She closes her book and places it on her lap. “I have an hour before my next meeting starts, and I couldn’t waste it sitting in there.” Her eyes flash over to the office before landing back on mine. “Carrot stick?” she asks, holding up a small, plastic container.
“Thanks.” I reach over and grab one. I take a bite and take my time chewing it, at a loss for words. I want to ask more about Nick, but I tell myself not to. It’s none of my business how they handle their relationship, nor is it my business how she allows him to treat her. I wish I could just tell her, though. Keeping these secrets eats at me every time she looks at me.
“I talked to Nick,” she states, voice void of emotion.
“Yeah?” I ask, popping what’s left of my carrot into my mouth, hoping to avoid this conversation.
She nods. “Yeah, he is back in town. And as I expected, he’s planning a party.” She smiles, but I can tell it’s forced.
I nod, not sure what to say. “And…how do you feel about that?”
She lets out a long, drawn-out breath. “To be honest, a little annoyed. I mean, he’s been gone for three weeks, and the first thing he does when he gets home is throw a party? He used to be so different. If he had to leave, he’d come back to me, and we’d spend all our time together. We’d go out for dinner; he’d buy tickets so we could go to see plays or concerts or movies. But now, I just feel like he’s taking me for granted.”
I let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Danielle. I really don’t know what to say. Nick, he’s been my best friend since college, but recently, he’s not the same guy he used to be.”
She nods her head again as she pulls her knees to her chest. “I know. He’s changing.”
I bite my bottom lip. I guess it wouldn’t be wrong to say the same thing to her that I’d say to him if the situation were reversed, would it? “I guess the only question you have to ask yourself is, are you changing with him? Do you see yourself being with this new version of him?”
She looks up and gives me a weak smile. “I ask myself that every single day, Levi.”
It’s going on seven when I walk back into my apartment from the hike I took. My shorts are wet from sweat, and my t-shirt is hanging around my neck like a towel. My hair is a sopping mess, a mixture of sweat and the water I poured over my head to cool down. I drop my wallet, phone, and keys onto the entryway table as I head for the shower.
I toss all my dirty clothes into the hamper as I step into the shower. The hot water feels amazing on my tired muscles, and I let myself soak a little longer than necessary just because I have nothing else to do. When I step out, I pull on a clean pair of shorts and head in the direction of the kitchen to find something for dinner.
Opening the fridge, I don’t find much of anything, but there is a salad I ordered with my dinner last night that I didn’t eat. I pull out the plastic container and the packet of vegan dressing. I place everything on the counter as I mix everything up, then head to the couch with my salad and a bottle of water.
The moment I turn the TV on, I hear my phone going off. I quickly take a bite of my salad before setting it down and retrieving my phone.
“Hello?” I ask, not noticing that it’s Nick until the word escapes my mouth. Fuck, I wish I would’ve checked the caller I.D. before answering.
“Hey, man. Where the fuck you at?” he asks, a loud party echoing in the background.
“I’m at home. I just got in and took a shower. Sitting down to eat now.”
“So, you’re coming to my party?” He says it in the form of a question, but he’s not asking. Few people know the difference when it comes to Nick.
My hand raises and runs through my hair as I flop back down onto the couch. “I don’t know. I’m pretty tired.”
“What the fuck? We haven’t hung out in ages. Get your ass over here. Plus, I need someone to sit with Danielle. She’s all pissy and needs someone to talk to.”
“Why don’t you talk to her? She is your girlfriend,” I point out.
“I’ve tried, but she’s too angry at me. I need you to work your magic and make her see the light.”
“I can’t tonight. I have an early morning,” I try.
“Bullshit. Get over here, or I’m going to tell the story of how you got hammered in college and woke up the next morning butt-ass naked and wearing a wig.” He laughs loud and hard.
My eyes roll. “You act like that’s never happened to you.” I smile just from remembering the incident. That was the only time I’ve ever allowed myself to get black-out drunk.
“Oh, it happened alright, but I have a girlfriend who admits to doing it to me. Who did it to you?”
“Probably you,” I say around a laugh.
Talking with Nick right now, hearing about our old times, it makes me think of him as how he used to be, not the big-shot Wall Street accountant he is now—the guy who thinks his job makes him more important than anyone else.
“So, you coming or what?”
“We’ll see,” I say, hanging up the phone so he can’t argue any further.
I drop my phone onto the couch next to me and pick up my salad to resume eating. As I flip through the channels on the TV, my mind drifts off to Danielle and how she’s probably sitting alone out on the dark patio right now with a glass of wine and a book. I bet she’s trying her hardest to escape this world. A part of me feels bad that Nick treats her the way he does, but another part of me is pissed off at her for allowing it. I mean, doesn’t she see the things he does? Doesn’t she see that he’d rather throw a party than have a romantic date night with her? How does she ignore everything he does and still see the good in him?
Annoyance pumps through my chest at an alarming rate, and I can no longer stomach any food. I get up, toss the salad in the trash, and head for my room to throw on some clothes. I’m going to this party, and I’m going to talk to Danielle. I’m going to talk to Nick too and find out what in the hell is going on with him lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he kicks my ass for putting my nose where it doesn’t belong, and I can’t say I’d blame him if he does. Maybe it’s what I need to get this shit off my mind.
I pull up to Nick and Danielle’s apartment building twenty minutes later. I pay to park in the garage, so I don’t have to worry about my car being out on the street. I get in the elevator and hit the floor their penthouse is on. When the elevator opens, the party hits me full force; smoke, loud music, and the smell of alcohol all flood my senses and make me regret coming.
2
Danielle
When I leave work, I go straight home to find Nick playing a game of pool and drinking with a few of his buddies. I slam the door closed behind me—announcing my presence—and drop all my things onto the entryway table. I walk through the foyer and lean against the doorjamb to the game room.
Nick is bent over the pool table, taking a shot. When he makes it, he stands and looks in my direction.
“Hey, babe,” he says around a smile as he walks over to me. He leans in and brushes my lips with his. This isn’t the kind of kiss I’d expect from being apart for three weeks. This kiss is like a grandma kissing her beloved grandchild. “Are you ready for a party?”
I cross my arms over my chest when he turns and walks away, back to the pool table. “No, I was hoping we could go out for a quiet dinner alone. You know, like we used to.”
He laughs. “A quiet dinner?” His face scrunches, but even that isn’t enough to stop him from playing his precious pool game. I see at least two hundred bucks on the edge of the table. I don’t know why I’m surprised that they’re gambling on this game. I know Nick and money, and he’s not going to let anything keep him from winning, even if it is such a small amount in his eyes. “A party sounds like much more fun, don’t it, guys?” he asks, lining up his next shot.
“Hell yeah, it does,” one guy says while the others cheer him on.
I shake my head and walk away without another word. There’s no talking to him in this situation. In front of his fr
iends, he’s always right. When there is money involved, it always comes before me, and when he’s drinking, there’s no point. Just give up because he never backs down.
I go directly to the kitchen and pour a glass of wine. I don’t usually drink after work—I usually save my glass of wine for dinner—but I figure, in this case, I might as well get a buzz going in order to save myself a headache later when I’m sober and having to deal with everyone drunk and trashing my house, which I’ve spent so much time and money decorating.
I take my glass of wine to the bedroom and close the door behind me. I set it on the dresser while I start pulling off my work clothes. I’m completely bare when the bedroom door opens and Nick walks in. His eyes double in size when he sees me standing completely naked.
“There you are,” he says, pulling me against him, his lips landing on mine as he walks me backward.
My eyes flutter closed, finally happy to get the attention I’ve been craving. His strong hands feel their way around my body, but all too soon, I hear him lowering the zipper on his pants. Our kiss is broken, and the next thing I know, I’m being flipped around and bent over in front of him. Without a word or a soft touch, he slides into me from behind.
I suck in a huge breath when he pumps into me. Behind me, all I hear is his grunts and heavy breathing. It’s only minutes before he’s finishing with a loud groan. Apparently, he didn’t notice that I didn’t come.
“Thanks, babe,” he says, smacking me on the ass when he pulls out and readjusts himself into his pants. “I’ve missed you.” He offers me a quick kiss, then he pulls away and leaves the room.
Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I guess this is nobody’s fault but my own. I’m the one who allowed him to treat me this way. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. It wasn’t always this way, though. He’s gotten lost over the years and turned into someone I don’t even know anymore. I think it’s time we had a serious talk about our relationship to find out where we’re going and how to treat me right.
I pick up my glass of wine and take it with me when I go into the bathroom to shower. I take more time than usual to shower, shave, fix my hair, and do my makeup. Hours later, I step out of the bedroom dressed in a tight party dress, makeup, and perfect hair. The apartment is already beginning to fill up, and Nick finds me.
“There she is. Come over here and meet some of the friends I work with,” he says around a smile as he holds his arm out for me.
I walk to his side, and he places his hand on my hip. “Danielle, this is Jordan, James, Peter, and Will. They work on Wall Street with me.” He says it with a smile as if nobody here knows he works on Wall Street, and it’s something that needs to be common knowledge at this point. The way his hand is resting on my hip is possessive, almost like he’s marking his territory.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I say, offering up a polite smile.
They all jump to shake my hand, offer a friendly word, or downright check out my body. I turn to look back at Nick, and he’s smiling proudly. The whole situation makes me sick.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get myself a drink.” I slide between two of the men, walking away.
I hear them start talking about me, laughing, and telling Nick how hot I am. I shake my head as I feel my skin crawl. What a bunch of jerks. They think they’re some kind of big shots. Like they can reach out and take whatever tickles their fancy—people included. Now it’s easy to see why Nick has changed so much and why I don’t like the person he’s transforming into.
I walk into the kitchen and pour myself another glass of wine. The music starts blasting from the speakers, and when I walk back out into the living room, I see even more guests filing in. People are smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. They’re passing around flasks, full of God knows what, and I catch a glimpse of a tiny baggie that holds two white pills.
I roll my eyes and head out onto the patio. I place my glass on the concrete divider and lean against it as I look out over the darkening city. The sun is going down and causing the sky to become a mixture of blue, purple, orange, and yellow. Birds are flying high in the sky, and a slight breeze picks up, cooling my skin that’s burning with anger.
Deep in my heart, I know I will never be truly happy until I leave Nick, but that’s such a big step. I wouldn’t even know what to say to him. And where would I go? This is his place. I’d end up having to find my own apartment, which isn’t bad, but I don’t have a ton of money stashed away either. I have some, but not enough to last long if I have to pay a deposit, first month’s rent, and basically start my life over again. Nothing in this apartment is mine other than my clothes. I admit, I picked out all the furniture and decorative items, but everything was bought with Nick’s money. He’s always insisted on spoiling me.
If I were a different kind of woman, it’d be easy for me to stay and deal with his bullshit just for the money and insurance alone. But I’m not that woman. I won’t sacrifice my overall happiness for material things. I want to be in love, and I want the person I love to love me back. Why is that so much to ask for?
I hear the door open behind me, the loud party filtering out for only a second before the door is pulled closed again.
“There you are,” Nick says, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
I look down, and in his hand is one of those small baggies with two pills in it.
“Want to have some fun with me?” he asks.
I spin around and look up at him with anger and confusion written all over my face. I’ve never been one to dabble in drugs, and last I knew, neither was he.
“What’s gotten into you, Nick?”
He seems taken aback. “What do you mean?” he asks, his face pinched. He’s clearly offended.
“When did this become you?” I motion toward him, the drugs, and the party.
“I work my ass off, Danielle. I’m just trying to have a good time,” he spits out.
I shake my head as I wrap my arms around myself. “No, you’ve been changing for a year now, and to be honest, I don’t like the person you’re becoming. I mean, before, you actually seemed to care for me. We’d go out on dates. We’d kiss, laugh, and make love.”
“We still do those things?” he argues, holding his arms out at his sides. One hand is holding the drugs; the other is holding a scotch glass.
“No, we don’t. We haven’t gone on a date in ages. And you bending me over and fucking me until you come is not making love. And when did you start using drugs?” I feel my eyes double in size and blaze with anger.
He scoffs. “It’s just some Molly. It’s no big deal.”
“Look, you go back inside and enjoy your party, but tomorrow, we’re sitting down and having a long talk about what it is we’re doing. I refuse to live my life with a stranger.” I turn my back to him, casting my eyes to the beautiful sunset.
“Danielle,” he breathes out, but I don’t turn around. Eventually, I hear the door open and close, leaving me in silence once again.
It takes me about an hour before I’m ready to head back into the house, but I can’t avoid it any longer. I have to use the bathroom, and if I’m going to be stuck on this patio any longer, I’m going to need a bottle of wine and a book.
I slip into the apartment and head straight for my bedroom door. I twist the knob, but it’s locked, not allowing me inside. Nick must have locked it so nobody could go into our room. God forbid someone find his locked safe full of cash. I turn on my heels and go to the smaller bathroom down the hall. When I walk out, I get a fresh bottle of wine from the kitchen and my book that’s been knocked to the floor before retreating to the patio. The sun has fully gone down now, and there’s a chill in the air. I feel myself shiver but decide to curl myself up into a ball on the lounge chair. No way am I going back in there any time soon.
I pour myself another glass of wine and open my book, reading from the light that shines out of the apartment window. I don’t know how long I’ve been read
ing, but I’m halfway through my book when the door slides open. I let out a deep sigh, thinking Nick is back to bother me some more. When I look up, I’m surprised to find Levi. His dark hair is styled to perfection in a respectable gentleman’s cut—short on the sides and back and longer on the top. He has a dark five o’clock shadow growing on his angular jaw that makes him look dark and sexy.
He offers up a small smile before closing the door and sitting in the empty chair next to me.
“I didn’t think you were coming,” I say, closing my book and taking a sip of wine.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” He rests his elbows on his knees.
“Then, why did you?”
He nods toward the apartment. “Nick called. He said you two got into a fight. Thought I’d come by and check on you. You been out here long?”
I nod. “Since the party started.” I rub my hand up and down my arm, hoping to warm it up so that the goosebumps go away. At this point, my whole body is numb.
“Here, take my coat. You’re looking a little cold.” He shrugs out of his jacket and hands it to me.
I take it without argument. “Thank you.” I pull the jacket on and zip it up, pulling my legs up under it as well. “I’m freezing, but I didn’t want to go back in there.
He nods, his cool blue eyes focusing on mine. “It’s probably for the best. Things are getting a little crazy in there.”
“What’s that mean?” I ask, starting to worry.
“Oh, you know. Typical party stuff. What are you reading?” He stretches his neck like he’s trying to see the cover of the book.
I turn it over so he can read it for himself.
“Any good?”
I shrug. “It’s an escape. I’d rather be anywhere but here.”
“So, are you going to tell me what the fight was about, or do we need to have more idle chitchat?”
I laugh at his bluntness. “It was about everything,” I breathe out. “About the person he’s turning into and how I don’t like it. He offered me drugs, Levi.”
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 39
