Nik’s brows rise and he puffs out a laugh. He shakes his head and grins knowingly. “When are you going to tell her you’re in love with her?”
I scoff. “It’s only been three and a half weeks since we got together. I’m not in l—”
He cuts me off with a firm, “Yes, you are.”
Frustration wells in me. Leaning back in the chair, I sputter angrily, “That wasn’t meant to happen. It wasn’t part of the plan.”
Nik raises a brow in question. “What exactly was your plan?”
I stand and emphasize every word with quick pauses in between, “To not fall in love.” Nik tips his head back and bursts into laughter. My lip curls. “What are you laughing at, Dik?”
Still chuckling, he utters, “Do you think I wanted to fall in love with Tina? Hell no. It wasn’t the right time for me. I had a plan too. The plan I had to settle down was set to commence next year.” He grins. “It don’t work that way, Maxie-boy. Put it this way. If Helena called you today and told you she wanted to see other people, what would you do?”
I roll my eyes. “I’d say fuck no and that wouldn’t be happening.”
He smirks. “’Cause the thought of some other guys hands on her makes you want to draw blood, right? Because she’s your woman, and she loves your daughter. She makes you smile for real, not the one you learned to put on for the sake of other people. And because when she holds your hand, she does it for the world to see, and she cares about small shit like that. Or maybe it’s because she truly cares about you, heart and soul.”
The fight successfully knocked out of me, I puff out, “Yeah.”
Nik looks up in thought. “Take Friday off too. I don’t think you’ve taken her out on a real date before, have you, you cheap bastard?”
My brows narrow in thought. “No, I haven’t.”
Nik sighs, “Do I gotta do everything for you?”
As I step back out of his office, I flip him the bird. Walking down the hall, I hear him call out, “Sure you don’t want me to wipe your ass too?”
I puff out a laugh.
Asshole.
***
Helena
God, I’m missing home. A lot. Today more than yesterday. As I wait for my three pm session with Sam, a Marine vet and amputee, I reach across my desk, pick up my phone, and type out a text.
Me: You are the reason doves cry.
With a calmed sigh, I place my phone where it was and print out exercise sheets to give Sam. As I hit print, my phone vibrates.
Nina: Oh my God, you whore. I spat my coffee out everywhere.
I smile down at the screen, but it’s a sad smile.
Me: I miss your fat ass.
Nina: I miss your cellulite and weird eye.
I squint down at the screen.
Me: When are you going to tell our middle, balder, fatter sister about you know what?
She doesn’t respond for a very long time, and I know she knows I know, so I send her another quick statement.
Me: I love you. There. I said it. Happy?
A moment later, my phone vibrates.