Nicholas

 

 

"I assume last night went well." Crew eyes me when I walk up to where he's sitting at the café he told me to meet him at. "You look satisfied, Nick."

He knows Sophia so there's no fucking way I'm going into details about what happened at my place last night even though it was incredible. She fucked me in the chair next to the piano before she slid off me and covered herself with the sweater. Her beautiful pussy was still on display so after I tied off the condom and tossed it into the wastebasket, I threw her in the chair, got on my knees and ate my way to pure joy.  I licked that sweet pussy while she squirmed beneath my tongue. She came twice before she pushed me away and told me she had to go.

I didn't take her home even though I wanted to follow behind her. I called for a car from the service I sometimes use and she left in the same dress she arrived in although I found her panties this morning next to the piano.

"That's none of your fucking business."

He flashes a big smile. "I'll take that as a yes. I won't pry but dammit, Nick, I've got to say I'm envious."

I'm not surprised. Sophia was incredible. I'm already aching for another taste.

"Why the meeting?" I look at the counter and the long line of people gathered near it. "You could have picked a place that isn't so popular. I'm not standing in that line to get a coffee."

"You don't have to." He looks over his shoulder at a tall brunette wearing one of the signature yellow aprons of the small chain of cafes in Manhattan. She's cleaning plastic trays although her gaze is glued to the back of Crew's head "Chelsey, my friend needs a coffee. Can you bring him one of the fancy ones you brought me?"

She walks toward us, her hands busily adjusting her ponytail. "Sure thing, Crew. Do you want anything else?"

"You at my office Monday afternoon at four," he says with a sly wink. "Can you make that happen?"

She almost vibrates from excitement. "Are you serious? I can be there. I will be there."

"I'll give you the address before I take off."

She catches my gaze before she looks back at Crew. "I know where it is. I'll get right on that drink for your friend."

"You're the best." He shoots me a look before he turns back to her. "We both appreciate it."

I wait until she's out of earshot before I say a thing. "How old is she, Crew?"

"She's a freshman at NYU."  He laughs. "You didn't think I was inviting her to my office so I could screw her, did you?"

As uncomfortable as the thought was, it did cross my mind. I would have pegged her for a high school kid. "Why did you invite her to your office?"

"I ran into her agent a few days ago. He had some test shots of her he wanted me to see." He looks to where Chelsey is standing behind the counter, her focus intent on the task at hand. "Her eyes are killer; smoky blue and wide. She's perfect for the summer campaign we're about to shoot for Matiz. It's a new eyeliner and shadow."

"You're going to give her a job for getting me a coffee?"

"Fuck, no." He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest. "Her parents own this place. They've been pushing free coffee my way for months."

 

***

 

An hour later, I'm back on my own with a newfound appreciation for Crew's business acumen. The man has a hand in the running of at least six different businesses and he's looking to expand his portfolio. His new venture involves a friend of his who designs shoes and handbags. He sees it as having guaranteed investment potential and he wants me, or more accurately, my money on board. I hesitated when he asked because the thought struck me that if I'm going to invest anything in the world of fashion; I want my money backing Sophia.

What does my favorite fashion designer like to do on Saturdays?

I type that out and send it to Sophia as I near the corner of Broadway and Columbus. I'm on the Upper West Side to stop by my folks' place to surprise them. I don't call ahead anymore because that always leads to a dinner invitation that turns into an inevitable conversation about all the mistakes I made when I was a kid.

My current success may impress a lot of people but I don't count my parents as two of them. My dad expected me to follow in his footsteps and earn a badge. I never wanted to be a member of the NYPD. It's not in my blood the way it is for him and Sebastian.

I needed to write and through the lean years, my mom slipped me money whenever she could, but the onus was on me to make ends meet. I did. After college, I moved into a shitty walk up that already housed six other guys. I slept on the floor in a sleeping bag for a week before I emptied my bank account to buy a folding cot. I made it work because I had to.

When it came time for Liam to face the biggest decision of his life, he took another career route altogether.  His choice was easier for my folks to accept because he healed those left behind by the senseless crime in this city.

My phone vibrates in my hand as I wait for the light to cross.

I eat donuts and design maternity clothes. What about you?

I step off the curb and start typing, following the crowd as they cross the street.

Going to visit my folks.

I wait for a response and stop on the sidewalk once I see it.

They live in the city?

Uptown. I type back before I press send.

There's a pause before I see her typing.

I'm heading uptown in two hours. It's half price today at my favorite fabric place.

I should invite myself along, but I've got some place I need to be after this.

Do you wanna come with? I could use you as a model.

I stare down at the screen, clenching my phone in my fingers so hard it's liable to bend in half. 

Fuck.

Can't. I've got plans.

I make it all the way to the lobby of my parents' building before I finally hear the chime on my phone signaling a new message.

No problem. Have a good day, Nicholas.

You too. I press send even though I want to tell her what I'm doing. I can't yet. It's too much. If she knows what's lurking in my past, I may never see her again.