I sit out in the hospital waiting room.
Just in case she needs me.
Chapter Forty One
The nurse just visited and laughed when I asked her if it was okay if I had some rum, but I was being serious. Everything looks okay, I just need to relax, and the bruising on my ribs hurts like hell. My head hurts, too, but honestly I’m so lucky that nothing else happened. The truck didn’t hit my car head on, just bumped onto the side. Layla and Chase invited me to stay with them. So that’s where I’m at, now. In the guest room.
Kade comes by twice, but Chase tells him to leave. He doesn’t want to upset neither Layla nor me. Kade keeps calling me on my new phone which Chase bought me. It's some new flash phone I have no idea how to use. Layla got me a new green sparkly cover for it which made me extremely happy, and she also made me chicken and corn soup which is my favorite in the world.
“Do you need anything else, Nikki?” she asks gently.
“No I’m more than fine. You go and relax, Layla. You already have to worry about your son, don’t worry about me.” I lecture.
“You sound like Chase,” she mumbles, leaving the room. I lean back into the soft feathery pillow and sigh. Kade. I can’t avoid him forever. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do next. Move out? Find a new place?
I’m watching Sailor Moon with Layla and cuddling with baby Cole when I hear a knock on the door. Chase comes out of his office and goes to open it, and I see him slip out and close the door behind him. I can hear voices getting louder, but no idea what they're saying. Minutes later, Chase comes back in, alone.
“Who was that, baby?” Layla asks, a frown on her face.
“Kade,” Chase says, looking at me.
“So, have you talked to him about what you walked in on?” he asks, his eyes knowing.
“No, I’m not doing this with him anymore. After I walked in on him and Ashley, I realized that was it, I’m done. It hurts, but I can find someone better for me, someone who won’t f**k around on me. Even if it was all innocent, I’m done. Ashley always comes first with him. I think I deserve to be someone’s number one priority, and Kade can’t give me that.”
“Nikki, you need to at least hear him out before you make that decision,” Layla pleads with me.
“No, Layla. After my accident I realized that we were done for good. I’m going to start looking for my own place, and I won’t have to see him again.”
It’s quiet for a moment, and from the corner of my eye, I see Chase staring at me, his eyes hard.
“Do you love him?” he asks.
“Of course I do, but it’s not enough.” I say quietly, and get back to cooing at Cole.
******
It’s been a week since I got out of the hospital, and I’ve ignored every single text and phone call from Kade. I’m reading ‘Unbeautifully’ by Madeline Sheehan (this bitch rocks, wow), when there is a knock on the door. I open it and come face to face with Kade. I start to close the door in his face, but he puts his foot in the door so I can’t close it.
“Kade!” I say sternly, about to lecture him when suddenly I’m lifted over his shoulder.
“Kade, put me down! My ribs, you ass**le.” I yell, pummeling my fists into his back.
Suddenly I find myself off his shoulder and pinned to a wall.
“Are you done avoiding me now? It’s been a week,” he states, looking pissed.
“I’m not avoiding you, we’re over. I’m moving on, simple as that,” I say, avoiding any eye contact with him.
All of a sudden he growls and punches the wall by my head. I look up at him, startled. His eyes soften slightly when he sees my expression.
“Beautiful, we’re not over, we’ll never be over. We’re forever,” Kade whispers. “I’ll give you time and space, and when you’re ready to talk, I’ll be waiting.” Kissing me softly on my forehead, he turns, and walks out of the room. I hear the front door slam.
Chapter Forty Two
KADE
It’s been three weeks since Nikki left me. I’ve tried going to Chase’s place, but he never lets me in to talk to her. I feel like I’m going insane. I’ve tried calling, but last week the phone stopped ringing, saying it was disconnected instead. I tried to get her new number from Layla, but she wouldn’t budge. I’m such a f**k up.
When I pull up to the house and see Layla loading Nikki’s things into her car, I freak right out. I even start to pull her things out of Layla’s car. I'm not letting Nikki leave me. James comes out of the house and keeps a hold on me, while Layla finishes getting Nikki’s things, and he doesn’t let go until Layla is gone.
Fuck.
I wish I could go back and change things.
I’m going out tonight. Hopefully I can catch her out and about. I heard something about her and Ryder, but I can’t- no, I won’t, believe that right now.
NIKKI
It’s been a month since my accident. Kade tries to talk to me almost every day. He comes by Chase’s apartment, but never gets let in. I'm all ready to talk to him again, let him tell me what actually happened, and possibly try to work things out, until I find out he's still hanging around Ashley. Even Chase is now pissed at him; apparently Layla had to break up a fight between the two brothers. I never should have started anything with Kade because now I have Chase fighting with Kade- and that’s all on me. I really want to know what the f**k is going on with them. Why can’t he just break that friendship and be with me? We wouldn’t be in this mess now if he had just made a choice. Or hell, he could keep Ashley as a friend, just stop putting her before our relationship. I need a guy who will put me first. Layla went over to the house and grabbed all my stuff, apparently Kade tried to pull all of my things out of her car. James had to come over and hold him back.