Page 136 of Timelessly Ours
My shoulders relax. “Oh, sweetie. Being friends with me is like being in the mob. There’s only one way out…”
“You’re going to beat me up?”
“No. Death.”
She scrunches her nose. “I forget how dark you are.”
I’m wearing black leggings and a Blades jersey tonight. The one with Nick’s number and the Kane name on the back. Not his.
I knock on the door and inhale sharply.
My heart lurches when I hear a sharp, “What is it?”
I push the door lightly and step in. Coach’s hard features soften instantly, and he freezes mid-stride. By the looks of it, he’d been pacing his office.
He looks amazing. Sharp suit, gleaming blue eyes, and a heart-melting grin that spreads at the sight of me.
“Nicole!” Rory races up to me dropping several bags of caramel popcorn.
“Hi, sweetie.” I embrace her, fighting tears. “You look so pretty.” I smooth her hair and stand. “Come on, Angel is right outside. I think we’re interrupting,” I add in a whisper.
“You’re not,” Royce blurts. “Perry, we’ll catch up later. Would you mind taking Rory outside to her sister?”
That’s when I notice the tall thin pretty-looking boy seated with a notepad at the desk. He nods dutifully and stands.
“Are…are you Nicole Kane?”
“Um…yes.”
He huffs out an excited breath. “Is it true you can do a jumping sidekick, like they do in movies?”
I laugh. “No. It’s just a sidekick. I don’t jump for anyone.”
Rory picks up the last of the popcorn bags and hands them to Perry.
“Wait, Nicky, we have a present for you.” She lifts her sleeve revealing two beaded bracelets. The light pink one I gave her. And another one.
She pulls the bright yellow one off her hand and stretches it over mine. “Daddy and I made this one. So you could always feel safe too.”
I feel him watching me as I run a finger over it. “It’s so pretty. Thank you.” I hug her once more since I don’t know when I’ll get to do this again.
“Can we be bracelet buddies?”
“I’m not supposed to make promises anymore, but I promise we’re buddies forever,” I whisper.
Rory smiles back at me. “I know. Will you come spend Christmas with us?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. I’m moving back to my apartment in a few days and might need some time to settle in.”
Rory looks at her father as if he might have told her something different. Poor thing must have so many questions.
I turn her back to me. "But I'll come hang out with you soon." Then I hold up my bracelet, clinking it with hers.
She wraps her arms around me. “I love you.”
I choke. My words are caught in my throat, but thankfully, she doesn’t wait for it before she skips to the door.
“Come on, Perry. I can do the sidekick too. I’ll show you outside.”