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Do I detect a slightly sullen tone in the younger man’s voice? I don’t think so, but I also don’t have the energy to dwell on it for long.
Nick turns to me and puts a comforting hand on my arm. “Then I think you need to leave, Evie,” he says seriously. As I start to protest, he says over me, “It’s okay. I’ll be here. I can make it work.”
“I can’t just run away,” I say, even though I really want to.
“And I hate to be a downer,” Dalton says, “but Kara specified both of you. I’m not sure I can keep the deal alive if one of you backs out.”
“Goddammit,” Nick curses. “Why is that girl?—”
The tension on Dalton’s face vanishes instantly, and he cuts Nick off. “I wouldn’t say another word if you still want me on your side, man.”
The two men face off for a moment, but then Nick softens. “I’m just concerned about her,” he says gruffly. “This isn’t a good environment.”
“It’s only for two weeks,” I say firmly. “And we can try to avoid them as much as possible.”
But we all know the truth: that’s easier said than done. If Dax and Kara are going to be joined at the hip then you can bet Brent and Cheryl will never be too far behind. I’ll bet they’re out there right now doing shots, having a blast, and taking plenty of pictures for social media. We should be out there too, but I just can’t bring myself to face them right now.
“Can we hang out back here?” I ask, my eyes tracing the floor.
Dalton looks like he’s about to say what I already know, that hiding in the back isn’t going to help this deal at all, but Nick cuts him off. “You can do whatever you want. We’ll stay here. I’m sure Dalton is needed out there?”
It’s his cue to leave, and he wisely does so, shutting the door firmly behind him.
There aren’t any chairs in here so I sink down onto the floor and wrap my arms around my knees. I’m embarrassed and tired and I have no idea how I’m going to get through two more weeks of this.
Nick stands by the door. He’s biting his lip, confliction written in broad lines across his face.
“You can go out to the party if you want,” I say. “It’s probably for the best if one of us is out there.”
“No way,” Nick says immediately. “It’s both of us or none at all.”
There’s an extended beat of silence. Nick wants to say something, and I wait, letting him find his words.
Finally he says, “Evie, I am truly sorry for how I acted in the car. There is no excuse for it, and I promise I will never treat you like that again.”
I blink, stunned. I’d completely forgotten our fight.
“You’re obviously going through a lot,” I say, trying to be nice.
He shakes his head once, sharply, the seriousness in his eyes betraying the gravity of his feelings. “No excuses,” he says again.
“I accept your apology,” I say. Then, “You really were acting like a dick.”
His smile mirrors mine. “I apologized!” he says. “Must you twist the knife?”
“Absolutely,” I reply. My eyes narrow. “And what, pray tell, happened to never apologizing? I believe a wise man once told me that they make you look weak.”
“Did he now? That guy sounds like a tool.”
“You have no idea.”
We grin at each other for a moment, and then he sits down on the floor next to me. Before I can help it, I rest my head against his shoulder. The music is pounding outside, enemies are all around, but here together in the little storage room Nick and I have united as a team yet again. And, beyond all reason, everything feels like it’s going to be okay.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICK
She manages to fall asleep against me; I don’t know how.
