Gagnon shot me a dirty look and I just shrugged, hung my pads up in my locker, and grabbed fresh clothes from my bag. I wanted to defend myself, but I felt like it would be a waste of breath. If all they had to pick on me for was a murder mystery and being the new guy, I was sitting pretty.
Chapter 2
Nikki
New York City—this is it.
I stood in the middle of Times Square in utter bewilderment.
The bright lights, the bustling of people, the honking horns, the fluttering pigeons—it was all so mind-blowing. The movies definitely did not do the city justice, to say the least.
It was my first time really being out of the one-stoplight town I grew up in. I was completely out of my comfort zone, but it was now or never.
I made it.
Finally.
I’m actually here.
It was all an absolute dream come true, and I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around how undeniably marvelous this new undertaking was going to be for me. Who would have thought a little girl with grand dreams of dancing across the stage in the Big Apple would actually see them come true? I surely doubted myself from time to time—frankly, all the time—but being hard on myself made me try harder, push longer, learn more. All the difficult work, all the blood, sweat, and tears—all of it was finally paying off.
Inhaling a deep breath of city air, I let myself take it all in. I was on the brink of a whole new life and this was day one, step one, the beginning. It was humbly astounding and I was going to take this city by storm if it was the last thing I did. I was determined to be the best of the best, and no one was going to stand in my way.
Walking around, I checked my map for the hundredth time. I knew I totally looked like a tourist with a large fanny pack and all, but I couldn’t care less. I had come into the city two weeks early to get my footing and actually have some time to explore—once I started training with the New York City Ballet, I would barely have time to breathe, let alone take in the sights. I had traveled a bit for different dance projects over the years, had danced on countless different stages. Even though this was the big time, I couldn’t let it feel too much different; I needed to channel my inner confidence.
This was the first time I had ever been so far away from home alone. Being barely nineteen, alone in the greatest city on Earth for the first time was as thrilling as it was unhinging, but I wasn’t going to let my nerves get the better of me. I’d made a promise to myself before I arrived that I was going to be a yes person and just let myself enjoy life to the fullest for once. Ballerinas didn’t usually have adventures outside the dancing world, but this was my time to really experience life.
My phone buzzed in my pocket with a text.
Mom: Hey honey, how’s it going? Are you enjoying it so far?
My mom was having a harder time with me being gone than I was. She was a single parent, and it had been us against the world for my entire life. If she could have, I think she would have packed up and moved with me. The only thing that was probably stopping her was the fact that she knew I needed to spread my wings on my own for once.
Me: I am on cloud nine. This place is magical.
Mom: I am so proud of you, baby! Can’t wait for pictures and to hear all the details!
Me: I will send the pics right when I get home and upload all of them to my computer.
Mom: Awesome! Looking forward to it. Love you, Nik.
Me: Love you too.
It was simple and quick, but those small moments when we knew we were thinking about each other made all the difference. It made me feel less homesick and so much more so, all at once. It was strange going to my apartment, so empty and lonely. It felt weird to not have my mom by my side for all of this.
After taking hundreds of pictures of pigeons, street signs, random buildings, and everything in between, it was time to get some caffeine in me. Thankfully, right as my feet were screaming for a break from all the walking I had done, I stumbled upon a hole-in-the-wall used book store. It looked absolutely charming and was attached to a coffee shop with a wooden sign that hung overhead and read The Bookstop.
“How adorable,” I mumbled to myself as the bell chimed overhead, announcing my entrance to the tattooed clerk. She was covered in gorgeous ink on most of her visible milky skin, and I was jealous of her artwork. Tattoos were something prima ballerinas typically didn’t get, but that didn’t stop me from being in awe of their beauty and rebellion.
“How’s it going?” she called over from behind an old wooden counter as she glanced up from a book.
I waved shyly. “Hi, this is a really cute place.” I twirled slowly, looking at all the old books on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, taking it all in.
“Let me know if I can find anything for you. My name is Staci. The coffee shop is just through there.” She pointed at a small hallway through the bookcases near the back of the store.
“Thanks, I’m Nikki,” I stated, smiling as sweetly as possible at her.
She pursed her lips quickly into a half smile like I wasn’t really trying to be friends here, just doing my freaking job. I just let it roll off my back—nothing was going to take away from how thrilled I was to find this little slice of heaven tucked away in the heart Manhattan.
The smell of java and old pages consumed me, caressing my soul. Since I was a slave to my craft, there wasn’t a lot of time for a social life or dating. Books were my friends, my lovers, my heartbreak, and my adventure. I had been a resident of Huxley’s Brave New World, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, hid from the Nazis in an attic with Anne Frank, explored Wonderland with the white rabbit, and sailed a raft with Huck and Jim. I had grown up page after page. After dancing, reading was my passion, something that made my life complete.
After ordering a chai latte and finding a comfortable couch in the back of the coffee shop, I let myself get lost in a murderous tale, simple and perfectly woven together by the brilliant mystery queen, Agatha Christie. It was like revisiting old friends, and I was present on the remote island with no hope of escape as characters dwindled down in numbers.
All books by Kristen Hope Mazzola
The Crashing Series:
Crashing: The Wedding: Cali’s Story (Crashing #0.5)
Crashing Back Down (Crashing #1)
Falling Back Together (Crashing #2)
The Unacceptables MC Standalone Series:
Unacceptable
Unspeakable
Unbreakable
Untouchable
Unbearable (Releasing Oct. 19th)
Undeniable (Releasing Nov. 7th)
The Hysterics Standalone Series:
The Hysterics
Colt & Serena: A Hysterics Short Story
Shots On Goal Standalone Series:
Hat Trick
Cross Checked
Cherry Picked
Low Blow
Playoff Beard
Off Duty (Releasing Dec. 1st)
Standalones:
Stupid Hearts
Rough & Tumble
Boxsets:
The Crashing Series
Lust & Love
The Huntress Series (co-written with Dawn Robertson):
The Huntress (Book 1)
The Hopeless (Book 2)
The Nameless (Book 3)
The 69 Series:
(multi-author collaborations for charity)
Hook & Ladder 69
Bleed Blue 69
Note From the Author
Thank you for reading Unbearable. In doing so, you have helped fulfill a very important goal of mine. From every purchase of any of my books, I donate to the Marcie Mazzola Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to "help better the lives of abused and at-risk children, and to build community awareness regarding the needs of children."
The Marcie Mazzola Foundation was established in 2003 by my family. On July 6, 2002, Marcie died tragically in an automobile accident. Although she was only 21 at the time of her death, Marcie
had experienced many things and touched many lives. She was a beautiful young woman whose inner beauty surpassed even her physical beauty because of her compassionate nature and treatment of others.
At the time of her death, Marcie was involved in a civil lawsuit against a school bus driver who had sexually abused her when she was 11 years old. Prior to her death, it had been expected that the case would be won, but since Marcie could no longer testify, it was going to be next to impossible to win. Marcie’s attorney met with her family to determine if the suit should be continued. He advised the family that Marcie had confided in him her intention to donate her entire award to help sexually and physically abused children if she won the case. Once this was known, the family had no doubt that the suit had to continue.
The attorney’s strong commitment to Marcie prompted him to proceed with the case, and against all odds, it was won. Marcie’s estate was awarded a monetary settlement. With her attorney’s guidance and continued support, the family established a foundation as a tribute to Marcie’s life, which would continue her legacy to help children.
To learn more about The Marcie Mazzola Foundation, please visit: http://www.marciemazzolafoundation.org
Marcie Mazzola Foundation
158 Burr Road, Commack, NY 11725
phone: 631-858-1855 • fax: 631-462-8544 email: [email protected]
About the Author
Bestselling author, Kristen Hope Mazzola, lives in the suburbs of Tampa soaking up the sunshine while watching hockey or football at beach bars. She writes contemporary romance ranging from steamy romantic comedy, angsty new adult, all the way to sports romance – with dirty bikers, hot military men, and swoon-worthy rockstars in between. A portion of her royalties goes to the Marcie Mazzola Foundation.
Stay Connected
www.KristenHopeMazzola.com
[email protected]
Passion, Vows & Babies: Unbearable: An Unacceptables MC Standalone Romance (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7