Trusting Nicole

by Muriel Garcia

  ROOM-MATE NEEDED ASAP

  LOFT CONVERSION

  NO WEIRDOS OR SERIAL KILLERS

  PHONE: 012 513

  Pleased with myself, I walk over to the bed and slip on my black leather jacket. I grab my mobile, keys and cigarettes of the oak bedside cabinet and walk out of my bedroom slamming the door.

  As soon as Tyler spots me in the open plan living area, he starts going on and on again, but I mentally block him out and stalk towards the front door. I sigh with relief when I’m safely on the other side of the door. I quickly walk down the iron steps to the alley at the back of our loft and make my way to the little coffee shop that sits on the corner of our street. I know full well that this is the ideal place to advertise as students are always in there. I just hope that no good looking girls apply because I have a history of sticking my dick in them.

  I light up a cigarette and take a long drag, letting the smoke fill my lungs as I walk. It’s a disgusting habit and know for a fact my mother would be turning in her grave, she hated smoking. I quickly take a few more drags when I realize I’m outside the café. Throwing it to the ground and dragging my grey converse over it to make sure it’s fully out, I push open the door, the sound of the stupid fucking bell above my head scaring the shit out of me.

  The place is full to the brim, it’s the usual for this place. I weave through the tables that are packed too closely together towards the counter, that is now free from customers. I can see a black haired girl fucking about with the coffee machine, looking like she doesn’t have a clue what the hell she is doing. I patiently wait while checking out her backside. It’s a nice view!

  As I’m gazing at her arse, head tilted to the side, this is the moment the chick decides to turn around, looking adorably flustered. She blushes at catching me eye fucking her, she’s actually pretty cute with beautiful green eyes.

  “Can I help you?” she asks, making her cheeks turn redder than the sign above the counter. This chick is definitely shy.

  “Hmmm, I think you can, Darlin’. Can you hang this up in the window for me?” I pass her the scrap of paper giving her my killer smile? Her cheeks flush again as she takes the piece of paper from me, her hand grazing mine. I watch her as she reads over my note, a grin breaks out on her face.

  Before she looks up, I’m gone, already heading towards to the exit. With one last glance over my shoulder, I see the sneaky little minx put the advert in her pocket. Interesting…maybe I’ll be seeing little Miss Flustered again…

  Kalli

  Today is definitely not my day. I woke up late thanks to Lisa’s antics last night; she kept me awake with her moaning and screaming until 4 am! I had the morning shift and had to be here before 7. Thanks to her, I was half an hour late and had to listen to my bloody manager go on and on, threatening to fire me if I'm late again. I could see Cassie, my co-worker, wanted to have a go at me too, but a glare from me ensured she restrained herself. We don’t really like each other, she’s more into doing her nails than working, and yet our manager isn’t saying shit to her.

  I groan whilst trying to sort out the milk foam maker. Two weeks since I started working here and not once has it ever worked properly. I know I’m doing it right but it never cooperates, always making me look like a fool when a customer asks for some foam in their drinks. Or worse, it sprays milk everywhere, including on me, like it did yesterday morning. That machine is a thing of the devil, I swear.

  I’ve been trying to get it right for the past ten minutes when I feel eyes on me. I turn around and see a hot guy, tall, leather jacket, dark hair and the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen, currently staring at my ass.

  “Can I help you?” I look at him, turning bright red. I hate people staring at me, it always makes me feel uncomfortable, I already feel out of place enough without customers openly staring at me.

  He's going on about something but I'm not listening, I’m lost in his eyes. The next thing I know, he gives me a piece of paper. I take it, our hands touching. As cliché as this sounds, I feel a jolt of electricity shoot through my whole body. I quickly withdraw my hand and look down at the paper. I can’t help but smile, this couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m in desperate need of a new place to live, Lisa is driving me up the fucking walls. Last night’s activities weren’t a first, she brings a different guy home every single night and fucks them loud enough for the whole block to hear. I mean, each to their own but I can’t stand people that fuck just for the sake of fucking. A change of scenery and roommate is very much needed. When I look up from the paper, I’m left staring at the wall, he left already. I’m a tad bit disappointed but can’t help the smile spreading over my lips. This could be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for so long. It would have been so much easier though to ask him face to face how much the rent was, for some reason I can’t manage to hold a conversation over the phone, I’m a stammering mess. I guess I’ll have to suck it up and call him on my next break.

  I tuck the piece of paper in my apron and get back to the stupid milk foam maker. I grumble at it as it sprays more milk over my chest causing my white top to go see-through. I swear under my breath at the machine and pull my apron up, trying to hide the stains until I can go in the back and change. I need another job. I love my coffee as much as the next person but this place is driving me insane.

  The only reason I’m staying here and not looking for another job is because I need to save up and this is the only place that would accommodate to my college schedule. I need to move out of the hellhole I’m living in at the minute, and help my father. He’s a retired soldier and lives off of a small military pension. It’s enough for him to pay the bills, food and the upkeep of his property, but that’s it. He could never treat himself to something he’d like or go for a weekend away somewhere. I know he’d love to go fishing with his military buddies but can never go because of the fee they ask for the permit. Hence why I’ve been working my ass off, to be able to live a normal life and put some money aside, and hopefully save enough to surprise him with the permit for his upcoming birthday.

  I fail to stifle a yawn, glancing around hoping none of my colleagues saw me. I’m so tired, I don’t remember the last time I had a proper night of sleep. Between work and college I’ve been crazy busy, maybe getting 3-4 hours of sleep per night, even if I'm lucky. I won’t last long at this rate. I hope they're not asking too much for rent at that guy's place. My current roommate is charging me a lot, most likely to be able to buy herself whatever she wants since she doesn’t work. Her parents pay her half of the rent and she's always coming back with expensive things. She says they keep raising the rent but I’m done having her play me for a fool.

  Two hours later I finally get my break. I make myself a coffee—no foam!— grab a muffin and head to the employee’s room. I sit down at the table closest to the window and take a sip before dialing the number on the paper. Here goes nothing…

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Writing Trusting Nicole has been one hell of a rollercoaster. From the details to the locations and not mixing the characters, adding new ones and giving a background story for the upcoming books, to the characters actually changing their story. (Yes, they do take the lead and aren’t always nice about it!). I absolutely loved writing it even though there was a lot of doubt about the story, for example if it would be gripping enough for you guys. I have quite a few people to thank.

  Ellie Aspill – Girl, you’re amazing and I’m so glad we’ve been working together pretty much since the beginning of my publishing career. You make the dreadful process of editing a lot of fun and I’m so happy we got to work again on this one and I can’t wait to work on many more with you. It’s always a pleasure and you’re always very helpful. Whenever I’m doubting about details or whether things are working or not, you’re always there to help me and give me good advice.

  Charlotte Spence – Thank you for being an awesome PA and friend. It’s always a pleasure to work with you and our banter keeps me somewhat
sane. Thank you for your ongoing help and always being there for me.

  Stephanie Lewis – Thank you so much for proofreading the book and being so awesome. I’m so happy we are friends and thank you for always being so helpful and for helping me realize one of my dreams.

  Louise Ward – You’re such a sweetheart and I’m so happy to count you as a friend. I’m always anxious to hear your feedback about my books. Thank you for always being honest with me and helping me better the story where needed.

  My beta readers Trudy, Gemma and Shani – Thank you for giving me your feedback and for being so awesome. You ladies ROCK! I can’t wait till we can hang out again.

  Thank you to my Mom for raising such an amazing daughter (yep that’s me haha) and for being so awesome. You’ve always been so supportive and help keep me sane about all of this. Your help is so precious. I hope one day you can read my books (I need to find a French translator! Anyone?) well, all of it except the kinky parts, that’d be awkward!

  Thank you to YOU for picking up Trusting Nicole. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as you’ve enjoyed the others. It’s always a lot of fun to write about the Last Hangman, their women and their friends. Stay tuned for Bennett’s story. It’s coming to you soon! Thank you for allowing me to take some more space on your reading device once again. You’ll never know how much it means to me.

  I hope I’m not forgetting anyone! If I did, blame it on my old age or too much Red Velvet goodness!

  Love you all.

  Muriel

  Xxx

  COMING SOON

  Falling for Kalli

  Coming Summer 2015

  Forgiving Bennett

  Coming September 2015

  A Last Hangman MC Novella

  Coming Winter 2015

  CONNECT WITH MURIEL

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  Email:

  authormurielgarcia@gmail.com

  AUTHOR’S BIO

  Muriel Garcia was born and raised in Belgium. She started writing a little over a year ago and never thought she would ever publish; reading and writing weren’t her favorite things to do in high school.

  After one of her friends gave her a challenge – the next time they would attend a book signing, she would be a signing author (it did happen!) – she started to take writing a lot more seriously and never looked back. She’s enjoyed every second of it and the friends she’s made along the way.

  She loves music, tattoos—especially on hot men, traveling, and cooking. She has always had an overly imaginative and creative mind but never thought of putting words to paper. Now she couldn’t imagine not writing stories that are near and dear to her heart.