AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This can’t be happening.
My fingers tremble as I dump out the contents of my bag onto a nearby bench. I take inventory of the items, but an overwhelming urge to sob comes over me.
No. I haven’t cried in years—almost a decade—and I won’t let Nico’s carelessness or an attack from a selfie stick defeat me.
My thoughts scramble together until I remember the last time I used my wallet.
The cafe.
I glance around the street, hoping to spot something familiar.
Now, where the hell is the cafe?
I gulp down another tsunami-sized wave of panic and force myself to my feet.
Thinking I could rely on Nico was a mistake. Hell, it’s starting to feel like this entire trip was amistake.
* * *
“Nico?”I thrash open the door to our hotel suite, the knob ricocheting off the wall.
That’ll definitely need a repair.
Whatever. Nico can afford it.
The hum of music blasts from his room.
I knew the benefits of our new arrangement were going to turn into liabilities. How could I let myself be fooled by him so easily?
I march in, wade through piles of discarded clothing, then storm my way into his bathroom. I rip open the shower curtain. The cotton fabric tears straight from the bar.
“Oh, so you are fucking alive?”
Nico tilts his head toward me, his naked body covered in suds. “Hey, Lil.” He smirks his annoying smirk.
I’ve just had the worst afternoon of my life. And this is only weeks after a man collapsed while inside me, I failed a class, and got fired all on the same day.
“You coming in?” Nico beams at me.
“Are you dense? Of course I’m not going to join you.” I turn the nozzle to the coldest setting and look him straight in the eye. “I’m leaving.”
His eyes sprout open. “W-what?”
Not granting him an explanation, I torpedo out of his room. I don’t know if there’s a flight to New York today, but I’ll pay whatever to get out of here.
I need to go home.
“What happened?” Nico yells after me. The question strikes searing-hot rage into my blood.
“What happened?Are you serious?” I whip around. He’s wrapped in a towel around his still-damp body and is lazily slumped against his doorframe like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “You promised you were going to meet me today, Nico. Three fucking hours ago. You can’t cancel plans when they’re in the middle of happening.”
“Oh, Lily, I didn’t think it was a big deal. Marcelo asked for help, and I—I don’t know. I didn’t want to leave him hanging, but I guess I completely lost track of time. You know I’m not good with my phone.”
“You could’ve texted me sooner.” I try to calm the spell of anger. “I get that you wanted to help your friend, but I’m your friend too.”
Nico staggers back at the eruption. “What happened to your nose?”
“Someone hit me.”
