by Andrea Hurtt
It wasn’t anxiety causing Hope to have alcohol at two in the afternoon. It was a different fear.
She was afraid for Grace, since she still didn’t know what her best friend was going through.
She was worried about Nick.
He hadn’t called her all day and after their last conversation, and things had gotten tense.
Hope could only imagine what Nick was going through.
His baby brother had done something horrible.
She didn’t have all the details, but it didn’t sound good. Surely Charles would go to jail after he healed from whatever injury he had.
She just wanted to get to Grace. She pulled her phone out of her purse and sent Nick a text.
HOPE: I’m at the airport, at my gate.
A reply came instantly. NICK: Okay. let me know when you get to Seattle.
She’d been hoping for more. More texting, or better yet, a phone call.
She needed him right now, as much Grace needed her. Hope needed to be strong for her best friend. How?
Grace had always been the rock in their friendship. No matter, she’d figure it out. Hope would be strong for her friend.
The flight to Seattle was a quick one. Not even enough time for the attendants to pass out drinks.
When she landed and got to her next gate, she texted Nick again.
HOPE: At my gate in Seattle. Any update?
NICK: One step closer, but many miles farther apart. Glad you’ll be here soon. Psychiatrist came to evaluate Chuck. Waiting on results. Grace’s doing good. Blaze is getting things set up to move her to L.A...
HOPE: Okay. Boarding.
NICK: K, see you soon.
Hope wanted to rest, but her mind was all over the place. She had a three hour flight ahead of her. She tried playing Nick’s solo album through her headphones, but instead of soothing her, it got her agitated.
She switched to her new Razor’s Edge playlist and tried to focus on the lyrics of the songs. She found one that really hit home. Needed to hear the words.
I’m here, my love
You were perplexed in the beginning
My dear, wipe the wet from your eyes
You’d lost your faith, it told me
There could be no more deceit
Standing there, in mystery
Holding on, could you want me
I’ll do it now, what do you need
I will help so that you can succeed
I’m here, my love. I’m here, my love
I can take away all of your pain
I’ll never leave, I’ll never leave
You will always have me by your side
I’m here, my love. I know you
Your days will be filled with our light
Since I’m not afraid
I’ll show you, That everything will be all right
Hope played the song over and over until she’d memorized the words. It made the time move along faster. She was just starting to relax when the captain announced their descent.
Her heart thundered. She was so close. Close to a man she feared she was falling in love with. Close to seeing her best friend, who may or may not be the same woman she was five days before.
Close to realizing her life had changed forever.
She grabbed her purse from under her seat and her duffle bag from the overhead, then took a deep breath as she stepped off the plane.
Nick was waiting for her just outside the security check.
She’d thought she’d held herself together well enough until Hope stepped into his open arms. The flood of tears took over.
She couldn’t stop crying. It didn’t matter she was in an airport full of people pushing past them.
He held her like nothing was wrong. After a moment, Nick kissed the top of her head. “Come on, baby. Let’s get outta here. My hotel’s right across the street from the hospital. I’m in a Marriott that has a full kitchen in the rooms. I’ll make you something to eat, you can have a hot shower. We’ll go see Grace in the morning.”
“Thank you,” was all she could get out.
Hope sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee.
Nick had been amazing the night before. He’d cooked a delicious meal, ran a hot bath, and held her until she drifted off to sleep.
She’d awoken to the smell of fresh coffee and bacon.
The shower was running, and part of her wanted to join him. Another part warned her to stay away.
Something in the way his voice had changed when she mentioned Charles going to jail had her worried.
Would their budding relationship survive something like this?
He’d said he loved her, after all.
Hope gnawed on her bottom lip. He hadn’t said it again, in any texts or their short phone conversations.
Nick stepped out of the bathroom, with a small towel wrapped around his slender hips. Droplets of water escaped the strands of his hair to roll down his chest.
Look away, Hope, look away.
As if to make a point she couldn’t yet understand, he dropped his towel at the door and walked to the dresser naked.
He threw her a smile. “I ordered Grace flowers; they should get delivered here soon.”
“Crap! I wish I’d known. I would have warned you; she hates flowers. Especially roses.”
He cringed, covered it fast. However, his shoulders caved a little. “Yeah, Blaze told me about Charles’ roses.”
“What?” She moved closer while he slipped on jeans. “Charles’ roses?”
“Oh, yeah. You don’t know about that. I guess he started leaving her roses, like a weird calling card. Blaze said no roses. So I got something else.”
An hour later, they stood outside Grace’s door.
“Hold these and let me go in first. She doesn’t know you’re here.” Nick handed her the enormous bouquet of daisies, and hurried into the room.
Hope dared peek inside.
Her man proceeded to the side of her bestie’s bed with caution.
Grace reached for him with her right hand; her left was in a sling.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“But I do. If only I’d been a better brother; if only I hadn’t antagonized him. I should’ve known from the first night I met you at the ball; he was obsessed with you. We could have prevented all this.”
“Nick, we both know this would’ve happened, no matter what. None of us did anything wrong. Charles needed help. He hid that from all of us. There was no way of knowing it would come to this. But trust me, I played the ‘what if game’ for three days. It always came back to the same thing. Only Charles is to blame here. I hope this gets him the help he so desperately needs.”
“Oh, I have something for you.”
Her friend cocked her head to the side.
Nick put his index finger up, then left the room.
Hope stepped back before either of them saw her.
“Babe, stay right behind me. I’m gonna hold the flowers up so she can’t see you...”
They got right up to the bed.
Hope stepped around Nick and into Grace’s view. “Hi, Elvis.” She wiped at the tears pouring down her cheeks.
“Hope! You know, I really hate that nickname!”
She threw her arms around her bestie. Hope released her and took a tentative step backward. “Oh! I’m so...”
“Do not say sorry! I can’t hear another person say sorry!”
Her mouth dropped open.
Grace’s harshness took her aback.
“It’s just... this was no one’s fault. Don’t be sorry. I’m just glad you’re here,” Grace said, and her voice was a tad softer.
“I wish I could’ve gotten here sooner.”
“You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
Nick stepped up behind Hope and wrapped his arms around her protectively. “We’re both here for you if you need anything. I hope you know that.”
> Did she know that? Was he really gonna be there?
Could Hope handle it if he wasn’t?
Chapter 15
Hope spent the entire day with Grace, getting all the details of her trauma. She cringed at her best friend’s explanation of the horrors she’d endured at the hands of a man she’d thought was a dear friend.
She couldn’t imagine how Grace would move forward after something like that. But her friend was strong. It’d take time and support, but she’d get through it.
Nick and Blaze had made themselves scarce, giving them much-needed girl time.
It gave Hope a chance to talk about what’d been stalking her brain. Nick.
“I mean, he wasn’t rude or anything. Just a little standoffish. He hasn’t brought his brother up since then. But he also hasn’t been, well… the same.”
Her bestie grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry too much. This is traumatic for him, too. He takes some of the blame on himself, thinking he wasn’t a good enough brother. You need to be there for him, as much as for me. Maybe more. I saw the look on his face when he held you when you first got here. He looked like a man in love. But only he could say for sure.”
“I still can’t believe he said he loved me, on national TV! I expected it from Blaze, but not Nick.”
“Yeah, I was as surprised as you were. On both counts. I have no doubt of Blaze’s love for me. But how do you feel about Nick’s declaration?”
“I don’t know,” Hope said honestly. “I mean, what girl doesn’t want a hot, famous man to announce to the world they are loved? But…”
“You think it was for show?” Grace said the words she was afraid to voice
Hope could only nod.
“I hate to ask this because I am so grateful, but how long are you here for?”
“You know, I have no idea. I just packed a bag and left. My ticket was only one way. I wish I could stay as long as you need me, but…”
“You have a life in Washington. Animals that need you, a job to get to. I know. I appreciate you coming. Even if it’s only for a day or two. It means a lot to me.”
“I’m sorry, Miss,” a nurse called from the door. “I’m afraid visiting hours are over.”
Hope gave her bestie another big hug. She wasn’t quite ready to let her go. She held back tears, trying to be strong.
Grace had a lot of healing to do. Most of that was emotional.
“I’ll come to see you first thing in the morning if that’s okay,” she said.
Her friend wiped at a tear that slipped from Hope’s eye. “They’re releasing me in the morning. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen next. I can’t go back to my apartment. Ever. Besides, Blaze insisted on having professional movers finish up what I’d started. As far as I know, all my stuff is already on its way to L.A.. I’ll have Blaze bring me to Nick’s room after they discharge me. We can all sit and chat and figure out where we go from here.”
With great reluctance, Hope left Grace’s room. She sent Nick a text while walking back to the hotel, across the street.
HOPE: Leaving Grace, they kicked me out. Heading to the room. Hope you’re okay.
NICK: Blaze and I are just tying up a few loose ends. See you soon.
HOPE: Any thoughts on dinner? Do you have things in the fridge I could make something?
NICK: Whatever is fine.
His ‘whatever’ had her worried. She could take it so many different ways. Hope tried to push past the worst of them.
He’s had trauma, too. Remember that.
She rummaged the fridge when she got to the room, glad the hotel he’d chosen had a full kitchen.
She’d stayed in one like it, years ago. Hadn’t needed the kitchen then; it was the only hotel in the area.
Hope was pleasantly surprised by her options. For someone that didn’t know how long he’d be there, Nick had clearly meal-prepped. Everything went with something.
There was enough food to make at least four different dinners, not to mention eggs, bacon, and bread.
She grabbed the package of spaghetti noodles and a jar of sauce out of the small cupboard. She made a large pot, in case Blaze would be joining them.
Hope was setting the small table when Nick arrived, Blaze in tow.
She pulled another plate and fork from the cupboard. “I hope you’re hungry,” she told them when the door closed.
“Starving. Thank you, Hope. You didn’t have to do that,” the dark-haired man said. Blaze sat at the table and opened one of the beers he was carrying.
“I picked you up a bottle of Moscato while we were out. It’s not cold, but would you like a glass?” Nick held up the wine to show her.
“Yes, please. I could really use some, after today.” She dished out the meal.
Nick got her wine poured. Then, he too, cracked open a beer.
“Rough day, Hope?” Blaze asked.
“It was hard hearing what happened. Grace talked about it like it was a play she was in, rather than something that happened to her. It’s worrying me.”
“Agreed,” Blaze said. “That’s why she’s moving in with me.”
“Excuse me?”
Had she heard him right?
“Well, it just makes sense. I have a four-bedroom home, and a housekeeper that comes twice a week. My place is close to the theater, and she won’t be alone at night. That’s what I worry about most.”
“I understand that, Blaze. But you two just met. Literally.”
“I know. Two weeks ago today. And your point?”
Her hackles were up. This was her best friend they were talking about. “My point is, you don’t really know each other! And add a major trauma on top of that! Don’t you ever watch movies? Relationships that start with a disaster, end with one! Grace can’t handle that.”
He took a long pull of his beer, his dark eyes burrowing into her. “You of all people should understand. When love hits you, it doesn’t need an explanation, a timestamp, or anyone’s approval.”
“What do you mean, me of all people?”
Blaze glanced at his buddy.
Nick was quietly eating his meal, keeping to himself.
“Nevermind.” Blaze shook his head. “I guess, I just mean, I care about her. No... I love her. I can say that with absolute certainty. I will do anything, be anything she needs. And you can bust my balls if I don’t.”
Hope needed Nick to break his silence. She glared. “And how do you feel about this?”
“I don’t know. I can see from both sides, and either option is good. I think she should still move into the place her boss set up for her, and Blaze, you can stay with her for a while. Give her a chance to stand on her own two feet first. If you still feel you need to live together, give her the chance to make that decision.”
“Yeah, okay. I guess you’re right,” Blaze said.
Hope huffed.
Really, he gives into Nick that easily?
Grace is gonna have her hands full with this one.
They finished their meal without another word about Grace.
Her bestie’s man finally left around midnight, after the six-pack of beer was gone. Apparently, he was right down the hall.
This was the only hotel close to the hospital.
Hope had been looking forward to some much-needed alone time with Nick, but by the time his buddy left, they were both too tired to do much more than brush their teeth and crawl into bed.
It surprised her when Nick pulled her body against his, and they fell asleep curled up together.
Rays of early morning light filled the room.
Hope dared a glance at her bedmate. She met his dark blue eyes and read in them what she was feeling.
Without words, she reached for him.
Her kiss was desperate as she tugged his shirt off.
Nick complied, showing he wanted her just as much.
She pressed him down on his back, kissing him as she slipped a hand under the waistband of his boxers. Her fingers curled around his hard
shaft, and she reveled in the soft skin on the tip. There was the tiniest drop of moisture and she used it to her advantage. Hope stroked him softy, and smiled when he let out the smallest moan. Her lips found his again, and she stole the sound away. She broke their kiss to pull off his boxers.
“Hope, are you sure?”
She met his eyes, her heart full of fear of being rejected.
Nick hadn’t touched her since L.A. Did he still want her, or was she just there for moral support?
“It’s just that you’ve had a trying couple of days, I don’t want to wear you out.”
His reply was not what she expected.
“I need you, Nick, right now.”
She didn’t care that they didn’t have condoms. She’d thought about it in the past, and had decided since she was on birth control and they hadn’t used one before, why bother now?
Nick pulled her against him, laying them back down, with her stretched on top of him. His hands roamed her body.
She still wore pajamas.
Hope moved her lips to his neck, then up to his ear.
He groaned in pleasure as her tongue explored.
She pushed to her knees and took off her shirt before resuming kissing her way down his sculpted body, her full breasts gliding against him.
Nick tensed, then sucked in a breath when she kissed his hip bone.
She adjusted herself on the bed.
She’d been wanting to do this for so long.
Hope ran her tongue from the base of his cock to the tip.
He groaned, and his fingers tightened on her shoulder. It was the only part of her he could reach.
She swirled her tongue around his tip before wrapping her lips around him.
The noise he made had her smiling to herself.
She loved giving him pleasure. Hope worked him up and down until he was practically writhing, then she hummed.
Nick gripped the sheets on either side of them. “Oh, Hope,” he grunted.
She worked him to the brink, tasting the little of him he could no longer hold back. Hope quickly slipped off her shorts and panties and straddled him.