Healing Nicole

by Rachel M Storm

"Aaah," I say.

  "Okay you two, I'm all yours," Chase says as he rejoins us, taking the seat next to mine.

  By the time I start my fourth cocktail, my stomach hurts from all the laughing. Mace and Chase together are hilarious. They have been telling me the funniest stories of when they were growing up. I guess this was a good idea to come here tonight because I have enjoyed every single minute.

  My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out and glance at the screen but I don’t recognize the number.

  "Hello?" I answer but it’s way too loud in here for me to hear anything. "Hold a bit so I can get to somewhere less noisy," I say over the phone.

  "Hey, I'm just gonna go outside," I tell Mace. He nods and I quickly make my way out of the club.

  "Hello, you still there?" I speak into the phone again as soon as I find a quiet spot in the parking lot.

  "Hi, Nikki," my blood freezes in my veins at the voice coming from behind me. I turn around to find Donald looking at me with tired eyes.

  "Donald?" My voice breaks as I lower the phone from my ear.

  "Hi, baby. I came to take you home," he pulls me in for a hug, I'm so shocked that it doesn’t register right away that I'm in his arms.

  "Get off me!" I push out of his hold. I'm so angry right now. Who the hell does he think he is?

  "I haven't seen you since the day you proposed to my best friend, what makes you think you have any right to come here and then tell me you're here to take me home?"

  "Gabriella and I are getting divorced. I realize I made a big mistake in letting you go," he tells me. “She lied about being pregnant, that’s when I realized what a big mistake I made letting you go,”

  "I don’t really care. You broke my heart Donald, I loved you and you broke my heart in the worst kind of way. You didn’t even come see me after I lost our baby, you didn’t even care," I say, all the memories of what happened rushing through my mind and breaking my heart again. “I’d say you deserve what you are getting,” hot tears start running down my cheeks as I look into his brown eyes.

  "I've moved on," I say, trying but failing to contain my tears. Him being here is breaking my heart all over again.

  "You love me Nicole," he says calmly. "I've been watching you this week and that guy who's been spending every night in your bed is just on the rebound and you know it,"

  "What?" I ask shocked. "Wait, was that you outside my window on Monday night?"

  "Yes, I just wanted to see you baby."

  "So you decided to scare the shit out of me?" I ask as I take a step back from him.

  "Sorry about that," he shrugs. "Look, I love you Nikki, and you love me too. We both know that you are going to take me back so save us the chase and catch game and come home with me."

  "That's where you are wrong, I don’t love you." I say, tears still running down my cheeks like the floodgates have been opened.

  "I'm over you, Donald" I continue.

  "That's bullshit and you know it!" He says.

  The longer I stand here with him, the more I'm reminded of the past and the more my heart hurts. I thought I was completely over it but now I'm starting to realize that I'm nowhere near over it.

  ****

  MACE

  "Has Nikki come back yet?" I ask Chase. I'm starting to get worried, she has been out way too long now.

  "Nah," he answers, not really giving me any attention because of the girl with the big fake tits, too much make-up and bleached hair sitting on his lap. She came over right after Nikki went outside to answer her phone. And my twin being my twin, he has taken her up on her very obvious offer.

  I roll my eyes as I my make my way outside to find my woman. It takes me all of ten minutes to finally see her in the parking lot standing with some tall dark haired buff guy. I start approaching them and the closer I get the more my fists clench at my sides. Not because I think Nikki and this guy might have a thing going on because I don’t, I completely trust her. The sole reason is that there are tears rolling down her cheeks.

  "Nikki, you okay babe?" I ask as soon as I'm close enough for her to hear me, all the while not even acknowledging the jack-ass standing with her.

  "Babe?" The guy asks, disgusted. "he has no right to call you that!" He spews, pointing at me. It’s taking a lot for me not to lose my shit right now.

  "Donald, go away and never contact me again," Nikki tells him.

  When I finally get a glimpse of Nicole's eyes, I completely lose it. I grab this Donald guy and my right hook connects with his face so hard that I hear cracking. I don’t know if the cracking of bones came from my hand or his face and I don’t care either. Blood spews from his nose and he starts cursing me, causing me to punch him again.

  I have worked so hard to get a spark to replace the sadness in her eyes. I have worked so damn hard to make laughter come easily. I have worked so fucking hard to make her happy! And this guy comes out of nowhere just to hose the fire in her that I've worked so hard to build in a matter of less than a night? At that thought I punch him again, sending him tumbling on the hard, unforgiving ground.

  "Mace, stop!" Nicole's hands land on my chest, stopping me in my track. One look at her terrified face makes me take a step back.

  I take one last look at the fool with the bloody nose and swelling eye. "If you come anywhere near her again, I will fucking rearrange your face," I say, through clenched teeth.

  I take Nikki's hand in mine and start walking away, not back into the club but to the car. I open her door for her and she steps in. I mutter curses as I walk all around the car till I climb into the driver's seat. I pull out my phone and text my brother to tell him that Nikki and I are leaving.

  Nicole was quiet on the drive to her place and I didn’t know if it was because of that fool or because I scared her shitless.

  "Who is he and what did he do?" I finally ask as she comes back with a bag of frozen peas for my bruised hand.

  Yes, I kicked his ass and I didn’t even know who the hell he was or what he did. But he upset my girl and that was enough for me to completely lose my shit.

  "What movie do you want to watch?" She asks instead of answering me.

  "Nicole, please." I plead. "Why did I just beat that guy?" This time tears start streaming down her beautiful face again.

  "That was Donald, the reason I moved away from home..." She says as she starts telling me that this guy was the creeper who scared the crap out of her this week and how he and her best friend broke her in an unimaginable way. She lost their baby and he didn’t even have the decency to go check on her? What a prick! I should've beaten him harder! She is sobbing hard and my heart has broken so many times by the time she finishes the story behind her heartache.

  I don’t know what to say to her so I kiss her forehead, over and over again. Hoping that it makes her feel a bit better.

  "I'm so sorry," I finally manage to say, my voice laced with so much emotion that it sounds foreign, even to my own ears. She smiles but it's that same forced, sad smile she gave when I first met her.

  I sigh, my lips softly grazing her forehead again. "I'll bring it back, even if it’s the last thing I do. I promise Nikki," I tell her softly. Holding her a bit tighter in my arms.

  "What?" She asks turning in my arms to look at me, her eyes puffy and her voice hoarse from crying so much.

  "Your beautiful smile, I'll get it back," I say, kissing her swollen, salty lips.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  NICOLE

  A week later and I feel better than ever. Talking about what Donald and Gabby did to me for the first time actually helped. I realize now that the reason why I could never get over it is because I never talked about it to anyone, not even my parents. I guess it’s true what they say. Talk is the best therapy, bottling things inside and not resolving them will just leave you broken inside.

  "So, you ready to meet my parents?" I ask a nervous looking Mace as we park in front of my parents' house. The many cars parked in front of the house lets me know that
most of the guests have already arrived.

  "Is your dad one of those stone faced, scary as hell men who will grind my bones for his morning coffee just because I'm dating his daughter?" He asks, staring at the house.

  "Oh yeah, he's the type to threaten you at gunpoint!" His head turns so quick to look at me that I'm scared he's gonna get whiplash or something. I try and fail to hide the smile tugging at my lips when his eyes widen in fear. I burst out laughing when he starts cursing under his breath.

  "Oh my God Mace, I'm just kidding," I manage to say between my guffaws.

  "Not funny, woman. Not funny at all,"

  "Come on let's get inside, I promise it won't be bad. My parents are the coolest people ever," I say trying to ease his nerves.

  My parents are actually very eager to meet him. I remember the conversation I had with my mother during the week when I called to tell her that we'll be coming Saturday and not Friday.

  "Oh honey, you sound so happy. Is it this Mace boy that makes you feel this way?" My mother asks.

  "Yeah ma, he is amazing," I'm so thankful that my mother can’t see the blush creeping up my face right now.

  "Well honey, your father and I can't wait to meet him, he sounds amazing,"

  "Okay, let's do this," Mace says after taking a deep breath. He climbs out the car and jogs around to open my door. My mother opens the door just as Mace and I start walking towards the house hand in hand.

  "Nicole honey, you're finally here!" My mother says as her eyes light up in excitement.

  "Hey, ma." I let go of Mace's hand when we reach my mother and give her a tight hug. I really did miss my parents. In my twenty-six years of life, I've never been too far from my parents and as a result of this long distance I've missed them like crazy.

  "And you must be Mace," my mother says as she lets go of me and pulls Mace in for a tight hug.

  "Yes, ma'am." Mace answers as he hugs my mother back.

  "Come on you two, let’s get inside, your father is going to be over the moon now that you two have arrived."

  Mace and I follow my mom into the very busy house. There are people everywhere with champagne in their hands as they all talk and laugh. I spot my father talking to Mr. Jacobs, his long-time friend who now lives overseas.

  "Pumpkin!" My dad says in excitement when he notices me. He excuses himself and then comes and gives me a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug.

  "Oh, I need to go get the muffins out the oven," my mother tells us as she hurries toward the kitchen.

  "Hi dad, happy birthday," I say as I hug him back. "Dad, this is Mace Maynard," I smile, gesturing to Mace when I pull back from the hug.

  "Mr. Parker, pleasure to meet you and happy birthday," Mace extends his hand and my father takes it. My father looks from me to Mace as they shake hands.

  "Thank you, son, and the pleasure is all mine," My father says before leaning closer to Mace and whispering something in his ear. Mace's smile is reaching his eyes when my father pulls back. They both nod in agreement of who knows what.

  What the hell just happened?

  "What was that all about?" I ask Mace as soon as one of the guests distracts my father.

  "I think your dad and I are going to be real good friends," he smiles, his nervousness from before now nonexistent.

  "What did he just say?" I'm curious as I look into his handsome smiling face.

  "Nope, my lips are sealed," he says making a zip and lock motion to his lips.

  I'm about to ask again when someone taps me on the shoulder. I look back to see Mr. And Mrs Gomez- Gabriella's parents standing behind me with shame filled eyes.

  "Nicole honey, how are you?" Mrs. Gomez asks, looking from me to Mace.

  "I'm okay thank you," I say, smiling at her. I'm not angry with Gabby's parents, they are not the ones that broke my heart.

  "We haven't had the chance to apologies for-"

  "Don’t worry about it Mrs. Gomez, it wasn’t your fault and I'm over it now." I cut her off because this is not the time or place to discuss this and because of the hunk at my arm, I really am over their daughter's betrayal.

  "Mom! dad! It’s time to make your toast," I tense when Gabby comes into view.

  "See you later then Nicole. And again, I am truly sorry." Mrs. Gomez says as she and her husband turn to leave. "Come on Gabriella, I need you to get the present from the car," Mr. Gomez tells her in a stern voice.

  "Okay dad, will do," Gabby answers and her parents disappear into the crowd of people.

  "Nicole," Gabby says when her parents are out of earshot.

  Mace pulls me into his arm as I answer; "Gabriella, what are you doing here?" I ask, because I know for a fact that my parents wouldn’t have invited her here tonight.

  "Who's this?" She asks instead of answering me as she undresses Mace with her eyes and lick her lips. I know I shouldn’t feel jealous or angry or even insecure but I can't help it.

  Mace's arm tightens around me as he speaks for the first time, "I'm Mace, Nikki's boyfriend,"

  "I see," I tense again at the she-devil's low suggestive tone. "Well, see you around... Mace."

  Did she seriously just flirt with Mace in front of me? What I should be feeling right now is rage. I should throat punch her damnit. But instead, all I feel is my heart slowly cracking again. She takes one look at me then smiles when she sees the tears forming in my eyes.

  Why am I so weak? Why do I let her get to me like this?

  "Bye," she chuckles as she walks away.

  "Hey," Mace says and I look up at him. "Don’t let her get to you, she doesn’t appeal to me in any way," he places a brief kiss on my lips. The truth I see in his eyes makes me feel a bit better.

  "Oh, you two are so cute!" My mom says out of nowhere. I blush but Mace chuckles under his breath.

  "Nikki, honey I'm sure you two want to go freshen up a bit. Your room is ready," she says.

  I nod and look at Mace. "You can go get our luggage from the car and then I'll show you the guestroom," I tell him.

  "Nonsense, Mace will be sharing your room." My eyes widen as I look at my mother in shock. She and my father have never let a man share a room with me, not even Donald who I was with for a very long time.

  "But-"

  "No arguing dear." She cuts me off. "Mace go ahead and get your things, we'll be in the kitchen when you get back"

  "Yes, ma'am." Mace says before walking away.

  "Come on honey,"

  I follow my mother into the kitchen where it's empty. My mother doesn’t like people in her kitchen while she cooks.

  "He makes you happy, doesn’t he?" I smile at her question.

  "Yeah, he really does,"

  "I can see that, and your father and I are so happy for you. That Donald boy was never meant for you." She says with a smile.

  "Why is Gabriella here ma," I ask.

  "We invited her parents and apparently she decided to come too. I wanted to tell her that she isn’t welcome here but then I don’t want there to be drama at your father's birthday," I nod my understanding just as Mace walks in.

  "You kids go freshen up," Mace and I turn to leave when my mother speaks again. "Thank you, Mace," she says with tears pooling in her eyes.

  Mace and I look at each other questioningly.

  "For healing my baby girl. I haven't seen that beautiful smile in such a long time. It makes me happy that she's found something to smile about again," I blush at my mother's words.

  "It's my pleasure ma'am. And I promise to do my best to keep that smile in place," Mace answers as he takes my hand in his and kisses it softly.

  And just like that, another huge chunk of the wall around my heart comes tumbling down.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  MACE

  The party was surprisingly... entertaining. Who knew if you gave a few.... elderly people some wine and champagne things could get that interesting. Almost all the guests have left, it’s only that Gabriella bitch who keeps looking at me like she wants to unwrap me and
eat me alive and her parents who's still here. I've done good in distracting Nikki so she doesn’t notice the way her ex-friend is looking at me. The look of pure heartache she got earlier when Gabriella licked her lips suggestively at my sight almost broke my heart and at the same time pissed me off that the bitch was getting to her in that way.

  "I want that," Nikki says as she looks longingly at her parents who are looking at each other with nothing but unconditional love while slow dancing in the middle of the room.

  I want to give that to you. My heart rate doubles at that realization. It’s true. I want to give her that kind of happiness, that kind of love.

  "How long have they been married?" I ask instead of telling her exactly how I feel.

  "Thirty years this year," she says, still looking longingly at her parents. "They are high school sweethearts. My mom fell pregnant with me when she was still very young. They got married and never looked back or regretted it." She tells me as a smile tugs at her lips.

  "Now that's love," I say just as the slow, classical song ends and Nikki's parents make our way to us.

  "Honey, can you help me clean up?" Nicole's mom asks.

  "Sure, ma."

  I'm about to offer to help when her dad speaks; "Mace, join me in my study?" He starts walking away before I even answer. I follow him into a small study with black desk with a lamp and some neatly stacked papers and a massive book shelf behind it.

  Mr. Parker makes his way to the other side of the room and starts pouring two glasses of some dark liquor.

  "Scotch?" He offers me one of the glasses.

  "Thank you," I accept the glass.

  "I'm going to the get right to the point son," I tense at his words. Shit I thought he liked me. "I saw the way you look at my daughter. You're in love with her." He says, causing me to just blink at him because I wasn’t aware that I was in love with her till a few minutes ago when we were watching her parents. I wasn’t even aware that my feelings for her were so obvious to begin with.

  "Yes sir, I am," I nod my agreement. There really is no use in trying to deny it.