Page 48 of Timelessly Ours
I may not be Mary Poppins, and I’m likely to screw up again, but no one can deny me my friendship with this girl.
And the fact that she was just ripping off the band-aid because she thought my leaving was inevitable…breaks my heart.
“Let’s rinse you off.”
13
The other night, I took a tone with her only my players, occasionally my assistant and certain reporters get to hear from me.
That raw, unfiltered fury that unleashes when I’m provoked. When I’m challenged by someone who thinks they know better.
And dammit if I don’t love the way she fights back. The way she doesn’t cower. Sure, I’d gotten the cold shoulder all day but if she taught me anything last night, it’s that she’s not one to be threatened.
Nicole went straight to her room after putting Rory to bed—at eight-thirty, no doubt avoiding me. I waited for her to come downstairs. To be grown up and talk to me. Hell, if nothing else, to gloat that whatever she’s been doing with Rory—and yes, including the whole backyard mess—is working.
But she never came down.
On Saturday morning, I’m lifting weights in my gym by seven. Rory will be up soon, and I want to spend as much time with her this weekend since we’re traveling to play in Seattle next weekend.
Moving to the elliptical, I try not to spend too much time wondering what Nicole discussed with her therapist during her visit yesterday. I try not to be offended that I didn’t know about it. Not that I had a right to after I was a dick to her and set a clock on her time here.
My gut twists every time I think about it.
An apology is definitely in order, but I’m not sure how much I’m ready to bend my rules. I despise lies so that needs to stop.
But I suppose I could make it easier for her to be truthful.
When I’ve worked up enough of a sweat, I grab a towel and toss it around my neck. I’m in my gym shorts and black tank. There’s a shower down here, but I don’t bother with it, since I may just go for a run with Rover in a bit.
I make my way to the kitchen to start breakfast when I hear the coffee machine already brewing. Nicole has her back to me, making pancake batter—or trying to.
“You’re up early,” I say.
Jumping, she turns.
“I’m sorry,” I offer quickly and pull out my earphones. “I’ve had these in for the past hour so I’m a little loud.”
Nicole blinks but doesn’t respond. Big green eyes scan me sultrily. Her lips part and she quickly spins back to the bowl on the counter. “It’s fine,” she breathes.
I shouldn’t be satisfied with that reaction. But I am.
And I need more of it.
“Really, I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say softly, unable to keep myself from moving toward her. “But Rory won’t be up for a bit, I thought you might want to sleep in for a change.”
Against my better judgement, I gently twist her to face me. Because I’m sick of being ignored.
By her.
I hate that she can’t look at me. That I pushed her to that point.
Her breath hitches and she stares at my chest before lifting her chin. And just when I’m expecting her to push me off her and tell me how inappropriate I’m being, she breathes me in.
Can she see the way my heart beats for her?
Does she know what she’s doing to me?
Blinking, she breaks free and moves to a paper bag on the kitchen island. She pauses for a moment before pulling something out. It rattles like a bottle of pills.