"Nope." She shook her head. The movement took Nicole's attention to the two piercings that were in the girl's left eyebrow. The barbells also made her skeptical that the girl was related to Tyler. But who the hell would lie about being related to that jackass? She never considered she'd see a Wolfe that was not prim, proper, and ready to run a boardroom. Tyler made it seem like his family woke up in three-piece suits and never had a hair out of place. The girl in front of her was dressed like a skater punk that hadn't changed clothes after getting mangled by a few ramps, complete with scars on her legs.
The pounding in Nicole's head worsened. "What an ass. Look, I don't know what Tyler told you, but this isn't his house. He stayed here for about a month, but he doesn't live here anymore and he's not going to be back anytime soon."
There was a nod. A copper hand went through short, untamed hair while grey eyes peered off to the side, likely rolling around the information in her head. Suddenly, she shrugged. "I understand. I'll get out of your hair, then. Just need to grab my junk and hop on my bike."
"Bike? If you wait a few minutes, I'll give you a ride to wherever you need to go." Nicole didn't have anything against the girl, after all. Besides, it went against her upbringing to not offer kindness. Sometimes, she was painfully aware that her altruistic nature was also her greatest weakness, but she just didn't know any other way to be.
"No, that's fine. I can pedal with the best of them. Enjoy your breakfast."
"I wouldn't mind giving you a ride to wherever you need to go. Oh, and you can have some, you know. There's plenty." Nicole motioned to the counter, where there was more food. She found it impossible to make enough pancake batter for only two pancakes, so a stack of six rested on the black marble kitchen counter near the stainless steel sink. The plan had been to eat those for lunch.
"Thank you…"
Nicole blinked hard, astounded that someone from Tyler's family knew such a phrase, but figured that it'd be rude to say such a thing. Once upon a time, she was certain Tyler said the phrase to her. Back when he was pouring on the charm, he had been polite, so surely he said it back then, she assured herself. It helped explain why she dated him in the first place.
"You can have anything up there you want. I'm not going to eat any more of it.”
A nod was her reply. All six pancakes were taken, as were the small spot of scrambled eggs that were left over. There were no complaints as the guest sat down with her food.
"Um…a fork?"
Nicole pointed the girl to the drawer that contained her silverware. Quietly, her guest retrieved a fork and proceeded to inhale her food. Nicole didn't mean to stare, but she had never seen someone devour six pancakes in under a minute. She was treated to another never while in her guest's presence—a repugnant stench that suggested her guest hadn't bathed in days. Nicole frowned from the choking fumes and her guest noticed.
"Um…sorry about the table manners. I haven't eaten much in the past few days. Restaurants aren't too willing to let me in and from the tears in your eyes, I'm pretty sure you know why," the girl remarked with a half smile. Strangely, her teeth were perfectly white and straight.
Nicole shook her head, as if to dispel any embarrassment that her guest experienced. "It's all right. You can use my shower. Um…" Green eyes glanced away and she shifted a bit, unsure if manners permitted that she ask what was on her mind. "I get the feeling that offering to drive you some place isn't necessary, correct?"
"You are correct. Thank you for the shower offer. I'll take it, so I don't have to choke anyone on the street with my smell." She chuckled, which got a giggle out of Nicole.
Both women smiled at keeping things from being awkward. Her quest and walked over to the sink and Nicole noticed her limp, but that was driven out of her mind when her guest proceeded to wash her dishes. Nicole's mouth practically hit the floor and her eyes rolled out of her head. It was surreal. From the way Tyler acted, she would've thought laziness and discourtesies were genetic. But, if Tyler was any example of the Wolfe family, she decided to reserve any judgment on the girl until later on. Nicole was knocked out of her thoughts.
"You done with yours?"
Nicole could only nod and then her guest washed her dish, too. Nicole was almost sure that she was in a parallel universe. "A Wolfe is actually doing dishes in my house?" Nicole muttered, shaking her head. She noticed the plate trembling in the copper-toned hand. After a moment, she realized it was the hand quivering and not the plate.
"I'm guessing Tyler didn't wash anything when he was here," came that thought disturbing, smooth voice that wouldn't let Nicole live in her own head for a few seconds.
"No, he just left them on the table, like they were going to clean themselves."
"Yeah, sounds just like the jerk I used to beat up when he came over. He expects everyone to wait on him hand and foot, like he's God's gift to the world and we should all bask in his marvelous presence. Probably could still take him. You want me to go teach him a lesson or two?" The offer was made with a grin, but those grey eyes were serious.
Nicole shook her head, but smiled. "No, I don't want to have to bother with him anymore. I don't want him to have an excuse to return. In fact, I need to pack up his stuff, so I can just mail it to him tomorrow before he considers coming over here to try and make up."
"I can help you with that if you want me to. I mean, you did just let me camp out in your house, even if you didn't know until I disturbed your breakfast."
"It's all right. You don't have to." What kind of hostess would she be to if she let a guest, even an uninvited guest, help her pack away her jerk-off, ex-boyfriend's belongings? It was bad enough she allowed the girl to do the dishes, but that was due to shell shock.
"It's all right. Not like I have to be anywhere. So, let's get things done."
Nicole opened her mouth to argue, but the stranger was already gone. She speculated her guest, whose name she didn't even know, might have been stalling to stay in the house a little longer. She shivered, what if Tyler’s cousin is like him? Well, I don't have any loose money around anymore thanks to Tyler," She put everything away now.
"So, let's get to Dipshit's stuff." her guest declared, returning to Nicole. The younger woman rubbed her hands together.
Nicole snickered, "I can't believe you called your cousin that." It was an accurate description. She'd just never slander her family, especially if talking to a complete stranger.
"It's what he is. So, we should get to it, so we beat him out before he tries to come back and beg for your forgiveness," the guest explained with a smile that was almost wicked. Her grey eyes shimmered; apparently, the chance to put one over on her cousin was amusing.
"Tyler beg for forgiveness?" Nicole rolled her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, before Dipshit comes back, blames everything on you, and then calls you an idiot if you don't take him back."
Nicole laughed, her own eyes shining now. "Now, that sounds like Tyler."
"He hasn't changed much at all, but then again, he's a Wolfe."
"Are you saying you act the same way?"
"I'm the black sheep of the family…in more ways than one. Well, the black wolf of the family…" Grey eyes glanced to the ceiling. "Hmm…not sure exactly how it works. Never really thought of it. Not that it matters. Come on, let's get packing."
Nicole watched her guest leave the kitchen. She correctly assumed nothing in the kitchen belonged to Tyler. She noted the severe limp that her guest had in her heavily scarred leg, but that didn't slow the young woman down. She favored her left leg, even though it was marked up too and Nicole was still the one that had to keep up.
Before they commenced, the guest needed to shower. The young woman fetched her bag. Nicole directed her to the bathroom upstairs at the right end of the hall. Grabbing a fresh towel and washcloth, she had to fight the urge to shove the caramel skinned female into the shower.
***
Once alone in the bathroom, Dane took in the decor. The bathroom walls we
re tiled with light lilac squares, giving the room a soothing atmosphere. There was a pale coffee colored counter on the wall to the right of the door and a matching toilet to the right of that. The sink was sparkling clean, resting in a spotless, lilac-hued top, like the rest of the room. It was clear that her hostess kept a pristine house.
Dane nearly felt guilty, as if she were going to defile the shower with layers of grime. While undressing, she glanced over at the tub, which was to the right of the shower stall. It matched the toilet and counter in color and was gigantic. Short candles in small, clear jars and containers were placed around the tub.
Peeling away her reeking clothing, she noted the bathroom smelled delightful. Glancing at the sink counter, she surmised the aroma originated from a bowl of what appeared to be colored straw. Curious, she went to take a whiff and nodded. Once she got into the shower, she found that the rose-shaped soap smelled similar to the straw in the bowl. It wasn't a scent that she'd choose for herself, but it was much more appealing than smelling like she rolled around in a dumpster.
The hot water felt phenomenal on her sore body. She scrubbed herself raw, wanting to wash away all traces of that foul stench that she carried with her. Leaving no part of her body untouched, she made a note to suggest her hostess launder her washcloth and towel in kerosene or maybe just burn them outright. Washing her short hair took almost a half-hour and she thought that her mop top needed more than that, but she didn't want to take too much time in the bathroom.
Extracting her clean clothes out of her book bag, she changed and shoved her dirty gear into the bag. Folding her towel and washcloth, she stuffed them into a hamper against the back wall. There was a window there and she glanced out to see a well-groomed backyard.
Finally done in the bathroom, she went in search of her hostess and looked around the house. The upstairs hallway was an orange-yellow color. She guessed her host had a thing for warm, pastel colors. The floor was carpeted with a lush peach rug. A few pictures on the wall showed a variety of people that she figured were relatives of her host. There were two potted trees at each end of the hall and a black and white photo of a rose bush. She was seeing signs that advertised Tyler definitely didn't live there because he couldn't appreciate the beauty of a flower or the artistry of a scenic photograph. All he ever saw was the monetary value in things. Just like the bastard he admires so much.
Going downstairs, she noticed more pictures on the wall; one was a painting and two were photographs of people. The ground floor walls were the same color as upstairs. There was a table to the right of the stairs with a decorative vase with flowers in it, more photos, and keys on it. The keys seemed to be out of place, because from what she could tell the lady of the house was a neat freak.
Pausing to touch the polished wood, she recalled her hostess was waiting. She hurried through the living room, back into the kitchen, and found Nicole sitting at the table by the window. Nicole was reading the paper, sitting with her ankles crossed and perfect posture like a model. Dane could see what Tyler saw in the auburn-haired woman. She looked like an amalgam of an angel and a duchess, even in flannel pajamas. She was the type of woman that could move about a social gala like royalty and draw attention like a siren.
Nicole was the type of woman that Tyler always chased. Dane wondered how her cousin was able to get so many good-looking, successful women. Most of the time, she assumed the women were defective, but Nicole seemed pretty normal.
Emerald eyes glanced up at her and it felt like Dane's heart faltered. For a second, she thought those eyes were looking under her skin, through her soul, and into a heart that she was certain never existed. Grey eyes froze, locked with the deep orbs. She felt beyond naked for a brief moment, which was longer than she liked. Thankfully the emotion passed; it had been a while since she felt anything at all, so that was definitely a shock.
***
Those dull, silver eyes trapped Nicole for a moment. Something in those lackluster pools touched her and she felt overwhelming sorrow for a second. She managed to shake off the disturbing sensation and focus on something more superficial.
Her guest still looked scruffy, but an I-just-got-out-of-bed scruffy. She wore a faded black tank top with form-fitting white, long sleeve shirt underneath it. The tank top managed to hide any hint of a figure that she might have. She wore dark blue basketball shorts that fell below her knees with high socks that reached her knees. The attire hid the scars that Nicole had already noticed. Her hair was fluffy from the humidity in the shower and trying to dry it with only a towel. To avoid staring, Nicole focused on packing up Tyler's things.
"We should start in the living room. Tyler has tons of bad DVDs here and stuff like that," Nicole suggested.
The guest nodded. Now that she was cleaned up, Nicole thought there was something cherubic about the copper-toned visage. Her slightly chubby cheeks were the type that over enthused aunts and grandmothers probably pinched often. This made her again think that her guest was probably a teenager.
***
Nicole breathed a sigh of relief as she opened up the refrigerator. She grabbed two bottles of water from the bottom shelf. She offered one to her guest, who took it with a tiny smile. The redhead smiled back.
"Thanks. I can see why my aunt thought Tyler lived here when she gave me the address. He's got a lot of shit under your roof," the young woman commented as she wiped her glistening forehead, pushing her hair out of her face. "I still can't believe how much shit we packed away." Tyler had a whole closet full of clothing, luggage, footwear, ties, expensive watches, a few pieces of jewelry he had given her, mountains of videos, bathroom items, books, ledgers, and briefcases that they boxed up.
"Yeah, I didn't realize that there was so much stuff. I guess he moved it all in here when he was living here a while ago, so your aunt was almost right about that. I don't know how I'll get it all in my car," Nicole sighed.
Going through all of his possessions, Nicole ruminated on the few congenial times that she had with Tyler. She had nearly cried when she packed up the few gifts that he had bestowed upon her, especially some of the autographed memorabilia from the few shows that they had seen, but she managed to keep it together.
A wrinkle creased the girl’s caramel brow. "Why would you need to get it in the car? Put that shit out on the curb and let the city do the rest."
"No, I'm not going to do that. I mean, he was an asshole and everything, but I'm not going to throw his stuff away. He actually wasn't always an asshole. One time, he made over a dozen phone calls to get tickets to a play I really wanted to see, but it was sold out for the year. He was tenacious, eventually acquiring the tickets. He used to send me flowers and chocolates frequently. Too much sometimes. Very sweet, or so he seemed. Everyone thought we were the perfect couple. Hell, I even thought that for a while. There was a time when seeing him would brighten my day and make my heart flutter. So, yeah, I'm not going to throw his belongings away. I can give it to him tomorrow at work."
The guest blinked hard, her grey eyes watching Nicole as if attempting to decipher if the auburn-haired woman was genuine. Nicole didn't say anything, but she could see confusion and some skepticism in those eyes. She wondered what it was about, but the staring didn't last long; there was barely a break in the conversation.
"Geez, you work with that ass hat too? I feel sorry for you. Well, if you don't need any more help, like putting the boxes in the car, I'll get out of your hair. Shouldn't waste any more of your Sunday," the guest said as she took a gulp from her water before screwing the cap back on.
Nicole watched her guest limp off and wondered where she was going to go. She didn't want to ask if the girl had run away from home since they had been getting along so well, but she'd feel terrible if the kid's parents were looking for her. Surely someone's worried about such a sweet kid.
"Hey," Nicole called and once again realized that she hadn't gotten her helpful guest's name, despite the fact that they had just spent the entire morning together.
Unfortunately, they hadn't discussed anything of real substance, so she didn't know anymore about her guest now than when they first met, except that the young woman was pleasant and quite the wonderful assistant.
Nicole strolled out of the kitchen to the den. She knew the taller female had her belongings in the small, front room. She was intent on getting some information out of her guest and to lend the young woman a hand in return for the service the girl did for her.
"Is there someone you need to call to let them know that you couldn't stay with Tyler?" Nicole asked.
"Nope," was the simple answer from inside the dark room. The light bulb had blown out months ago and since Nicole rarely went in there, she never bothered to change it.
"You could call your parents to come get you, if you want," she offered.
A scoff sounded through the room. "I could do that, but they wouldn't come. Hell, they'd probably hang up when they realized it's me."
Nicole blinked hard. "What do you mean? I'm sure your parents are worried about you."
"Not bloody likely, my friend."
"Why don't you give me the number and let me call them?"
The girl's tall, lean body came to the doorway and leaned against the frame. "What the hell kinda questions are these? Why the hell would you need to call my parents?" she asked with a bewildered expression clouding her eyes and a little wrinkle in her forehead. She scratched the bridge of her nose a couple of times.
"Oh…um…well, I thought they might be worried and I'm sure you have school tomorrow, so you'd like to get home as quickly as possible…"
A snort. "You think I'm some punk kid, don't you?"
"Aren't you?" Nicole countered. Yes, she thought the girl was a sweet punk kid, but a kid nonetheless.
"I'm twenty-four."
"Liar," Nicole blurted out with a laugh. She quickly put her hand over her mouth as she realized what she said. She waited for some form of fury, but was met with a chuckle. Nicole thought that was because she had her hand over her mouth like a child that just said a bad word.
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