I was hellbent on leaving the hospital alone, making Nick realise that I wasn’t someone to forgive so easily but the longer I looked at Nick and saw the raw pain in his eyes the more I wanted to give in.
I placed my hand over Nick’s and watched his eyes drop to our hands. I heard Olly and Nick’s father loudly sigh possibly with relief. Ollys sigh was far more dramatic.
” This isn’t you completely forgiven Nick. You really hurt me so you’re going to have to work for it” I said honestly. Nick nodded his head understanding.
“I know and I will, fuck baby I am so sorry” he bows his head further. I caught the eyes of Olly looking between us and his father.
“what does this even mean. Are they good or not” he asked seemingly still a little confused. Nick’s father shook his head clearly amused.
” son, will you take me back to the room so I can get ready to leave” I watched as his lips curved into a smirk. I was thankful for that he did that.
” Thank you for coming Selene. I will look forward to catching up with you soon but for the mean time. Give him hell” he says referring to the man bowing down to me.
I felt Nick’s head slightly lift up but I grabbed his hair and kept him down. ” you know I will” I said back smiling.
I waved at them as they left. A few nurses and doctors were walking around however they seemed to keep their head low with only a few smiles our way. I finally released Nick and watched him get back up.
” I really want to kiss you right now but I know that I shouldn’t” he whispered as he stood up. Refusing to let go of my hand. His fingers slid between them slowly.
I watched as his eyes followed up to my lips. I also desperately wanted to kiss him but I also wanted to make him work for it.
I saw the twitch in his lips before he started to lean in. I wrapped my fingers around his neck. ” Nick” I warned him.
He sighed but managed skim my cheek with his lips. ” That will keep me going for a while” he muttered as he turned his body just in time to greet a nurse who had walked over to us.
I moved away to let him talk but Nick pulled me back to his side. I gave him a quick smile and stayed put.
” I’ve given you all the medication your father needs. For the next few weeks I would suggest that you or your brother constantly check on him and come back for regular check-ups.” The nurse said as she handed over the prescriptions.
Nick grabbed them. ” thank you, again I have to apologise for my rude behaviour. I am grateful for all you have done for my father” I watched the nurse smile up at Nick.
” it’s understandable sir, there was also a clear miscommunication which explains everything so I hope your relationship with this hospital is still good and strong” she replies.
I glanced at Nick. ” it will be. In the future please always contact me before anything is official, I never want that to happen again”
I struggle to believe that this was the same man blowing up at the nurses here but I guess that is what happens when you get so angry like that. If I were to describe Nick to people this would be the man I would describe, not the man people saw here the other day.
“Of course sir, hope to see you soon” The nurse says as she reaches for her pager. Once she leaves Nick grabs my hand again. ” will you at least let me take you to dinner” He asks as we walk through the hospital. I pursed my lips wondering if that was the right idea. Considering how I planned to just go home.
But dinner wouldn’t hurt right.
As I was thinking about it, I hadn’t realised that we were not by his car. ” I’m taking your silence as a yes and I’m taking you to dinner” he said as he pulled open the door for me. I cast him a quick look but he smiled at me as he gestured for me to get inside.
When I was finally in the car Nick rushed over to his side. I tried not to look too long but I couldn’t miss the grin on his face as he slipped inside the car, clearly happy with the outcome of tonight so far.
I wouldn’t lie, I truly have missed Nick. When we started driving Nick turned the air conditioning and asked me about my launch.
As we drove I noticed Nick looking over at me as I spoke. He would nod along with what I was saying. What had me pausing every second or so was how his fingers seemed to never stop moving. His hand came close to my thigh but he never crossed over and made that move.
” what about you, what actually happened with the hospital” I asked him. It was something that had been on my mind since we left the hospital.
” Honestly, it was just my assistant. Somehow she thought it was a good idea to stop my donation to the hospital to focus my time on other projects” he says with annoyance. His jaw tensed up, looked angry as he even thought about it.
I spun my head. ” seriously, they can do that without your permission”
He nodded. ” I trusted her enough to let her take more responsibility but now I realise that it was a terrible mistake on my part. I am somewhat to blame” he said as he turned into left road. I noticed he was pulling into one of the newest restaurants in the city. I had seen the advertisements around but never got around to eating there.
” you’re starting off well” I mumbled as he parked the car. He simply reversed park in between two big Mercedes cars without a single car for hitting either.
” I knew that you would like it here. I thought about bringing James here but his chopstick capabilities are truly shocking” he chuckles as he grabs his keys and phone from the middle compartment.
I had this image of James trying to pick up noodles with chopsticks and failing.
” I would actually love to see that” I said as I exited the car. I pulled my blazer around my body further. It was becoming quite chilly at night.
Nick waited for me as I walked around the car. I felt his hand come around my waist but I never felt him actually touch me. I look down and saw his hand drop and he shoved it into his trouser pocket.
I won’t lie to you, it hurt but this was all me.
” Nick wait” I reached out to him. I watched him breath in before exhaling deeply. This was too much, I wanted to create distance for me to give myself time but we are losing it. Losing what we had.
I couldn’t lose him.
Before I could even think rationally. I pulled at Nick’s shirt and pulled him close. Nick’s eyes widened in surprise at my move but it was too late to back away. I placed my lips over his instantly. He groaned into my mouth but kissed me back.
I slowly pulled back.
” nothing has really changed Nick. I still want this and I still want you so please don’t refrain from wanting to touch me, please” I was well aware that I was begging him now. Which goes against everything I planned for me and Nick tonight.
But I had to be real here. Nick was someone who could find someone else just as fast as I could turn my head. If I wasn’t careful I would lose him.
Nick brought his arms around my back pulling me tightly against his chest. His fingers moved my hair away from my face. ” what are you afraid of baby” he asked me, staring in my eyes. I instantly looked down. I was probably blushing hard.
“am I that easy to read” I said leaning into him.
” to me you are. I respect that you want to have a break from how we were before you left and that’s fine with me. I love how you don’t accept my behaviour just because of my status and I’m willing to make It up to you no matter how long that takes Selene” he said as he stroked my cheek tenderly.
” what if its longer than you want” I said.
He chuckled with his deep voice. ” taking into consideration how you already want me to touch you Selene I’m not too stressed about that” he said with a smirk.
Damn him, but he was right.
I glared at him, hating how we both knew he was right. Nick pulled me to his side, his arm around my waist possessively.
“better” he mumbled into my neck.
I wrapped my hand around his arm nodding. “much better, shall we eat?” I asked him, even though it was more of a rhetorical question.
” we shall, I cant remember the last time I had a real meal so I hope you’re hungry” he replied as we walked through the parking and into the restaurant.
The minute we stepped inside we could both smell the delicious food in here. This was a new Vietnamese restaurant and the specialised in Pho. I had been dying to have one of these since I heard about it.
” Good evening, is it a table for two sir” the man directly spoke to Nick, although he did send me a kind smile.
” yes, somewhere quiet would be nice” Nick said approaching the man. The waiter nodding his head and started to escort us to our table.
It was a simple area in the restaurant. A small booth that over looked the restaurant however not many people could see us which was probably best. I wasn’t sure if Nick was prepared to keep his hands off me now that he knows that I want him to touch me.
I really should’ve just kept my mouth shut instead.
When we sat down the waiter introduced us to how it worked in the restaurant and finally left us alone after giving us complimentary water to start us off with.
” I might have to take my dad here when he’s feeling better. He’s always liked Asian soups” Nick said as he scanned over the menu. I placed my hand on his thigh giving him a comfortable squeeze.
He glanced over at me. ” I’m really glad your father is okay. I was really scared for a while” I told him honestly. I didn’t want Nick to lose his father too. To me he may be perfect but he still needed guidance.
” me too, I think it’s given me the excuse to build on my relationship with him and become a proper family. We have grieved for far too long I think it’s time we get back to how we used to be” Nick told me.
My hand only tightened on his thigh. ” your new outlook is quite sexy” I whispered into his ear.
I saw Nick clench his jaw, clearly thinking about something that he definitely shouldn’t when we are out in public like this.
“don’t start something you can’t finish baby because I can assure you. I don’t plan to stop with how much I’ve missed you. I’m still waiting to see you wear that sexy little dress you wore on your trip” I gasped when he kissed my neck almost in a punishing way.
” I’m sure I can wear It for you soon” I said leaning into him.
Whatever my gut is telling me to do, I don’t want to listen because this right now. This is what I want.
” sooner the better” he mumbles just in time for the waiter to return with our drinks. Both me and Nick ordered their special tea’s.
“are you ready to order” he asks. I glance at Nick to see him nod.
When we finally put in our orders we could relax. Nick’s arm was around my waist and my hand was on his lap.
Just when Nick was about to say something my phone violently vibrated in my bag. I knew it was rude to use your phone at the table, especially with your man but I wasn’t the one who reached for it.
Nick reached over me and grabbed my phone. ” answer it” he demanded in a tone that left no room for arguments.
Since he clearly didn’t mind I grabbed my phone and answered it.
Only I had to pull it back when I heard the scream on the other end. Even though it said Jack all I could hear was Molly screaming through the phone until I heard Jack fight for the phone.
” sorry about that, I shouldn’t have told her just yet” He apologised as soon as he was away from Molly.
I glanced at Nick but he was just looking around.
” well what’s up, I’m kind of having dinner with Nick” I told him.
” woah really” he said surprised. Jack knew of what happened and knew about how I planned to distance myself.
At the mention of his name Nick turned his head to me. ” yeah, well what is it. Why is Molly screaming” I asked because I was genuinely curious.
” well Selene, I just got off the phone and you’ve basically been nominated for this award for the upcoming IBAS awards, can you fucking believe that shit Selene” Jack said proudly through the phone.
I pulled the phone away, wondering if I was going crazy.
” what did you just say” I asked again. I heard a deep chuckle come through the phone but also from the man sitting just a breath away from me.
I glared at him. Did he know about this already. It would make sense as to why he demanded that I take this call.
” He said that you are nominated for a fricken IBAS award bitch” Molly voice screamed through the phone.
The IBAS awards were one of the biggest award ceremonies in business. It was international so it was a pretty big deal. I had watched it every year since I knew about it.
” look your in shock that’s fine. Just enjoy your dinner with Nick and then we can talk about what designer is going to make your dress” Molly said excitedly. I think she was more excited than me.
She had more time to think about this whereas I, was still in shock.
Molly was the one that hung leaving me to stare at my phone.
“You knew already didn’t you” I said to Nick as I placed my phone back inside my bag. This time on silent.
Nick leaned over, his arms caging me against the booth. ” congratulations baby, I’m so fucking proud of you and yes I knew already” Nick said with a smirk. Although I knew that he was happy for me.
His eyes showed that much.
” what the fuck am I going to wear” I said, my eyes widening.
Nick didn’t seemed surprised at my outburst. A girly one at that.
” hey baby, anything you wear, you will be beautiful and besides you’ll have designers waiting to have you in their clothes. If it’s anything like the dress you wore the first time we met you are going to be the most beautiful woman in that room” Nick spoke as he brushed my cheek with his thumb.
I hadn’t realised it but somehow I started to tear up.
” I hope those are happy tears” he asked as he leant back without completely moving away from me. I still wanted him close.
I nodded eagerly. ” yeah” I wiped under my eyes. ” yes they are”