AllFreeNovel
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So many years later, this was the first time he’d thought of Vicki without a twinge of pain.
“Let’s get out of here.” He breathed in the scent of her skin.
Hayley ran her fingers through his hair. “What’ll I tell them this time?” she teased. “Are you going to go play stuntman again?”
“Shit,” he said, and she laughed. “Can’t pull that two weeks in a row.” He thought about it. “Can we?”
Hayley sat up, smiling as she shook her head. “How about we go back in and play rock star and waitress a little more, huh? We’ll make it fun.”
“You’re amazing.” He kissed her. “I’ll get the walker. You’re the one they need in there.”
“I don’t know.” She winked at him as she fastened her bra. “They’ll probably riot if you don’t sing soon. Hurry back.”
Hayley blew him a kiss as she went out the door, and in that moment, nothing in the world mattered to him but her.
He took his time stepping out of the car, working his way around to the back, unloading the walker. This was a night to be savored, after all. The first of many. There was so much of his life that would be better with her in it. He’d show her his classroom, and she’d join game night at the Becketts’, no question. Maybe Mel would let Uncle Nick and Aunt Hayley take Rosie on adventures.
Nick heard footsteps behind him, and he turned to offer the newcomer a broad smile. Kevin smiled back.
Nick’s stomach dropped so quickly he nearly doubled over. He’d known this would happen. Kevin Albee was here to ruin everything, and Nick wasn’t going to let him.
“Hey, man.” Kevin fished out a pack of cigarettes. “How’re things?”
“Hey, Kevin.” Nick kept his friendly grin as he shut the back door of the car. “What brings you to the Squeaky Lion?”
“I’m picking up Hal.”
Nick’s pulse was thudding in his ears. “In the middle of her shift? Is something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Kevin said cheerfully, flicking his lighter. “I’m getting her back.”
For as much as Nick wanted to stick Kevin’s cigarette deep into his eye, Hayley’s ex hadn’t really done much to him personally, beyond being kind of a shitty friend. There was more to be gained here from staying civil.
Nick said, “She told me you left her.”
“And now I’m back.”
“You think the world stopped in the meantime?”
Kevin laughed, confused. “Of course not.”
“I didn’t get the impression she was waiting for you, Kev.”
“Look, just because I said …” Kevin waved it off. “It doesn’t matter. We had a problem. I fixed it.”
“Except she’s moved on.”
Kevin looked like Nick had just said Hayley had left the planet, but Nick thought he saw some fear too. “Bullshit,” Kevin said.
“You honestly think you fixed everything, don’t you?” Nick shook his head. “It never occurred to you that she’d have a different opinion.”
“It’s barely been a week,” Kevin said. “No way she moved on in seven days.”
“I can’t believe you let her go for seven minutes.”
They glared at each other.
“Wasn’t she hanging out with you?” Kevin found some footing. “She couldn’t be with someone else if she was with you.”
