by Nikki Ash
I feel my eyes begin to droop, so I stand and head into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. The last thing I need is to fall asleep while babysitting. Olivia would come home and murder me in my sleep. Reed waking up early would be the least of my concerns. The coffee is brewing, when I hear the door open, and a few seconds later Giselle is standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” She has her hands on her hips.
“Babysitting.”
Her brows furrow in confusion. “Where’s Olivia?”
“She had a last minute meeting with the event planner for the charity event.”
She scoffs. “So she asked you instead of me?”
“Apparently you’re too busy working your way down the most recent Forbes list of the wealthiest bachelors, so Olivia called me.”
Giselle’s lips purse together and she shoots me a glare. “You know what, fuck you,” she hisses. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I’ve seen enough to know you’re a gold-digger.” I shrug.
“Wow! You just love to throw that label around. First Celeste, now me.”
“If the shoe fits…What are you doing exactly? Trying to figure out who your best option is, so you’re prepared once your best friend finally puts herself before you and moves in with her fiancé?”
Grabbing my cup of coffee, I pour some milk into it and stir, then head back into the living room to sit down. Giselle, of course, follows behind, her heels click-clacking against the hardwood floor.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she asks. “Nick and Olivia are taking things slow.”
“Oh, c’mon, you can’t be that dense.” I take a sip of my coffee. “Nick has been begging her for damn near a year to move in with him! You think either of them want to bounce their son back and forth between homes? You think Olivia, the queen of fairytales, wants to wait months to marry her fucking prince?”
Giselle frowns. “She never said anything…”
“Of course she hasn’t. She doesn’t want to leave her best friend homeless.”
“I didn’t know,” she murmurs.
“Well now you do.”
Her phone’s alarm goes off, and she pulls it from her purse. “Shit, I need to go.”
“Another date?” I shake my head. “You should hang out with Celeste more. You two have a lot in common.” I laugh. “Although”—I snap my fingers—“She’s at least finally standing on her own two feet instead of leeching off her best friend.”
Giselle flinches. “I gotta go,” she whispers. “As always, it was great seeing you.” She turns her back on me and heads down the hallway.
I take another sip of my coffee, almost feeling bad for what I said. But the truth is, everything I said is fact. It probably wasn’t my place to point it all out, but how could she not have known that’s why Olivia is still refusing to buy a home with Nick.
About thirty minutes later, Giselle comes out, dressed in a tight black dress and black fuck-me heels. Her hair, which was down in waves, is now pin straight, and her makeup is a bit darker. And in her arms is Reed, who is smiling and babbling like crazy at her.
“He was sitting up in his crib, so I grabbed him.” She hands him over to me. “I changed his diaper.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” I say, holding up the monitor.
“That’s because you never turned it on.” Giselle grabs the monitor and clicks it on, then hands it back to me. “Goodbye, my little love muffin. Be very bad for Uncle Killian.” She glares at me then gives him a kiss on his cheek.
“Have fun on your date.” I smirk. Giselle rolls her eyes, grabs her purse, and heads for the door. “Oh, wait, I forgot to ask you…” She stops in her place but doesn’t turn around. “What number is this guy on Forbes’s list?”
She swings the door open, flicks me off, then slams it closed. Guess she didn’t like my question.
Seven
Giselle
“If they can get this touchdown, they will be in the Super Bowl,” Olivia tells me for the hundredth time in the last two hours. I don’t call her out on it, though. She’s just nervous. She paces across the room in the friends and family suite we’re currently in. Reed toddles over to her and pulls on her jersey. She lifts him up so he can see the field and talks to him as if he knows what’s going on. Everybody else is more or less quiet, watching down below as the New York Brewers huddle. The team breaks and gets into formation. The score is tied with less than a minute left on the clock.
When I walk up next to her, Reed leans over and I take him in my arms. Olivia’s eyes never leave the field as she watches Nick call the play. The players scramble, and Nick looks for an opening. Killian runs to the left and is open, but as Nick cocks his arm back to throw the ball, he’s tackled. The ball falls to the ground and New England gets it.
There are collective sighs and several people in the suite curse. New England has the ball now, and if they score, New York won’t be going to the Super Bowl. The players are walking off the field, and that’s when I notice Nick is still down.
“Oh no,” Olivia gasps. We watch as Killian kneels next to Nick. We can’t hear what’s being said, though. A second later the medic runs out with the coaches.
“Oh god, please no.” Olivia’s eyes meet mine. “He’s grabbing his arm.” Tears pool in her eyes. Reed reaches for his mom, but I hold him close. She’s shaking, on the verge of freaking out.
“I need to get down there,” she tells me. Then she turns toward her stepmom, Corrine. “He’s hurt.”
“Let’s just give him a minute,” Dylan tells her. Everyone watches in silence, until the gurney is brought out, and that’s when we know it’s game over.
“Go,” I tell Olivia. “I have Reed.”
“Thank you.” She gives her son a kiss. “Mommy will be right back. I love you.” Then she takes off out of the suite, along with Dylan, his wife, and Corrine.
A few minutes later it’s announced that Nick Shaw will not be back in the game. New England has the ball. They score and New York is out of the playoffs.
* * *
Nick has been in with the doctors for the last hour. Corrine took Reed back to her place since it’s well after his bedtime and he was getting cranky. Olivia is sitting quietly in her seat, her eyes glued to the door, waiting for a doctor to come out so she can go back and see her fiancé. She’s trying so hard to remain calm, but I know my best friend, and she’s freaking the hell out on the inside. When she first met Nick, he was recovering from a shoulder injury and wasn’t sure if he would ever play again—let alone come back to win a Super Bowl.
“Any news?” Killian asks, walking over and sitting next to Olivia. His hair is still damp from the shower. He’s in a New York Brewers hoodie and sweatpants. He must’ve come straight from the stadium. A few other players sit down as well but keep their distance. Everyone wants to know how Nick is doing.
“No, the doctors are in with him,” Olivia says, her voice strained from holding in her emotions. “They called my dad and Declan back about twenty minutes ago.” Declan Thomas is the owner of the Brewers. When the owner is involved, it can’t be good.
Killian wraps his arm around Olivia and her head lulls to the side, landing on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs. His eyes come up and meet mine. I shift in my seat as I remember what it felt like to be comforted by a man. When Christian and I were together, he would hold me for hours while I cried over my mom. He would tell me everything would be okay. He was wrong, though. Nothing is okay. Killian gives me a small, sad smile, and I find myself smiling back.
“Olivia Harper,” someone calls out, and we all stand. It’s a woman dressed in scrubs. Maybe a nurse. “Nick is asking for you. You can follow me.”
Olivia nods silently then turns to Killian. “As soon as I can, I’ll text you or come and get you.”
She follows the nurse back. For the next hour everyone waits in silence. It’s late and the waiting room is quiet. The door fina
lly opens again and Olivia and her dad walk out. Her eyes are puffy from crying but she forces a watery smile.
Killian and I both stand at the same time and meet her halfway across the waiting room. “You can go see him,” she tells Killian, who doesn’t waste a second before heading back.
“How is he?” I ask.
“He’s going to make an announcement. He’s retiring. It’s his same arm and he would need surgery again. He doesn’t want to go down that road for a second time. He wants to go back to school to study Literature. It’s a dream he’s had since he was little.” Tears fall down her cheeks. “He wants to write a novel.” She sniffles.
“Why are you crying?” I ask as I pull her into my arms for a hug.
“I don’t know,” she sobs. “I’m just being emotional.” She cries harder through her laughter and I join in until we’re both laughing so hard tears are streaming down both of our cheeks. Neither of us having the slightest clue as to why we’re laughing or crying.
“I’m going to stay here with him,” she finally says once she’s composed herself.
“Okay, love you.” I give her another hug. “If you need anything, please let me know.”
I exit the hospital and grab a cab home. After showering the day off me, I climb into bed and snuggle into my blankets. My thoughts go to Killian and the way he held Olivia. It was nothing more than a friend comforting a friend. But it allowed me to see a different side of him. He might be an asshole to me and Celeste, but it’s obvious that there’s a softer, sweeter side to him he only allows certain people to witness.
Eight
Giselle
“I’m sorry, Giselle. I’ve tried to find another nurse for tonight but haven’t had any luck,” Dedra says through the phone. “It’s Paula’s night off and she’s not answering her phone.” Paula is the night nurse I’ve had to hire so my mom is taken care of around the clock. It meant adding more to my endlessly growing pile of bills, but it was necessary. Hopefully the house will sell quickly, and then I can use that money to pay off some debt and get my own place for my mom and me. I put the house up for sale a few weeks ago—after Killian pointed out what I already knew—that it’s time I stop depending on Olivia and handle my shit—and we’ve already had quite a few people interested. No offers yet, but it only takes one.
At first when I told my mom the house was being put up for sale, she called me a selfish bitch and kicked me out, but a few days later, I was shocked when she called and told me she’s excited to be moving out. She’s actually been in a great mood lately. Gardening in her backyard and talking about not needing my father and being ready to move forward. I think the meds she’s on are finally working. Of course I’ve said that before and then they stopped. The problem now, however, is when I tried to schedule for her to see the psychiatrist to get a refill, I found out my father’s insurance had been canceled. And when I called his job to speak to him about it, I was told he no longer works there. Of course he doesn’t!
So now getting my mom new health insurance has been added to my list of things I need to purchase once I have the money. I spoke to one insurance agent, but with my mom’s medical history, I was quoted ten thousand for the year. It’s going to have to happen soon, though, because she can’t get off her meds, especially since right now they seem to be working.
“It’s not your fault,” I tell Dedra. “Of course you need to be there for the birth of your grandchild.” My phone beeps with an incoming call. It’s my sister. I unlock the door and throw my purse down on the counter. “I just got home. I’m packing a bag, and I will be over there soon. Go ahead and go. Congratulations, Grandma!”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
We say goodbye, and I throw my phone onto the counter, frustrated that I need to be in so many places at once and I can’t do it all. Just as the phone hits the granite, it starts to ring again, the sound sending me over the edge I didn’t know I was standing so close to. “Fuck! Stop ringing!” I yell out loud, begging my phone to silence. When it doesn’t stop, my hand swipes at the offending device and it flies through the air, hitting the wood floor. It goes quiet for a second but then starts up again.
I walk around and pick it up, seriously contemplating shoving it into the garbage disposal, when Olivia makes her presence known.
“What did that phone ever do to you?” she jokes, but I can hear it in her voice, she’s concerned.
“I can’t make it to the charity event tonight. I’m sorry.” The phone starts to ring again. This time it’s Bianca. I send it to voicemail and silence my ringer.
“Is this about the cost of the plate? Because—”
“No!” I snap. “I need to go see my mom. She needs to have someone there with her at all times and Dedra’s daughter is having a baby. And the other nurse isn’t answering her phone. They can’t find another nurse last minute, and even if they could, it would cost a damn fortune! She just lives so far! I can’t be everywhere at once! Once I sell her house and move her into an apartment with me it will make things a lot easier.” My mouth finally stops moving as I pause to take a deep breath. My mind plays back everything I just said, and I quickly realize—too late, of course—I just word-vomited all over Olivia.
She stares at me for a second, clearly shocked I just told her more about my life in those fifteen seconds than I have in the last year. “You put your parents’ house up for sale? You never mentioned that.” Olivia shifts Reed on her hip, but he squirms wanting down, so she sets him on the floor. He crawls over to his toys and starts to play.
“It’s no big deal.” I wave her off.
“Umm…yeah, it is. You grew up in that home.”
“It is what it is.” I nod toward my room. “I need to go pack a bag to take to my mom’s. I’m really sorry I can’t make it tonight.” I start to head to my room when Olivia calls my name.
“You know I’m here for you, right?”
“Of course,” I say, turning around and plastering a fake smile on my face.
“Just because I’m with Nick doesn’t mean you’re not still my best friend.” My thoughts go back to what Killian said about her putting me before Nick, and the words are out before I can take them back.
“Actually, Livi, that’s exactly what it means,” I say honestly. “And that’s how it should be. Things have changed. You had a baby, and you’re engaged to be married. I’m no longer your problem to deal with.”
“Why would you say that? You’ve never been a problem. You’re my best friend.”
“Why haven’t you moved in with Nick yet?”
“I told you we’re taking things slow.”
“No, you’re not. You’re only living here because I told you I wouldn’t live here without you if you moved, and you know I can’t afford to live in the city on what my internship pays me.” My voice elevates with frustration, and Olivia flinches.
“I don’t mind keeping the place for you.”
“I mind!” I yell a beat too loudly, then lower my voice so I don’t upset Reed. “I mind you paying for a place for me to live when you won’t even be here. It’s not your job to take care of me.”
“I love you.” She sniffles. “I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me.” Tears fall down her cheeks, and I hate myself for being the cause of her crying.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” I step toward her as the front door opens and in walks Nick.
He takes one look at Olivia and glares my way. “What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing,” Olivia says, placing her hand on Nick’s chest to calm him down.
“It doesn’t look like nothing. It looks like you’re crying,” Nick says to Olivia, then he looks at me. “What’s going on?”
“I was just telling Olivia that I’ve put my mom’s house up for sale, so if all goes well, I’ll be moved out soon.” The last thing I want is for my best friend’s future husband to think I’m leeching off her. For Killian to make those comments, words must
’ve been spoken between him and Nick.
“Unnecessarily,” Olivia says through her sobs. Nick wraps his one good arm around her waist in a comforting and protective manner, and my heart squeezes as I wish, not for the first time, I had someone to hold me like that.
“We both know if I wasn’t living here, you guys would already be married and living together.” I look at Nick to deny it, and he frowns but doesn’t say a word.
“I asked you to move back here and Nick understands that.” Olivia steps out of Nick’s hold. “I know something is up with you, but you won’t let me in. I haven’t once asked you to move out or even indicated I want you to. So can you please tell me why you’re pushing me away?”
“I’m not pushing you away. I’m just so sick of our friendship being one-sided.”
“One-sided? You don’t think I’ve been a good friend?” Of course she would jump to that conclusion!
“No! One-sided meaning me! What have I done in this friendship? You’ve paid my way for the last seven years. You take me out for my birthdays and buy me expensive gifts for the holidays. You even have to pay for my ticket to your charity event because I can’t afford it. Meanwhile, what have I ever done for you?” I throw my hands in the air in defeat and blink back my tears, willing them not to come. “Nothing! I’ve done nothing! And to top it off, I’m the reason why you haven’t gotten your happily-ever-after!”
“Are you serious?” Olivia questions. “You were the one who pushed me not to run when I got scared. You’re the reason I got my happily-ever-after. And as far as our friendship goes…When I was lonely and lost in Paris, you befriended me. You let me cry on your shoulder for months over my mother’s death,” she says. “And then when I was dumped by my cheating ex, it was you who ran away with me to New York.” She swipes at her falling tears. “When I found out I was pregnant and thought nothing would ever be okay again, you held me in your arms on the floor of the bathroom and promised me it would be.”