The Philadelphia Series: The Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Taryn Plendl

  I wasn’t used to caring so much. After about ten minutes in my room with the blonde, I realized it wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t want her—I wanted that beautiful redhead down the hall, and I was pretty sure I completely fucked that up. I sent my “sure thing” home, and boy was she pissed!

  I could hear Chelsea crying through her door, and it just about killed me. I just wanted to gather her up in my arms and tell her I was so sorry, but she wouldn’t answer me when I went to her room. I couldn’t blame her. She obviously wanted me to leave her alone. I stood outside of her door, listening to her cry, until I was sure she had fallen asleep. It was only then that I finally went back to my own room.

  ***

  I woke up with the worst headache of my life, and I was pretty sure it had nothing to do with drinking. I jumped in the shower, hoping to be able to catch Chelsea before she left for work.

  Within fifteen minutes, I was dressed and ready for work. I headed out to the kitchen to start the coffee, and realized that she had been there and gone. “Son of a bitch!” I pounded my hand against the counter, flexing it as it throbbed.

  I grabbed my phone and dialed Trevor. I needed some advice.

  “Good morning, Nick.” He was his normal happy self. He and Tom were just sickening with their happy, in-love-all-the-time attitudes. I wasn’t jealous … no, not one bit.

  “Are you at work yet?” I quickly asked.

  “Oh, good morning to you too, Trevor,” he scoffed. My manners were seriously nonexistent at the moment.

  “Shit, Trevor, please. I’m fucking losing it, man,” I groaned. “Have you seen Chelsea this morning?”

  “Yeah, she was here when Ava and I came in.” So, she must have left pretty damn early.

  “Did she say anything about last night?”

  “Nope. Nothing other than answering Ava’s question about her date with Adam.”

  “What did she say about it?” My heart started beating rapidly at the thought of her with him.

  “She just said she had a nice time, but that it was an early night. Didn’t you talk to her?” Trevor questioned me.

  “She was waiting for me when I came home with that girl.” I could hear Trevor sigh.

  “Nick, what the hell are you doing, man? Is this just a game to you? I’m just saying this because for someone who had a nice date last night, she sure looks beat up today.” Trevor sounded annoyed.

  “It’s not a game, Trevor. I just don’t know what I’m doing,” I sighed.

  “Let me ask you something, Nick. Is Chelsea just a friend to you?”

  “No, she’s much more than that,” I confessed.

  “We figured that. You know, Nick, at some point we all have to choose—do we fall back on what we’ve always done, or do we step forward to something new?”

  “What are you saying, Trevor?”

  “I’m just going to lay it out for you, Nick. Don't wait until you've lost a good woman to become a better man.”

  “Thanks, Trevor. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up and poured myself a cup of coffee. How had I fucked this up so badly? My life had been lived by the seat of my pants—carefree and happy—with no commitment to anything other than my friends and family.

  I hadn’t intended to get involved or attached to anyone. I didn’t want anyone dictating how and with whom I spent my time. It had worked for me; fun, happy Nick—making jokes and living life to the fullest. I didn’t want to lose that part of me, but I couldn’t see myself that way anymore without Chelsea by my side. I kept her at arm’s length, careful to not let her get in too close, but it hadn’t worked. I wanted her there—needed her there.

  I was going to find a way to make this right. I needed to talk to her as soon as possible.

  ***

  Two days. I hadn’t seen or talked to Chelsea in two days. How was that even possible when we lived together?

  Last night, she was asleep before I got home from work. Damn end of the fiscal year was keeping me at work later than usual, and I’d missed my chance to talk to her again. This morning, she was up and gone before I’d even woken up.

  I hurried through my workday, determined to make it home at a decent hour. It was Friday night, and I knew Chelsea couldn’t avoid me all weekend. I pulled in and saw her car still in the parking garage.

  I hurried up to our apartment, barely closing the door before calling for her. “Chelsea?” I walked down the hall to her bedroom and knocked. “Chelsea?”

  The door opened, and there she was, looking more beautiful than I remembered. She was in a tight pair of jeans and a violet V-neck sweater that made her creamy skin look flawless. She had her hair pulled up loosely with pieces falling around her face. She was breathtaking.

  “We need to talk,” I blurted out before she could escape.

  “I can’t right now, Nick. I need to go.” She was looking everywhere but at me as she spoke.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, watching her turn back to her closet.

  “I have a date with Adam.” She grabbed her shoes and slipped them on while she held onto the doorjamb.

  I took a step forward, closing the space between us, and grabbed her face softly with my hands, forcing her eyes up to mine. “Don’t go,” I whispered.

  “What?” She looked at me for the first time.

  “Don’t go. Please,” I pleaded.

  “Why not, Nick?” She reached up and placed her hands over mine.

  “Uh, I just don’t think Adam is into you for the right reasons.” She pulled her hands away from mine and stepped back.

  “Is that so? Well, Nick, it’s not really your choice.” She stepped around me, grabbed her purse, and walked to the door to leave.

  “Chelsea, wait.” I knew I could stop her if I just told her how I felt, but I couldn’t seem to bring myself to do that.

  “Why, Nick?” She put her hands on her hips and waited for me to say something.

  I closed the distance between us, taking her hands in mine. I placed my forehead against hers. “Please don’t go out with him. He’s not right for you. You’re not his type.” The thought of him putting his usual moves on her pissed me off. “Just stay here, okay?”

  “I can’t.” She paused for a minute before opening the door and leaving.

  “Shit!” Why couldn’t I just tell her that I didn’t want her to go—that I wanted her to be with me, not Adam? Why was this so hard for me?

  Chapter 15

  Chelsea

  If he had just said that he wanted me to stay, I would have stayed. For just a moment, I had seen something more in Nick’s eyes. He looked vulnerable, and I just wanted to hold him, and tell him that it would all work out, but he couldn’t give me what I needed to hear. He couldn’t make it about him; he had to make it about Adam.

  To be honest, I was only going out with Adam again because I felt like I owed it to him after being so distracted the last time. After my encounter with Nick just now, I had a feeling that it would be another distracted evening.

  Fortunately, we were doing a quick dinner and a movie, so at least I would have a couple hours where I didn’t have to talk or think in the theater.

  “Hey.” Adam was waiting for me in the lobby of our building.

  “Wow, Chelsea! You look great!” He hugged me before taking my hand and walking me outside to his car. “You hungry?” he asked as he opened my door.

  “Yes, I am.” I smiled. I had been pushing myself with my running the last two days. I was up to an easy ten miles, mostly as a stress reliever. It kept me out of the apartment until after Nick left, and it allowed me to stay on my training schedule.

  Adam took me to a little Mexican restaurant. It had been ages since I’d had Mexican food, and it was one of my favorites. The décor was authentic and rustic. There was a traveling mariachi band playing music and singing for the tables. It was an upbeat atmosphere, exactly what I needed right now.

  “So, how long have you and Nick lived together?” Adam asked around a ch
ip.

  I took a long drink of my margarita. “Not long. There was a fire in my apartment building, so I needed a place to stay.”

  “Hmm. How does that work?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” I raised my eyebrows at him, not liking the insinuation behind his question.

  “Well, are you and Nick just roommates, or more?” His question hit me straight in the gut. That was exactly what Nick said we were the other night, when he’d brought his blonde “flavor of the week” home.

  “Yes, we’re just roommates.” I smiled, desperate to change the subject. “When is your next game?”

  “Tomorrow. Can you make it?” He grinned.

  “Um, I don’t think so. I have some things I need to get done.” I smiled back, just as our food finally showed up. We both ate in silence.

  The evening seemed to drag on, and for the life of me, I couldn’t begin to tell you what the movie was even about. I spent half of it trying to redirect Adam’s wandering hands. I swear, if he placed his hand on my upper thigh one more time, I was going to scream. It felt wrong—dirty. I didn’t want him.

  Adam drove me home and parked the car. He walked around to my door and opened it. I was prepared to give him a small kiss and end the date, but after his increasingly eager advances, he apparently had other ideas.

  Before I could protest, Adam grabbed me and pressed me solidly up against the car. He covered my mouth with his, pressing his tongue into my mouth, moving it and slobbering all over me. I could feel his growing erection against my stomach, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. The second Adam pulled back slightly I turned my head. “Wait, Adam.” I gasped.

  “Come on Chelsea, I know you want this,” he groaned.

  I pushed him back. “No, Adam, I really don’t. I don’t think this is going to work out.”

  “What do you mean?” he snapped.

  “Um, I don’t think we are very compatible.” I stepped away from the car, putting some distance between us.

  “What the hell, Chelsea?” He looked pissed, and people were giving us looks as they passed by. “You spent the whole fucking night giving me your coy little smiles, playing hard to get by pushing my hands away, fluttering your eyelashes and smiling, and now you pull this bullshit?”

  “Excuse me?” I crossed my arms across my chest and glared back at him. “I don’t play games, Adam. If you thought I was playing hard to get, you misread me.” I shook my head and laughed. “Shit, Nick was right.” I said under my breath. What an ass!

  He glared at me. “Yeah, you’re right. You weren’t really my type anyway, but I thought I’d give it a chance, regardless. I didn’t realize you were such a tease. See you later, Chelsea.” I watched him climb into his car and drive away.

  “Holy crap,” I groaned. I don’t think I had been kissed like that since Bobby McFarland my freshman year in high school. At least Bobby had an excuse with his braces. That was just downright sloppy. I couldn’t help but laugh as I rode the elevator.

  The apartment was quiet when I let myself in. Nick’s door was closed, and I was half tempted to knock on it. I just wanted to talk to him. I missed him. I grabbed a water bottle and headed down the hall to my room, determined to take a shower and rid myself of any remnants of my date with Adam.

  After a long, hot shower, I crawled into bed and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not, but I could have sworn that I felt Nick kiss me on the head and tell me goodbye.

  When I woke up, the light was pouring through my window. It was just after nine, and I knew Nick would be at his soccer game already. I would just do things around the apartment and wait for him. It was time for us to clear the air.

  Chapter 16

  Nick

  I heard her come in before eleven, listening closely to make sure she was alone. I don’t think I could’ve handled her bringing Adam in here. I knew that made me quite the hypocrite, but it was hard enough on me knowing she was out with him, much less down the hall in her bed. I am pretty sure I would have torn the door right off the hinges if that had happened.

  I peeked in on her before I left this morning, and she looked so peaceful as she slept. Her red hair lay in stark contrast against the white pillow. Her soft pink lips were parted ever so slightly. I must have stared at her for five minutes before I finally leaned down and kissed her softly on the head and left for my game. I was going to make her dinner tonight and talk to her. I had to try to let her know how I felt; though, most of all, I missed her friendship.

  The morning was cold. Fall had hit Philly in full form, and I was feeling the chill. The cold air burned my lungs as I ran across the grassy field. I was off my game today for sure—partly due to everything with Chelsea, but also partly to do with Adam. Every time I saw him, I got more and more pissed off.

  I sat on the bench during half time, trying to get my head on straight when I felt the wood shift under me. Glancing sideways as I wiped my face, I saw Adam smiling at me.

  “Can I help you with something?” I grumbled.

  “Just trying to figure some things out.” He smirked.

  “Adam, I don’t have time for your shit. If you have something to say, just fucking say it,” I barked as I stood up and walked back out to the field. The game was about to start again, and I needed to get some distance between Adam and me.

  “I’m just admiring you for your ingenious decision to move Chelsea into your place.”

  “What the hell are you talking about, Adam?”

  “Well, she is obviously a cock-tease. I hope you have more patience than me. Maybe you will have better luck getting her in bed with her living under your roof.” He laughed.

  I’m a smart ass, sarcastic, joking person, but piss me off, and you’ll end up putting your jaw back together with glue, tape and staples. I didn’t even think twice before I planted my fist into Adam’s face, but I didn’t stop there. I hit him in the stomach, and as he bent over, I slammed my knee into his face. I would have kept going if my teammates hadn’t pulled me off of him.

  “You son of a bitch! If you ever talk about Chelsea that way again, I’ll fucking kill you!” I was shaking with anger. “I’m serious, Adam, Just try me!” I had never wanted to beat someone’s ass as much as I did right now.

  “Nick! What the hell?” I felt Tom grab my arm right before I was removed from the game with a red card.

  “Get him out of here, Tom.” The look on my coach’s face said it all. I knew I was going to catch hell for this, but I couldn’t think about that right now. I was too riled to think straight.

  “Come on.” Tom pulled me off the field and to the parking lot.

  “Fuck!” I kicked a discarded fast food cup across the blacktop. When I reached my car, I pressed my forehead against the cold metal, trying to get myself under control.

  “You want to tell me what the hell that was about?” Tom spoke quietly. He was always so calm. In fact, it was kind of ironic that the only time I’d ever seen him fight with anyone was when he was defending the woman he loved. Tom had punched Ava’s ex-boyfriend one night at the club for calling Talia a bitch. I could finally see what made him break like that. The crap Adam was spouting off about Chelsea pushed me over the edge. Now, more than ever, I wanted to talk to Chelsea. If Adam had said or done anything to hurt her, I just might be back for a second round.

  I turned and leaned back against the car, looking up to the cloudy sky. “He was talking shit about Chelsea,” I mumbled.

  “Okay, well shit … you set him straight, but I hope like hell that he doesn’t press charges against you, Nick. I’m pretty sure you broke his nose.”

  “I don’t care, Tom. I did it, and I’d do it again.” I looked at him, thankful for the understanding I saw in his expression.

  “Come on, let’s go get a beer.” Tom led me to his car, tossing his phone onto my lap as I sat down. “Text Trevor. Tell him to meet us at the sports bar.” He pulled out of the parking lot, fully prepar
ed to do damage control.

  ***

  By the time Trevor got there, I had three shots and two beers in me, and was feeling pretty good. One day, I will solve my problems with maturity. Today, however, it will be with alcohol. Tom filled him in on everything that happened at the game, and Trevor just sat back, shook his head and chuckled. “I’m glad I could amuse you, man.” I glared at him.

  “Shit, Nick, I’m not laughing at that; I guess I just never thought I’d see this day.”

  “What? The day that my temper would get the best of me and get me kicked out of the game I loved the most?” I snapped.

  “No, not that, but I am sorry that happened. I was referring to you falling in love. Finally caring about a woman more than yourself.” Trevor raised his beer. “Welcome to the club.” He and Tom clanked bottles and laughed. Tom turned back to me and smiled. “Don’t look so shell-shocked. We tend to fall in love the same way we get sick: without wanting to, without believing it, against our will and completely unable to defend ourselves. It was bound to happen—even to you.”

  I tried hard to be pissed at them, but I couldn’t. When it all came down to it, these guys were my best friends. They had my back, no matter what, and Trevor was right. I hadn’t really given it much thought, but I did care more about Chelsea than myself, and if that meant getting kicked off the team because I defended her honor, well so be it. In love? Was I in love with Chelsea? Hmm, I think I could live with that.

  About three or four beers later, Tom and Trevor were helping me to the car. “What am I going to say to her?” I slurred. That’s funny; my words had sounded much clearer in my head. It was like I was talking in print in my head, but my words were coming out in cursive. I started laughing for no reason, and the looks on my two best friends faces made me laugh harder.