One Chance

by Best, Victoria J.

  He sighed, shaking his head. “He’s an alcoholic. His own mother had him fired from the family company because of it. Are you really sure you want to be associated with him?”

  “I know all of that.”

  Shock made my dad’s eyes go wide. “Really? You just met the man yesterday and you already know all of this?”

  I shrugged. “Henry didn’t try to hide it from me, Dad. He told me the truth. How many men would admit to their faults or failings on a first date?”

  Dad released another sigh, this one louder than the first. “I guess you’re right. I just know that with everything we’ve been through, you’re still working through some things with your therapist.” He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed a hand over his face. Any mention of my therapist made him think of my mother. “And I worry that being with someone with an addiction can become co-dependent.”

  Now he sounded like Doctor Harper.

  “I know all of that. Doctor Harper has told me all of this,” I said with a wave of my hand. “Besides, Henry and I are just friends. That’s all I can offer him right now.”

  He nodded. “As long as you’re happy, darling,” he said, patting my knee.

  “I am.” But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

  * * *

  My dad’s car dropped me back at the apartment shortly after. I had yet to text Liza back or call Henry, and anxiety churned my gut by the time I got into the elevator. I wanted to tell Liza about Henry, about everything we’d discussed the night before. I felt the need to unburden myself from some of the things that had been sitting heavy on my mind. Liza didn’t know about my one-night stands with strangers. But I wanted to change that.

  “Liza, I have to tell you what happened . . .” I began as I pushed through the apartment door.

  I froze mid-sentence, my eyes nearly popping from their sockets at the sight before me. My best friend stood nose to nose with Jackson Radcliffe, their eyes locked, their lips centimeters from touching. Liza jumped back when she saw me, her eyes flitting around the room and her hands coming together in front of her. She was dressed in running clothes, her red curls pulled back in a messy bun. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing heavy, but I was certain it wasn’t from her run.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

  The last thing Liza and I spoke about was whether she would reach out to Jackson about the paparazzi photos. Why he was in our apartment I didn’t know.

  “Nothing. Jackson was just leaving,” she said, motioning towards the door.

  Jackson confirmed and they both walked towards the door. I gave Liza a look and she closed her eyes for a second before opening them back up to meet mine. The response she was giving me with her gaze was meant to stop me from asking anything else until he left.

  “I’ll be in my room,” I said. They clearly needed some time to sort out whatever the hell I’d just walked into. The room was thick with sexual tension, and I had enough of my own problems that I had no desire to get embroiled in theirs. I only wanted to make sure Liza didn’t get hurt.

  Once in my room, I closed the door, sagging against it for a moment. The last two days had been a whirlwind, and I didn’t think my mind had stopped racing since I met Henry. I pulled my phone from my purse and read through the texts Liza had sent me earlier, but she had only been updating me on the text she’d sent to Jackson. My thumb hovered over the call icon, the urge to call Henry back making it twitch. What would I say? What did he want? Suddenly, everything felt like it was moving too fast.

  “Oh my God,” Liza said from the hall as she turned the handle to enter my room.

  I stepped away from the door just as she pushed it open, tossing my phone onto the bed so she wouldn’t see Henry’s name on my call log.

  I fisted my hands on my hips. “What was that?” I asked her, incredulous.

  Liza shrugged and flopped onto my bed. “He just showed up outside our door. He was here when I came back from my run.”

  “Why?”

  Liza froze for a moment, her eyes locked with mine. The look in her eyes told me there was more, but that she wasn’t sure whether she should tell me.

  “He invited me to a benefit. Tonight. And I said I’d go.” She covered her face with her hands.

  “What? You agreed to do what?” I practically shouted the words because I couldn’t wrap my mind around what she’d just said.

  She didn’t answer me, just shook her head, her face still covered. I pulled my dress off, tossing it over a chair as I waited for her to answer. Liza simply sat on my bed, watching me change.

  “Liza, why does he want you to go to some benefit with him? What is the purpose of all this?”

  Liza let out a loud breath and got up, then headed into her room

  “Where are you going now?” I asked as I followed her. I was getting frustrated with her, not only because she wasn’t answering me, but because now that we were focused on her thing again, I’d lost the opportunity to tell her what was going on with me.

  Guilt gripped me at the thought, and I felt selfish for only thinking of myself while Liza was having a crisis. My stuff could wait while we sorted this Jackson nonsense out. I was worried about her. I needed to make sure she didn’t fall into something with him that she couldn’t get herself out of.

  “I have to take a shower. I stink,” she said as she peeled her sweaty running clothes off and tossed them into the hamper in her bathroom.

  I should have given her some privacy, but I didn’t, afraid that she would retreat—that’s what Liza did when she had problems.

  “I’ll wait here so we can talk,” I said, plopping down onto her bed and crossing my legs under me.

  She turned to me, sighing heavily. “Fine, I’ll be right out.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I was once again puttering around my room with Liza—now showered and dressed—sitting on my bed with her head in her hands once again.

  “What other choice did I have, Nic?” Her voice was muffled behind her hands.

  “Uh, you could demand he get the photos back somehow!”

  “But he said he couldn’t, Nic,” she said, looking up at me through her fingers.

  “And you believed him? Dammit, Liza, I thought you were smarter than that.” I was yelling at her, but I didn’t want her to make a mistake in trusting Jackson.

  “What should I do?” she asked me pathetically.

  “I don’t know, Liza. Go to the thing with him tonight and see if you can try to figure out if he’s lying. That’s the best advice I can give you at this point. Of course, after this, everyone will think you two are dating and none of it will matter,” I finally said after I had changed into a sweater and twisted my hair into a messy bun. The energy to get dressed up for lunch with my dad was gone.

  She rolled over with a groan, putting a pillow over her face. For the next twenty minutes, we went over and over it, finally coming to the conclusion that she had no choice but to go to the benefit. I warned her about getting in too deep with Jackson. Her situation was nothing like mine, like my past and whatever this new thing with Henry was, but I knew Liza. She wasn’t the type of person to get into a relationship. If she was considering being with him, then she must really feel something for Jackson.

  “I have to meet my dad for lunch in thirty minutes, but if you meet me downtown, we can go shopping for something to wear. I’ll help you get ready.”

  “Really?” There was hope in her eyes, like she wanted reassurance that she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

  I nodded, blowing a breath between my lips. “Sure, Liza. What are best friends for?”

  Liza gave me a tight hug and we planned to meet at Bloomingdale’s in two hours. I left the apartment, my mind still racing and no closer to any solution on what to do about Henry. But at least I was able to help Liza sort out her love life.

  Chapter 6

  Nicolette

  Lunch with my dad was comfortable and somber as usu
al. We avoided certain topics—like my mother—and he focused too much on others—like my love life. I was more than ready to meet Liza at Bloomingdale’s and be done with the father-daughter portion of the day. I loved my dad but spending too much time with him made me feel like I had to put on a show just to make him happy.

  I was exhausted.

  I got to Bloomingdale’s early, so I browsed a little before Liza got there. We were supposed to meet in the women’s dress department and I didn’t want to stray far, choosing to browse the jeans and tops as I waited. My thoughts kept wandering to the phone call from Henry. I toyed with the idea of calling him back before she showed up. After debating in my head for several minutes, I finally pulled the phone from my purse, finger hovering over Henry’s number again. Before I could chicken out again, I pressed the icon to dial his number, putting the phone to my ear. My eyes scanned the store for Liza but she hadn’t arrived yet, and I relaxed a little because I had a few minutes of privacy to make the call.

  “Nicolette?” Henry’s voice came over the line without a hello.

  “Hey,” I said, unsure of what to say to him at first. Being on the phone was different than talking in person. When I was near him, I felt like I could tell him anything, but now I was guarded, cautious, afraid to give away too much of myself.

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t call.” The admission surprised me.

  “I’ve been trying to call you back all day, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a moment.” It wasn’t entirely the truth, but it was an explanation.

  “Well, I’m glad you called. I have to ask you something.”

  Ask me something?

  “Oh?”

  “Will you come to my mom’s benefit with me tonight? I know it’s really last minute, and I understand if you don’t want to come, but I think if you were with me, she might leave me be for the night,” he added the last bit with a chuckle, but it didn’t disguise his nerves.

  Benefit? Was this the same event that Jackson asked Liza to? Did I really want to go?

  Yes, but only to be with Henry.

  “Uh, can I let you know later?” I answered because Liza was walking towards me, an anxious grin on her face.

  “How much later? The benefit is in a few hours.”

  “An hour?”

  I heard Henry sigh. “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Bye, Henry,” I said as Liza stopped in front of me.

  We disconnected the call and I slipped my phone into my jacket pocket.

  “Hey, who was that?” Liza asked, unwinding a scarf from her neck.

  “Um, my dad.” Why didn’t I want to tell her about Henry?

  “Didn’t you just see him?” she asked with a laugh.

  I shrugged. “You know my dad.”

  Liza laughed again, because she did know him, and calling me minutes after leaving me was something he would do.

  “Where do we even start?” Liza asked, spinning around on the spot and gesturing towards the racks and racks of clothes and dresses. “You know shopping is not my thing.”

  I chuckled, trying to forget my conversation with Henry and his invitation. I was going to decline—I’d made the decision moments after he asked. The reason I decided that wasn’t because I didn’t want to go with him, but because I wasn’t sure what was going on between us, and I didn’t want to ruin it before it even started.

  I didn’t trust myself.

  “Let’s look at the formal dresses first and go from there,” I said, walking away from Liza to the racks where she would find what she needed.

  We spent the next hour searching for the perfect dress, but only left with a pair of red sequined stilettos. Henry was constantly on my mind, and I realized that the clock was ticking on me returning his call. But I needed more time before I called him back. The feelings I was developing for him were confusing because they were unlike any I had ever felt before.

  But I owed it to the both of us to be honest.

  “Should we take the train?” Liza asked as we walked out into the chilling November night, hugging our light jackets tighter around us.

  I shook my head. “Let’s take a cab.”

  Liza sighed, bowing her head. “What’s wrong with the subway?” Her tone was defensive.

  “Nothing. But I’m tired and I just want to head home.” I didn’t add that I was in a hurry to get back to call Henry.

  “Fine,” she agreed grudgingly, a firm frown on her face.

  Liza hated that I paid for things like cabs, shoes, and lunch when we went out but I really didn’t mind. My dad insisted on giving me an allowance every month to live on, no matter how much I told him I could afford to take care of myself. He didn’t listen to me, and it left me with extra money to burn. What was I going to do with it? Spending the money on my best friend was the most practical way I could think to use it. While I loved shopping, it made no sense for me to have a closet full of clothes I would never wear. Beyond that, I didn’t have any extra need for the money. But Liza was proud and stubborn and would argue with me until the end of days about spending money on her.

  We hopped into the cab as soon as it pulled to the curb and rode the several blocks back to our apartment in silence. I could tell Liza was nervous about her night with Jackson, but my mind was full of what I would tell Henry. Fidgeting in my seat, I slipped my phone from my purse and sneaked a glance to see if Henry had tried to call again. He didn’t and my stomach cramped with the prospect of turning him down. What if he thought I was rejecting him and never called again?

  But I couldn’t go to this benefit with him because I was afraid I’d go back on the promise I made to myself about not sleeping with him. The moment I did, I knew it would ruin everything.

  By the time we reached the apartment, I was wound tighter than a spring and ready to burst. Liza gave me a funny look as I jumped from the cab and hurried towards the elevator. I almost left her in the lobby because she was walking so slowly, but caught the elevator door in time for her to slip through.

  “Are you trying to ditch me?” she asked with a laugh and sideways look.

  I shook my head. “No, no. Sorry. I’m a bit distracted.”

  Liza frowned, studying my face for a moment. “Oh. When I get home, we need to have a talk.” She pointed her finger in my face as she said it like I was trying to avoid her.

  “Yeah. We do. But for now, I need a few minutes before I help you get ready. While I’m in my room, look through your closet to see if you have a dress to match those shoes.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me, then nodded. “Okay.”

  We parted ways at the front door. I dashed to my room and closed the door, taking my phone from my purse as I did so. After taking a deep breath, I clicked on Henry’s name, putting the phone to my ear as it rang.

  “Hello?” Henry’s voice sounded different than earlier. Less hopeful, slurred.

  He was drunk.

  “Henry? It’s Nicolette.”

  “Heeey,” he drew the word out like it was a song. “What’s up?”

  “Uh, I’m calling about the benefit.” Did he forget? Was he that drunk?

  “I know. I also know what you’re going to say. You can’t make it.” Bitterness crept into his voice. He wasn’t wasted, yet. He was angry with me.

  “I’m sorry, Henry. It’s really last minute and—”

  “You don’t have to make up excuses. You don’t want to be with the loser drunk who can’t even keep a job at his family’s own company. Just say it.” He snapped the words at me so fiercely that I pulled the phone from my ear for a moment as if he’d slapped me.

  “Henry, it’s not that at all. Really. I just, I mean . . .” I was fucking it up, but how could I tell him that I was afraid to be with him because of my past? “Please, just trust me. I’ll meet you tomorrow for brunch, I promise, but I can’t come with you to the benefit. Not tonight.”

  Henry cursed softly. “Sure. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”

 
; “You weren’t. Call me tomorrow morning and I’ll meet you at the restaurant. I promise.” I wouldn’t back out on a promise.

  “Sure. Okay,” he said, but I could tell from his tone that he was unsure.

  I hated that I was just one more person in his life that was letting him down, but I also had to protect myself. After we ended the call, I sat and stared at my phone for a moment. Guilt churned in my stomach because Henry had sounded so dejected on the phone.

  A soft knock sounded at the door and I looked up.

  “Hey, Nic, I couldn’t find anything to wear. Turns out I don’t have any formal dresses.” She shrugged as she stepped into my room, a soft smile on her lips.

  I shook off my mood, running my hands through my long sandy blonde hair as I stood up from the bed.

  “You’re in luck. I have way too many formal dresses,” I said with a chuckle, making my way towards the large walk-in closet at the back of my room.

  For the next half hour, we went through every dress I owned. Liza tried them all on with the new shoes but only one dress—which was just the right length on me but at five-foot-seven was very short on her—even did them justice.

  “Is it too short?” Liza asked me for the fourth time.

  She had the dress on again, after having gone through my entire closet to no avail.

  “It is short, but it looks sexy as hell with those shoes.” I stood next to her and looked at her reflection.

  Liza inspected herself in the mirror some more, hemming and hawing about the dress’s hemline.

  “All right, well, it doesn’t seem I have much choice, does it?” She turned to me, tossed her hands up and let them fall back to her sides with a slap.

  I jumped up with a clap. “I’m so excited! Let’s get your hair and makeup done!”

  We laughed and chatted while I got Liza all dolled up. When she was finished and looked in the mirror, we both teared up. I was thinking about how her mother had left Liza when she was young and would never know the wonderful person she’d become. Liza didn’t say what she was thinking, but I wondered if it was the same thing. We hugged briefly, both of us giggling at our teary eyes as we pulled away from one another.