‘Since when is there a “we” with you two?’
‘Since now, I guess.’ Angie watched Nick, and as if their minds were linked, he turned to look at her. A lightness swooped through her middle and they grinned at each other.
‘Are you now?’
When Nick turned away to walk toward Charlie, that familiar and uncomfortable tremor within her started up again. Her breathing quickened. ‘He’s great, but I don’t want to mess it up again.’
‘You can’t mess up something that doesn’t exist. You don’t have any other job prospects. You’re still young and can date people.’
‘We’re the same age.’
‘But I’m married and pregnant. I live my adventures through you.’
For the first time, Angie admitted to herself she didn’t want just to date Nick. If she was going to do this, she wanted to do it right.
‘I need to meet this guy. Invite him to our house for the party.’ Even though Reese was due the day after, she still insisted on hosting it. ‘As long as the peanut is still in there, the festivities are still on,’ she had said at the baby shower.
‘Are you sure?’ Angie didn’t know if he would want to come. Was it a bigger step than she realized?
‘Yes, I’m sure. Do it, Angie. You deserve a little fun.’
‘Okay,’ Angie said, a little breathless from the idea of asking him. She almost considered having Reese do it for her. She would have, but also Angie would have risked Reese telling him she didn’t want her to.
Nick started walking back to her with Charlie by his side.
‘I have to go,’ Angie said before hanging up. She handed the leash back to Nick. Angie stifled the urge to twine her fingers with his again.
‘I hate to cut this short, but I should probably head back to my apartment before work.’
‘No problem,’ Angie said, relieved that Nick hadn’t overheard her conversation with Reese. On the way back through the park, Angie debated how she would ask him. There was no other way than just doing it. ‘What are you doing Thursday night?’
‘I don’t have plans,’ he said. ‘Why?’
‘Reese, my friend, is having a Christmas party. Do you want to come with me?’
‘Sure,’ he said as breezy as if she had asked him about getting coffee.
Angie’s stomach swooped as Nick took her hand again, leading her from the park. She hadn’t felt that comfortable with anyone for a long time. With Nick by her side, she couldn’t recall a single moment from her past with any other man who made her feel as special as he did. She wanted to stay firmly in the present. With him.
Chapter 18
After meeting with Angie, Nick walked home with an extra spring in his step. Charlie trotted alongside him, affected by Angie’s presence too. With her, it was easy and with no drama. Their future together was clearer than it had ever been with anyone else. Angie made him happier than he had ever been. It was strange and exciting to admit that to himself.
After showering and changing for work, Nick headed to the office. His good mood faltered when he spotted his dad, clearly on the warpath, making his way down the hallway toward Nick’s door. He glanced over his shoulder at Nick and made a show of checking his watch and shook his head before storming into his office.
So much for the jolly man from the other night at the Christmas party.
Maya rounded the corner, glancing at Nick’s father before walking to her desk. She raised her eyebrows and turned to her computer.
Nick didn’t bother greeting him either. He had back-to-back meetings this morning and wanted a focused, clear head. His father’s sour mood tended to pierce through Nick’s good one. Using all his strength, Nick held onto the thought of Angie. He wouldn’t allow anyone – not even his dad – to get in the way of that.
***
It wasn’t until after the morning meetings that Quinn cornered Nick outside of the conference room. The rest of the employees were already off to their desks to continue working. So, unfortunately for Nick, they were alone.
‘You were late this morning,’ Quinn said.
‘By ten minutes.’ Spending time with Angie made it worth it. ‘I was prepared,’ Nick said in a low voice, careful in case anyone heard his dad chastising him at the office. He remembered that David had a lot less tolerance for those moods. But with Nick taking over his brother’s responsibilities, and the fact that he liked working at the company, he often tried to diffuse the situation instead of inflating it.
‘You’re acting like your brother did before he left. Defiant. Rude. I’m still your boss.’
As if Nick didn’t know that. He didn’t need a reminder every day. But his problem was personal, not business. Though Nick was never sure Quinn knew the difference. ‘I’m not defiant or rude. If this is about my work performance, talk to me. If this is about my personal life, we can go out to dinner as a family. Better yet, I bet David would love to have you and Mom over.’
His father’s face turned a bright shade of red. If he were a cartoon, steam would have blown from his ears. ‘Believe it or not, son, I have your best intentions in mind.’
‘Do you?’
‘I’ve been here through all of your breakups. Those women you dated left you a mess afterward. None of them had a solid job and wanted to spend your money on frivolous things. With Ivy, she has an excellent job and comes from a good family. I want you to be happy.’
Nick didn’t realize his dad had paid much attention to his personal life until lately. He was a little taken aback by his father opening up about Nick’s happiness. But that didn’t change the fact that he wanted more control over Nick’s life than he cared to give. Quinn knew nothing about Angie or his ex-girlfriends. It only seemed to matter when it suited or benefited him.
‘I’m happy with Angie,’ Nick said, pushing more of the relationship than what was on the table. Though they grew closer by the day.
‘We’ll see about that,’ Quinn grumbled and left the conversation.
Nick watched his father leave, and his shoulders dropped. Now he knew a shred of what David felt like after any of their confrontations. He always had the last word and kept them wanting more.
***
There wasn’t much left of Nick’s good mood to get him through lunch. He wanted another burst of happiness from Angie, and he knew just where to get it. He was scheduled to help out with the wrapping station that afternoon, and it couldn’t come any sooner. He didn’t think anyone would mind if he arrived early to help.
With each step toward Angie, Nick tried to pound out his father’s words as much as possible. Quinn’s voice burned in his head. It was one thing to be disappointed in Nick’s work performance, but his past girlfriends? None of them were bad people. They just didn’t align with his life. For once, he was happy. Angie did that. All he could do was focus on his anger. If he stayed that way, he’d ruin the short amount of time he spent with her. That had to be his father’s plan. If Nick wasn’t going to break it off with Angie, he would play mind games instead.
It wasn’t until Nick saw Angie that the thick cloud over his head lifted.
The line was about five customers deep. Since Nick wasn’t the type who wrapped gifts for his family regularly, he hoped he wouldn’t disappoint Angie. Ginger was working alongside her. Angie beamed as she finished off one of the gifts and handed it over to the customer. The lights above reflected the foil in the wrapping paper design. When she spotted Nick, her smile widened, and she waved him over.
Nick grinned at Angie and waved to Ginger as he circled the table. ‘How goes it?’
‘It’s better now,’ Angie said.
Her perfume enveloped him, and he leaned closer to commit it to memory.
‘Well, my time is up,’ Ginger said, stepping away from the table.
‘See you later,’ Angie said before Nick stepped in Ginger’s place. ‘Do you have any experience?’
‘Not much.’
Angie lifted her eyes to his. ‘Well, you can wat
ch me for a few and then try yourself.’
Nick glanced at the line, and the customers eyed him with apprehensive stares. He wasn’t about to disappoint them or Angie. While she wrapped a standard clothing box, he followed the way her hands pressed folds into the paper before taping down the smooth edges. Then, she wrapped a thin piece of ribbon around the box and tied it into a bow before using a pair of scissors to spiral the ends.
‘Easy peasy,’ she said, handing the present to the customer.
The next customer walked up, a woman who looked to be in her forties. Her pursed lips made Nick think Christmas wasn’t her favorite time of year.
‘Hi there,’ Angie said, bumping Nick’s arm. ‘You ready to try?’
‘Are you sure you can’t do it?’ Nick asked.
‘Come on,’ Angie said, taking the box from the woman. She had two other parcels in her bag.
He could do three boxes. Angie had made it seem so easy.
‘First we pick out the paper,’ Angie said.
She folded the edge of the package, showing him how to size it. ‘Cut here.’
He started to cut the paper, but Angie didn’t move away from him. She held the paper tight against the box, and Nick was aware of every breath she inhaled. When he reached the end of the paper, he realized he hadn’t taken a breath himself. He sighed, and Angie giggled.
‘It’s not exactly diffusing a bomb.’
He laughed along with her as the woman in front of them checked her phone.
‘Fold here,’ Angie said, taking the two ends of the paper, and pressing them against the box. ‘Then tape it.’
Nick reached over the box to get the tape. He turned his head and their lips nearly brushed. At that moment, the world collapsed around him, and it was just Angie and him. The longing in her eyes had to match his own. Angie licked her lips, and her gaze dropped to his.
The woman in front of them cleared her throat, and Nick broke away from Angie, unable to make eye contact with the woman.
‘Cut a small piece,’ Angie said, her voice softer than usual.
It pleased Nick to no end to know Angie reciprocated his feelings. They hadn’t kissed since his apartment, but he wanted to be sure she was comfortable with him in the same way again. From the electricity between them, they were both ready to move forward again.
He cut the tape and Angie walked him through folding the paper against the sides of the box. It took him a few tries to get it right, but Angie smiled broadly at the final result.
‘Nick, that’s great. How about you work on the next two while I take another customer?’
Nick had the urge to ask her to show him again. Anything to keep them close. But they would never get through the line until he stepped up his wrapping skills.
Without waiting for an answer, Angie waved over the next customer and started to work. While he worked at a snail’s pace on the next packages, confidence swelled within him as he worked alongside her. His schedule allowed only an hour of volunteering, and it passed too quickly for him. The tension between them heightened throughout the sixty minutes, and he felt dread when he saw Carrie walk toward him a few minutes before the end of his shift.
Angie caught her too and frowned slightly.
There was a slight break in customers after Nick and Angie finished with a young couple who had brought a dozen gifts between them. Angie’s wrapping skills still far-surpassed his, but he was no longer a novice.
‘Are you signed up for another spot?’ she asked him.
‘I can look at my schedule,’ he said, wanting to continue working with her.
‘Great,’ she said with a beaming smile.
‘I’ll see you later?’ he said.
‘I hope so.’
Nick walked away from her, back toward reality. At least he didn’t have any questions about how Angie felt for him. They were well outside the friend zone, and Nick wanted to keep it that way.
As he stepped in the elevator, a weight pressed on him. Without Angie’s brilliant smile and infectious cheerfulness, he remembered the conversation with his father. Wrapping presents had been a welcome distraction, but he had no idea how to deal with his father’s disapproval of who he chose to spend time with. The only other person he could talk to was David.
***
The next night, David and Nick sat together in the workshop. Nick invited himself over for dinner so he could get more time with his brother and family. Theresa was kind to add another place setting to her table and insisted he come over more often. As much as Nick would have wanted to discuss his father with both David and Theresa, he didn’t flaunt his father’s name around David’s family. It was a sore subject, and he didn’t want to subject Theresa or the boys to that negativity. Nick needed to talk to his brother, who had lived with their father for a good part of their lives and understood him.
‘I don’t know how to change his mind,’ Nick said to David.
‘You can’t,’ David said.
Nick pulled a face.
‘Listen, little brother. It was hard for me and Theresa to make it work before I transitioned out of the company. There was a lot of pressure from Dad and changing our lifestyle. Going from corporate to starting a business from home wasn’t exactly easy.’
David made it seem effortless.
‘I don’t know why he’s doing all of this now. During the busiest time of the year.’
‘Maybe he’s worried about you working with Angie. If something happens between you two, then it might be awkward.’
‘She’s staying for the holidays, and that’s it.’
‘Is it?’
‘I don’t want that to be it.’
‘So, there is a relationship?’
‘I think so,’ Nick said. He’d never been so unsure about the start of one before. Angie liked his company as much as he did, but he sensed a sliver of hesitation between them. He guessed it was because of her previous relationship with her boss.
‘You have to figure out what you want and go for it,’ David said.
‘I want to be with Angie,’ Nick said, speaking his truth.
‘That’s great, little brother.’
‘I never expected it to go this far. And I still feel like it’s too soon to bring her into this drama with Dad.’
‘It’s too late for that. Angie experienced it firsthand and she’s still around.’ David stood from his stool, chuckling a low and hearty laugh. ‘These things sneak up on you sometimes.’
They sure did. Angie was different to the other girls he’d dated. She had her own life and goals while genuinely caring about family. It was all he ever wanted. Nick would do whatever he could to keep her in his life.
Chapter 19
During the week, the wrapping station held a steady stream of customers. Somehow, Angie’s stamina had snowballed. She spent more time at the mall than she did as a teenager. Outside of her schedule, she helped tally donations from the customers, while filling in during the volunteers’ breaks. Her ability to multitask helped keep her job as an information specialist while wrapping for a worthy cause. It was the perfect storm, and it all would help Hazel and the others at the shelter.
The flow of the wrapping station varied with each shift, but she tried to keep the pace steady for the customers. Even though there was enough advertising for the station, Angie knew how important satisfied customers were for word-of-mouth recommendations.
She constantly checked the schedule to see if Nick’s name popped up. It would be a miracle for him to fill in somewhere since all of the volunteer spots were full. Wrapping with him had changed their dynamic completely, at least in her eyes. Energy buzzed between them, and it had careened into her. All day, she searched the crowds for him but figured he was hard at work in his office. They were similar in that way. They threw themselves into work headfirst. Angie couldn’t believe her luck in finding Nick. As much as she wanted to take a break from dating, she could see herself with him.
At least they would be together to
night at Reese’s party. She had even treated herself to a new sweater for the occasion.
‘I’ll take you next,’ Angie said to the next customer. Mr Bower stood in front of her, and she tried to keep calm. He wasn’t scowling this time, but his expression was flat and eerily impassive. She put on her best welcoming smile and held out her hands. ‘Who are we wrapping for today?’
‘I’m not here for the station,’ Mr Bower said.
‘I’m not sure I understand.’ Angie flashed back to the day of the confrontation between him and David. She wasn’t sure what to expect when neither of his sons was present. Had he expected Nick to be at the station with her? At least without Nick or David there, she wasn’t in too much trouble with him. Unless it had to do with her job, she didn’t think she had done anything wrong.
Mr Bower rounded the table and stood at the corner closest to her. He tapped his knuckle against the table as if he were attempting to hammer it into the floor. There wasn’t much between them other than inches of charged air. ‘I wanted to tell you that you and Nick won’t work out.’
‘Excuse me?’ Angie knew he had issues with David, but she thought everything was fine between Nick and his father.
‘I thought you should know. He’s with someone else.’
The world tilted around her. Nick wasn’t with someone else. He couldn’t be. ‘I’m not sure what he’s told you about us.’
‘He hasn’t said much, which is why I’m telling you. I can’t have you wreck this for him. He doesn’t need a distraction during his engagement.’
‘Engagement?’ Every smile, laugh, almost-kiss flew into Angie’s mind at once, bombarding her. She had convinced herself that Nick wasn’t Brett. Her gut instinct about him couldn’t be wrong.
‘Nick and Ivy have been sweethearts for years. They’ve finally come to a good place. You won’t mess this up for him. Understood?’ Words escaped her mind as she shook her head. Mr Bower turned on his heel. ‘You’ll do the right thing, Angela.’
‘Wow, that was intense,’ Bernadette said from next to her. Angie jumped, not realizing the shift had changed already. It was Bernadette’s third time volunteering. She worked at the makeup counter at Bloomfield’s for as long as Angie remembered. The petite woman seemed as fragile as the powders she dabbed on customers.
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