Nica was back at her job, resuming her exhausting schedule. She hadn’t seen or heard from Vincent but knew he must be occupied with his three-day practice.
His cold demeanor from that day still lingered in her mind. Did he hate her now?
She couldn’t believe she was worrying about that instead of focusing on herself. With no one to sponsor her, she was all alone.
“Are you sure you’re strong enough to resume work today?” Old Evan asked from behind her.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a smile, though her body still ached, especially her neck. She wore a turtleneck to hide the faint red mark that lingered.
Having missed two days of work, she didn’t plan to miss another. She thought Old Evan might be upset with her, but he seemed to genuinely care.
“You’re such a liar, aren’t you?” he said, seeing right through her. She swallowed hard. “You can leave now, or perhaps leave early to get some rest. Don’t overwork yourself, okay?”
She nodded. “Hmm… thanks.”
–
“What would it feel like to knock someone over?” Ava asked Josephine, who chuckled.
“What?”
“I want to knock over a guy who keeps asking me out on a date,” Ava complained.
“You have someone crushing on you? Go for it!” Josephine said, raising an eyebrow. Ava shot her a glare.
“Are you serious right now? Maybe the person I want to knock over is you!” Ava shot back.
They were both in a massage room, each with a masseuse gently pressing on their backs, easing their tense muscles.
“Was it Chris?” Josephine asked, and Ava nearly gasped.
“How on earth did you know that?”
“C’mon, I saw the way he looks at you, the way his voice changes when he speaks to you, the way his eyes light up at the sight of you. I notice everything, dear friend.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Okay, shut up, or I’ll carve out your tongue.”
“How about you give him a chance? It’s been a while, and you’re looking hot right now.”
“Look who’s talking!” Ava shook her head. “George won’t stop staring at you either. His voice changes whenever he talks to you, and his eyes light up at the sight of you… he loves you so much!” Ava echoed Josephine’s earlier words.
“You’re the worst friend ever,” they both chuckled. “I just got divorced. Let’s stay single together.”
“You’re crazy,” Ava mumbled.
“You like Chris?”
“F**k you, Josephine!”
They laughed until the moment faded.
Josephine’s face turned serious. “Nicholas told me he’s going to announce his wedding to the world tomorrow.”
Silence settled between them, and concern flashed in Ava’s eyes.
“Are you still planning to go to the wedding?” Ava asked cautiously, not wanting to reopen Josephine’s old wounds.
“I am,” Josephine replied with a bitter sigh. “And I wish Klaus would come too. But that’s a snowball’s chance in hell.”
Ava pressed her lips together, sadness crossing her features. “Perhaps you should tell him the reason for the divorce…”
“No,” Josephine interrupted, her voice firm.
“He deserves to know, Josephine. How long will you keep this from him? What if he loses himself even more than he did that night he found out about the divorce? What if he hates you and never wants to see you again, especially when he should be doing so right now?”
“Ava, stop,” Josephine cut in, her voice sharp.
“Please.”
“He’s almost done with college; I don’t want to be a burden. I don’t want him to look at me with pity. I don’t want to feed the bond between us further, which would only drive him further to the edge when it happens. It’s better we stay this way…”
Ava’s eyes were already welling with tears. “Joseph…”
“He has you, Ava,” Josephine smiled, though it was bittersweet. “That alone is enough to make me happy.”
Ava sighed, unable to say anything to her stubborn best friend.
–
Morticia sat on the soft sand, gazing at the ocean waves crashing rhythmically under the afternoon sun. She sipped her cocktail through a straw, wearing an oversized shirt and shorts.
She watched Klaus emerge from the water, droplets shimmering on his toned frame as he shook his head vigorously, sending water flying.
He met her gaze and smiled, clearly having fun. He waved at her, beckoning her to join him.
“No, I’m good!” she exclaimed, too lazy to leave her spot to swim.
Klaus took a deep breath at her stubbornness before approaching.
“Get up, Bunnie,” he demanded.
“I thought you said we weren’t going to get in the water,” Morticia mumbled lazily.
Klaus shrugged with a smirk. “You know me, Bunnie-I don’t exactly stick to plans.”
“No, I don’t want to swim.”
Without another word, Klaus scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, heading back toward the water as Morticia yelled in protest.
He dropped her into the waves. Morticia was a good swimmer; she had learned from Vincent.
Emerging from the water with a loud gasp, she glared at Klaus, who was chuckling.
“I’m going to kill you,” she growled playfully before trying to catch him. He swiftly darted behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and flinging her backward into the water.
He surfaced before her, running his fingers through his hair with a sly smile.
Morticia resurfaced with an angry expression and began to chase him.
“Get back here, Klaus! Let me rip your eyes out!”