I had the bathroom in my sights. Any moment now I was going to run and throw up, though I don’t know what since I hadn’t eaten anything today.
“Did she see us?” He nodded but didn’t look at me.
“When everyone went to sleep, she returned to my room and beat me. It was only a beating I could endure because I was used to it, but with the last blow, my head hit the edge of the bed. Leaving me unconscious. When I woke up, you were gone and my aunt acted as if nothing happened.”
I tensed. Never in a million years would I have imagined she did that to Nick.
Now I understand why he never communicated with us. Now I understand perfectly why Nick is the way he is. Because he forced himself to hate me.
“This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.”
I looked at him confused.
“That look of pity in your eyes,” His eyes filled with tears but he quickly wiped them away with his hand.
His anger returned.
“It’s not pity,” I gently touched his cheek. “It’s helplessness. If I had known, I might have done something.”
“What could you have done? Nothing Samantha, you were a child.”
“I’m sorry for everything you went through.”
“Don’t apologize, it’s not worth it. I’m fine now.”
“You’re not.”
“Now you’re also a psychic?”
“You don’t have to be one to realize you’re broken, here,” I placed my hand on his chest.
His eyes became glassy. He nestled his head on my chest. Perplexed by the action, I didn’t touch him, a movement could ruin the moment.
“You’re too good for me. You’re going to get tired of my nonsense and leave me.”
My heart clenched. Leave him? I can’t imagine a life without him. I just can’t.
“I won’t, Nick,” I caressed his hair while speaking soothing words to him.
Nick fell asleep on my chest. I couldn’t sleep.
I decided to take a bath and prepare everything for tomorrow.
Giving his face one last glance, I slipped out of his hold, thankfully he didn’t wake up. I took some towels that Nick put in the suitcase and took the liberty of using his bathroom.
The warm water hit my skin, relaxing me, relieving most of the tension that weighed on my shoulders.
Although, a small lost boy still remains in my mind. That boy who suffered abuse since he was eight years old because of me, if I simply hadn’t come into his life…
“Are you in here?” Nick tapped on the door and opened it. The white plastic curtain was the only thing preventing him from seeing me.
“Yes, did you think I had left?”
“I don’t know. I feared that might be the case.”
I poked my head out of the curtain to look at him.
“I told you I won’t leave you, Nick,” I smiled at him. “Trust me.”
The night went well. We didn’t bring up the topic of Olivia or anything. We just laughed and ate. He bought Chinese food and I ate most of it.
When it was time to go to university, Nick begged me not to go.
“Please let’s stay here,” he pouted.
“Let’s go, please. Today I have to hand in an essay,” I begged.
“You can hand it in tomorrow,” He seductively placed his hand on the back of my neck. “You know you want to stay.”
“Yes, I do,” I said in a husky voice. “But I also want to pass the year.”
I pulled away and left the apartment. I knew he would end up following me, so I waited downstairs, next to his car until he deigned to come down.
He was wearing worn and tight jeans, a Kiss band t-shirt, and his hair was perfectly disheveled, as always.
“We’re going to be late, are you satisfied?” I asked cynically.
He opened the car doors and smiled at me. “Very much so.”
When we arrived, Eva was waiting for me at the entrance. Seeing me in Nick’s car, she went crazy, but in a good way.
I got out of the car and she jumped on me.
“No wonder you didn’t answer my calls,” Eva whispered in my ear. I blushed.
Nick was behind me. With his hands in his pockets. Realizing I was looking at him, he winked at me, then his gaze shifted, his pupils dilated.
I looked where his eyes were focused, and Aaron was approaching me…