Page 12 of The Cost of a Bride
“Well, I appreciate that,” I reply. “But I was already thinking of how poorly I handled things that night. And you can tell her that when you see her. That I’m sorry. It was her first time, and I should have focused on making her feel comfortable.”
“Maybe you should tell her yourself,” Alyssa suggests with a shrug. “Don’t you think it’s about time you accept her for the super sexy, nineteen-year-old woman she is and get over yourself?”
I can’t help but laugh as the bartender puts another whiskey ginger in front of me. I tilt my head and raise my eyebrows as I take a sip. “You know, you’ve got a point,” I reply. “I’ve done nothing but think about her every night for the last fourteen days.”
“There we go.” She smiles, slipping a piece of paper in front of me. “This is her number. You call, she’ll answer.”
“I wish it was that easy,” I say. “If the school finds out I’m dating an ex-student, they’ll fire my ass so quick–”
“You’re a great teacher, aren’t you?” Alyssa asks. “Summer’s coming up. There’s a teacher shortage apparently. I’m sure if you tried hard enough you could find yourself another school to teach at.”
With that, she gets up from her stool, pats me on the back, and heads for the door. “She misses you,Russ. You miss her too, don’t you?”
I nod immediately. “Yes.”
“So what’s there to think about?”
She turns her back on me and walks away.
What indeed?
7
Nikki
I don’t knowhow much longer I can sit here moping around in my bedroom before I turn into a slug. The last two weeks have been abysmal, consisting of nothing more than Chex Mix, Netflix, and my favorite pair of pajama pants. If the men from the mansion could see me now…
I haveMr. Hartfordto thank for this. I might as well refer to him as that, right? If he can’t stop thinking of me as Nikki Wilson, his former student, then why shouldn’t I think of him as anything else than Mr. Hartford, my former teacher? Maybe that will help stop all the pain I’ve been going through over the last fourteen days while I sit here wishing he would get in contact with me.
The next step is going to be to get arealjob. But what will that be? I don’t even know, but I sure won’t be going back to the mansion anymore. Not now that my dad’s debts are paid off.
I told him this will be the last time I go to work for him, and he looked at me like he understood. It won’t be the last time he gambles, though. I know that. But I won’t set foot in that place again – not in front of those men. Alyssa can do what she wants; she always had a stronger will than me when it came to things like that. I’m finished.
Maybe I’ll waitress, or go work at the movie theater. Anything would be better than having to deal with those men who think they run the world or think they own me.
My phone rings and I glance at it to see a number I don’t recognize. Normally, I wouldn’t answer, but for some reason tonight I do.
“Hello?”
“Nikki.” My heart skips a beat at the sound of Russell’s voice. I sit up in bed, feeling dumbstruck.
“How – how did you get my number?” But I immediately know the answer. Alyssa.
“I’m downstairs,” he replies. “You wanna let me in?”
I rocket to my feet and look at myself in my full-length mirror. Panic immediately floods through my body. “Give me five minutes!”
The next five minutes are a whirlwind of me doing my hair and makeup, ditching my pajama bottoms and sweatshirt for a pair of short-shorts and a cute-top, and cleaning my room like I’m back in middle school and my mom is coming in for an inspection.
Then, with my heart pounding and my adrenaline racing, I re-dial Russell’s number. He answers on the second ring.
“All set?” I can hear the smile in his tone.
“Yes,” I reply as I take the stairs down to the front door. “But I had no idea you were coming over, okay? So don’t judge me.”
“Don’t worry, Nikki. I’m sure you look just as gorgeous as you always do.”
I feel myself melting inside as I unlock the door, but I still need to take a deep breath before I pull it open.