Still holding on to Gage, I say with a smile, “It really is good to see you.Is it me or do you keep getting better looking every time I see you?”He looks like Nick, but the laid back and relaxed version, with beautiful green eyes and a killer smile.
“It’s not you.I think the same thing every time I pass a mirror.”
“Oh really!”I laugh.“As adorable as you are, all those girls crushing on you need to start clipping your wings because your head is way up in the clouds.Or you need to stop puffing on the I’m-so-full-of-myself trees, ’cause you’re hallucinating.”
He laughs with me, saying, “I’m too adorable and persuasive for the first part to happen but the second part you might be right about, but I have that well under control.”Then he turns serious.“Seriously though, I heard about what happened, are you okay?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Are you sure?Because I’ll kick his ass for you.He’s my brother, and he might have a few pounds of muscle on me, but I’m pretty sure I can take him.We’ll double-team him—it’ll be like old times.”
Smiling, I tell him, “Thanks.I don’t think that’ll be necessary today, but the next time he messes up, you’re at the top of my list.”
“Gage, get your hands off her and back away,” Nick demands, walking toward us.
“Don’t worry, I won’t steal her away from you this time.”
“Right, I’m sweating bullets.Come on, let’s go.By the way, didn’t I take my keys back?”
“Yeah, about that, I thought it was best I make a second set to do a sweep of the place when you’re away.Can’t be too safe; you never know when an unwanted intruder might turn up.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing at the look Nick gives him.“I’m taking back my keys again.Don’t make a third set, or I’ll be forced to give our father a rundown of all the things you’ve been up to.”
“See how he treats me, Cat?This is why I won’t feel guilty when we run off together and I make you one of my concubines, doing your best Miley impression, twerking around the clock for me.”
I cover my face with my hands, shaking my head, picturing myself twerking.I hear a loud clap, Gage’s laughter, then Nick’s voice.“Let’s go, get your ass out of my house.”
God, I love those two.I have a lot to think about.I need to admit some things to myself and stop avoiding them, mainly Nick.I head to the shower to try to clear my head of all the thoughts and feelings I can’t run from anymore or resist.He is who he is and, being totally honest about it, the bastard that he sometimes is.That’s not all he is; he’s a man with many sides, and he’s never tried to hide them from me or pretend he’s something he’s not.He’s trying, trying for me.I see it in everything he’s done these past weeks: not questioning my choice, giving me space to breathe, and the biggest is not going toe to toe with Matt.I know that wasn’t easy for him, but he respected what I needed to do.I respect that and appreciate it.
Putting on a T-shirt, I go into his room to get the hair dryer and can’t help but stop next to the bed.Seeing it brings back all those memories of the nights we spent making love.Him holding me close, kissing every inch of my body, making me want more of whatever he had to offer, and me taking it without a single strand of regret.Putting the dryer on the dresser, I sit on his bed, running my hands over the cool bedding.Not being able to help myself, I lie down, sinking into his pillow, taking in his clean masculine scent.I close my eyes, hands curled into the pillows, thinking about him and the choices I need to make.
Nick
We take my car toShawn’s studio apartment in Washington Heights to watch the basketball game between the Knicks and the Cavs.It’s supposed to be us and six other guys he works with from his precinct.He said Chris might show but he wasn’t sure.There might be some tension there, but Shawn knows what happened between us and we’ve talked, so he wasn’t too worried about us being in the same room.If he knew Cat was pregnant with my child, though, he wouldn’t let us step foot in his apartment.I don’t know if Matt’s going to show; it slipped my mind to ask him.If he does show up we might be getting arrested then it would be a real guys night for the ages.
When we arrive, I see Chris isn’t there yet.We have a few beers, but I only drink half of mine since I’m driving, then I ask Shawn, “Is Matt coming?”
“Nah.He called a couple minutes ago and said some chick he’s had a thing for asked him out.So he dropped his bros for a chick, the same thing I would do.”
“Really?Did he happen to drop the name of this chick he couldn’t turn down or see after the game?”I say, touching my bottle to my lips.
“Nah, but he must be into her to bail at the last minute, unless he just didn’t want to be in the same space with you.I don’t think that’s it though—he would have just come to fuck with you, seeing as y’all are on the outs these days.”
He’s right about that.The only woman I can think of that would get him to drop out at the last minute is the one I left home alone.I’m going to pop a blood vessel if it is.I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with his ass anymore.The bell rings and Shawn goes to answer it.Maybe I should call Cat, just to check on her, make sure she’s all right.I pull my phone out of my pocket and hit her name.It rings twice, and I look up to see Chris saying hi to the guys and talking to Gage.Damn, why isn’t she picking up?The phone rings out and I call again, with the same result.Dammit.I’m jumping to conclusions; for all I know she could be sleeping or she could have forgotten her phone in another room.Putting my phone back in my pocket, I rub the bridge of my nose, trying to calm my rising fears of losing her to another man.
“Hey, what’s up?”
My head snaps up at Chris’s voice.“Hey, not much.”
“You looked like you were in deep-thought mode.”
“Work-related stuff.”I feel bad about lying to him, but he’d kill me if he knew about Cat.Our friendship is strained enough.When he does find out, I have to be the one to tell him.I have to do it right, if there is a right way to say ‘your twin sister lost my baby but I got your little sister pregnant and I’m trying to make her give me a second chance by convincing her of my undying love.’
“So who you going for tonight?Like I need to ask.”
“You know me, New York Knicks all the way.They let me down a lot, but I still have to hold on to hope for them, they’ll make it to the finals eventually.”
“I know what you mean.Sometimes you just have to hold out hope things will get better.They’ve been through a lot; many have come and gone.You can’t give up, they’re like the friend who fucks up but you know they’re good enough to make it through.They’re worth a second chance, or three or four, just give them time.”
