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His words echoed in my brain as clearly as if he were here. “The nickels? I leave them around as a reminder to myself of how you are everywhere. You are always with me, always in my mind and my thoughts, Nickels.” He’d even had one in his wallet.
Later I’d asked why he picked old Buffalo nickels.
“Because they don’t make them anymore,” he’d said. “And, like you, they are unique. Another one as special will never be minted.”
I’d swooned at those words and wanted to jump his bones right there.
I had to mentally slap myself. Josh was now a part of my past, not my future. He had to be. It was the only way I’d survive.
Chapter 41
Nicole
TheFriendsepisodehad almost finished when the doorbell rang.
Echo barked once.
“I hear it,” I told my lazy alarm dog.
I checked through the curtain. Josh’s car was parked outside.
Asshole.
He knocked loudly. “Nicole, we need to talk.”
I ignored him.
“I know you’re home, Nickels. You wouldn’t leave Echo. I’m not going away.”
My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists. I had to stay strong. “I’ll call the cops.” I wasn’t giving anything away by talking. He knew I was here.
“They won’t arrest me. I have a key.”
Fuck.
I’d forgotten to ask for it back when we were at the condo. A real dumbshit move on my part. “I’ll ask them to take it from you.”
“Then I’ll wait by the street until you come out. I’ve got groceries for a week in my car.”
“You do not.”
“Come out and check,” he challenged.
“No.”
He was silent for a few seconds.
I listened for him to go down the stairs, but didn’t hear anything.
“Then you can listen while I talk,” he said.
“I’m going upstairs. You can talk all you want.”
“If you do, I’ll have to yell. How will that look to the neighbors?”
I knew how it would look, and it wouldn’t be pretty. “Okay, talk.” I slumped to the floor, my back against the door.
“By the way, I brought your favorite: chicken tacos from Taco Bandito.”
