Page 17 of Good Intentions, Vol. 3

Chapter Nine

Heather

He's about to be here any minute and I'm a nervous wreck. I changed my clothes five times until I settled for black skinny jeans and a white long sleeve t-shirt over which I put a navy suit jacket with big gold buttons. On my feet are nude stilettos. I went from having my hair in a ponytail to a soft messy bun at the nape of my neck to just pulling a brush through it briskly until it shined and fell down my back.

Now, I wait.

Hearing the knock on my door, I almost fall trying to get to it.I dreamed so many times about this moment, but what awaits me when I open the door is beyond my wildest imagination.There, right in front of me stands a version of Nick I have never seen before.He’s not wearing his signature suit and tie but instead has on a black shirt with the first two buttons open, giving a glimpse at his skin which I know from experience is soft and beneath it lie the muscles of steel. He has on jeans that look like they were made just for him and boots on his feet. Trailing my eyes back up, I spy a leather jacket in his hand and my panties become wet just thinking about him wearing it. Looking up to his face, I see he’s wearing glasses again and I have to grip my door frame to keep standing up. Out of everything, those glasses are the one thing that has me melting every time I see them on his face.Dear God in heaven, he’s handsome.

“Hey,” I breathe barely able to form that one word.

He looks me up and down, and when he speaks, he does so behind clenched teeth.

“Get the fuck out of the apartment before I come inside and tear those, over the top sexy jeans off you.”

I obviously don’t move fast enough because he growls, “Now, pretty girl.”

I smirk at him then do as he says.

“Thank fuck,” I hear him mumble in relief behind me and just for that I shake my ass a little.

“Ouch,” I jump and turn around. It’s his turn to smirk. “Why did you do that?” I rub the spot on my ass where he swatted it. It stings like a bitch.

“Because you’re tormenting me on purpose.”

“No, I don’t.”

He grabs me around the waist, pulls me into his body and kisses me hard. “Yes, you are.”

When he releases me, I stumble. “Are you ready?” He walks by me and starts whistling.Ugh, I’m going to kill him.

I listen to him talking about how he lost his parents, how he was all alone during his college years and how he managed to climb to the very top with nothing but pure determination and I can't help but think that I don't accurately know this remarkable man sitting opposite me.

"Coffee?" The waitress dangles the pot near my face.

"No, thank you," I smile at her and watch as she raises her eyebrow to Nick. Clearly she's not impressed that he brought me here.

"I can't believe you brought me here," I say the words that the waitress must be thinking since she heard Nick say this was our first date. But, unlike her, I love it here.

"Well, I spent a lot of time in this diner during my final year in college and I wanted for you to get to know all of me, so it seemed suitable," he shrugs his shoulders looking around the dimly lit place.

It's exactly as one would imagine a diner would look like. Red vinyl booths lining three walls with brown bolted down tables between them. In the middle of it all a long bar behind which you can see a kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances while the cook goes around it doing his thing. The 80s classic rock plays softly in the background while three waitresses mingle around doing their thing and softly talk amongst each other. I look back at him.

"Thank you, Nick." I reach over the table, and touch his hand with only my fingers. "Thank you for bringing me here, I love it"

He grabs my hand.

"What about you?" he asks a question that puts me on edge.

"What about me?" I hate talking about my childhood. I know what happened is an everyday occurrence.

Hell, I even participated in something similar not too long ago. Still, the consequences were brutal and hard to live through

"I want to know your story."

"Not much story to tell," I try to brush him off.

Whenever someone hears how my mother cheated on my father and how she left us to be with that man, they all just play it down like an everyday occurrence. And while, yes, it’s true. People cheat and lie every day, it still hurt like hell. It left severe damage to my relationship with her, so much so that I can barely stomach the idea of spending any time with her. That’s why just a picture of him with his son cemented the fact that we need to end.