the street. He wanted to head straight home, but now he was forced to make more small talk. Socializing was exhausting and he didn’t have the energy for it.
“Hey, Sam!” He made a show of it and was delighted when he looked back to see Marcus heading off in the opposite direction.
“Hey, Nik.” Sam was browsing some sketch pads. He had one in hand, but put it back in a drawer with a heavy sigh. Paper was an expensive item around here, but Nik knew how much Sam liked to draw. “I was hoping I’d run into you.”
“You were?” They didn’t speak much outside of work.
“Yeah. You know, when you recommended Eli for the position, I would’ve assumed you’d already spoken to him about it. He was totally caught off guard. Turned down the job. Right in front of Jameson, of all people.” He turned to look at Nik, expecting an explanation.
“He turned it down?” Nik was genuinely surprised. This was a terrible turn of events. That position was supposed to help Eli. It was supposed to get him closer to escaping. Having someone positioned on the wall would’ve helped them immensely. How could he turn it down?
He thought Eli would’ve loved the opportunity to get away from Nik. Although perhaps he was sticking around for Ali. He hadn’t talked to Eli beforehand because he didn’t want to be punched again, but that might’ve been a mistake. Maybe it would’ve been better to give him a heads up. His initial plan to get them out took a hit.
“Yes, he turned it down. I don’t think Jameson was pleased at all.”
Great. Nik was setting records for how many people could be upset with him at once.
“I’ll talk to him. See if I can get him to change his mind. I really didn’t consider that he might turn it down, but then again, he is a total idiot.” He chuckled, but Sam wasn’t amused. When Sam didn’t respond, he continued, “All right, well, I’ll see you around.”
His house was quiet when he reached it. His living room was covered in darkness, and it wasn’t the first time he’d felt entirely alone and empty in his own home.
Nik hadn’t always been so closed off. He used to have friends. He’d been quite popular as a kid and in his teens, he’d been highly sought after by the young ladies in town. It wasn’t a singular incident that had changed him overnight.
First, it was his mom getting sick. He had spent less time with friends so he could help take care of her and take on more responsibility around the house.
Then his dad died, and although their relationship had been tumultuous, his death had affected Nik more than he wanted to admit. He didn’t know how to talk about his conflicting emotions with the people around him, so he put on a fake smile while he was out with friends, but then came home to an empty house just like this most nights. It had taken its toll. He’d grown accustomed to being alone. It was easier than keeping up the facade around others.
He’d had a girlfriend at the time, but he’d built walls faster than she could break through them. He’d known he was pushing her away, but he hadn’t been able to help himself. It had felt right to be alone and wrong to let anyone in.
That’s why Ali was so intriguing. She was the first person he’d met in a long time who he actually wanted to open up to. He wanted to know about her, but he also felt compelled to share about himself. It was a terrifying and blissful feeling. Like jumping off a cliff. He couldn’t let go of that feeling. Couldn’t let go of her. He was a different person when he was with her.
He had a glimpse of what life might look like with her in it. Sharing a house. Sharing a bed. Chatting in the mornings with a hot tea, snuggling close on the sofa, perhaps a child in the spare bedroom. For once, he’d let himself have hope for a future where he didn’t have to grow old alone.
Nik skipped dinner that night. His stomach was so knotted, he didn’t have an appetite. Instead, he went to bed early. The scent of Ali lingered on his pillows even weeks after she had been there, and it was all he had of her for now. He’d get her back, though. He was sure of it.
***
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ali’s days dragged on without Nik or Eli to keep her company. Eli still kept her at a distance, although he had stopped pretending to sleep when she visited him. It was an improvement. Their conversations were awkward and forced, but he was healing physically and she hoped he was healing emotionally, too. She was optimistic.
Nik, on the other hand, continued to watch her from the corner of the greenhouse every single day. It had been weeks since he had showed up at her cell after his mission and they hadn’t spoken since.
Her chest tightened at the thought of him.
