In an instant, I feel exhausted. Nico sees the way my eyelids flutter with the need for sleep. Wrapping one arm around my waist, he pulls me into his chest and presses a kiss to my hair.
“You won’t leave before I wake up, right?” he asks.
The feel of his embrace and his comforting scent lulls me to sleep before I can do more than shake my head.
I leave before he wakes up.
I hadn’t intended to leave like this, but when my phone chimed with a text from Amara at 6 a.m., reminding me about a location change for my client tonight, the spiral that I was so scared of was immediately triggered.
This date with Nico has gone on for too long. In two days, I’ve managed to completely forget what my life looks like. It’s just sonicebeing with him, I forget that this isn’t my reality.
Myreality is going back to my empty apartment, to my empty degree, and my empty clients.
I move around the bedroom as quietly as possible. Since I brought an overnight bag, I have casual clothes to wear on the train ride back—I don’t think I can stomach an Uber for that longagain—so I leave Nico’s clothes folded neatly on his couch. Then I grab my bag and tip toe out of the room.
The guilt hits before I even reach the kitchen. He did so much for me, and I’m leaving like a regretful one-night stand. He deserves better.
I can’t quite bring myself to turn around and crawl back into bed with him, though—as much as I want to. When I spot a notepad on his refrigerator, I do the next best thing and leave him a note.
Nico,
I’m sorry for leaving so early. I need to get home and I didn’t want to wake you.
Thank you for taking care of me. I’m sorry again for ruining your date plans.
I hesitate for the next part. I’ve been debating giving Nico my phone number, just to take the agency out of the equation, but I haven’t worked up the nerve to do it yet.
Taking a deep breath, I add,
Call me if you feel like chastising me for the million apologies.
xoxo,
Scarlett
And then I scribble my number and book it from the apartment.
It isn’t until I’m already on the train that I realize I never returned the cash he stuffed in my purse that first night.
Regardless of my mental hang-ups over this relationship with Nico, the one thing that’s become clear is that I trust him enough to stop accepting his money.
TWENTY-FIVE
NICO
Unfortunately, waking up to an empty bed doesn’t surprise me.
Sighing, I roll onto my back and stare up at the ceiling.
IknowI made progress with Scarlett. Iknowshe likes me. The time we spent together, how relaxed she was, how playful, how she didn’t push for sex. She let me care for her. Hell, even the fact that she didn’t bolt as soon as she felt better is proof that I’m getting through to her about how I feel.
But it doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting that she left without waking me.
With a groan, I drag myself from my bed. Might as well get my day started.
When I see the note on the counter, it doesn’t register at first what it is. But then I look closer and my heart beats faster.
She left me her number.
