Niki
Rolling over, I reach for the nearest pillow and hold it over my head, drowning out the theme song from “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Dammit! Throwing the pillow across the room, I reach for my phone and answer it. “Gavin! You know that man creeps me out!” I begin to shout, but bring it down an octave when the pounding in my head reminds me of last night.
Looking over to his side of the bed, I see the sheets are cold and untouched. A ghost of a memory is what is left.
“Oh, yeah…I forgot I changed your ringtone.” He yawns, bringing me out of my memory fog.
“Just waking up?”
“Yeah, I didn’t sleep well last night. Worked late at the club, training your replacement...which, thanks for letting me know Kara was dropping by.”
“Oh shit! Sorry about that. I was so consumed with being pissed at myself that I forgot I even arranged it.”
“No need to be sorry.” He pauses to cover the phone, I’m sure to take his morning piss before he gets coffee.
“Why did you mute me?”
I hear water running. “Sorry, had to piss.” Bingo! “But seriously, don’t apologize. What you did was amazing and unselfish.” The water shuts off, and I’m pretty sure he’s getting coffee now.
Coffee. My life drug. I really need some. Like bad. I may kill a man for a cup. “You fixing coffee?”
“Yeah, a whole damn pot.” Asshole. He knows we always share a pot. Well, he drinks a cup while I down the rest.
“Just be glad I’m in New York.” I start counting on my fingers the ways I could kill him and hide his body, getting away scot-free.
“Speaking of which…what happened to letting me know you made it and giving me all the information?” Irritation laces his voice. “I had to text Aubrey to see if she heard from you.”
“Yesterday was crazy. We had another stop before New York that I didn’t know about, and once we got here, I had just enough time to call Aubrey then head to dinner.” The memory makes me smile. The cheek-hurting kind of smile.
“Just don’t tell me you are going to do something then not do it. I had a hell of a time concentrating last night.”
“Gav, I’m sorry. I really am. There is nothing I can change about it. So, let’s move on…which brings us back to Kara. How did she do?”
“I know what you’re doing, but I’ll go along with it. Kara is amazing, but Chloe called in again. Said she had over-extended herself the night before and needed more time to recover. So, with Jake on the floor, I let one of the bus boys take hostess duties while Cindy and I trained her behind the bar. But let me tell you, that girl is a natural. Smokin’ hot, too. She pulled in some major tips that had Cindy a little jealous.”
Smokin’ hot?
She is, but I’m not sure how I feel about Gavin saying those words. He’s had girls; I’ve known this, but having Kara take my place at the club, I feel as if I’m being completely replaced.
You chose this. You made it happen.
“That’s wonderful. Glad it worked out for the both of you.” Which I am. Abandoning Spotlight on such short notice left an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Kid, you okay? You sound off.” He sounds concerned. I’ve never been able to hide much from him.
“Yeah, just a little tired. Had one too many last night.” I try to play it off. “Scotch.”
“Ahhh! Playing with the big dogs, I see. Remember, it’s about the hydration.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who taught you that. Remember when…” I begin to laugh, tears rolling down my face.
“Don’t remind me.”
“Oh…come on, say it!” I beg, trying to calm down.
“One damn time. I was drunk in downtown Chicago after a Bears game. One damn time! I mention how much I loved a hot dog.”
Sitting up in bed, I can’t help but give him a hard time. “I believe what you said was ‘I LOVE WEINERS!’ at the top of your lungs as you pulled the hot dog from the bun, licked off the condiments then waved it in the air…dude, that was hilarious! Everyone, and I mean everyone, was looking.” I try to catch my breath. “Just say it. Please say it.”
“I wasn’t eating carbs,” he defends himself.
“Say it! Please…together. 1-2-3…GO!”
“I LOVE WEINERS!” we both shout at the same time.
I fall back on the bed, rolling around.
“Well, I’m afraid we don’t have wieners for breakfast, but if you want to come down, I ordered breakfast and coffee,” Aiden interrupts.
We were laughing so hard, I didn’t even hear him come in.
“I thought you were in your room?” Gavin’s voice is more concerned than pissed.
“Gav, let me text you later. Coffee is ready.”
“Make sure you do. Talk to you later, kid.” He hangs up.
Aiden is still standing there, examining me, making me feel insecure. “What? My hair crazy? Do I have pillow marks?” I pat my hair down.
Looking from my eyes to my chest, he turns to leave. “You look beautiful, but make sure you put on a bra before you come down.”
Sitting up on my knees, I look at myself in the mirror across from the bed. “Oh Lord!” I forgot I yanked my bra off in the middle of the night, and this T-shirt is so soft; it’s practically see-through. Lovely.
Jumping up, I grab my bra and some cotton shorts and head to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth and pull up my hair. Giving myself the once over, I run down the stairs and head toward the sitting area where Aiden had the staff lay out a spread of pastries, fresh fruit and a couple carafes of coffee. Alright.
Wanting to take one of everything, I settle for a croissant and coffee.
“The one on the right is yours. Italian Roast, extra hot.” Aiden walks into the room, freshly showered and dressed for the day.
“Extra hot?”
“That’s how you like it, right?” He seems confused.
“Yes, it’s just…”
“Niki, I pay attention. I didn’t get to where I am today by not paying attention. Details are everything in this business.” He sits down, pulling out a newspaper and opening it up.
“Interesting.” I pull out the chair beside him, sitting crisscross applesauce, just looking at the man that is Aiden Alexander.
Looking out of the corner of his eye, he asks “What is?”
“I just didn’t peg you for a newspaper guy. That’s all.” I tear off a piece of croissant and pop it into my mouth.
Ignoring my comment, he goes back to reading, and I send a few texts to my sister, checking in.
No reply.
Standing, I lean over the table to grab a few chunks of pineapple then refill my coffee almost to overflowing, taking a quick sip before it runs over.
Crossing his legs, he folds the paper, setting it in his lap. “Did you notice I didn’t try to kill you today?”
Spitting coffee everywhere, I sputter, “Well, if you’re not happy with my services, I would prefer to be let go, but sparing my life is cool too.” I reach for the linens, wiping up the mess.
“You know what I meant.” He smirks.
“Thanks. You wouldn’t believe how many times those pesky little berries ruin a breakfast.” I sit back down, leaning back.
“I can see where that would be an issue.” He nods a few times before he continues, “I think we should talk about last night.”
Whoa, where did that come from?
“You surprise me, Aiden Alexander.”
“Why’s that?” He sits up, giving me his full attention, apparently curious.
“One minute we are joking, and the next you want to address my drunken state of mind last night.” I mimic his pose, trying to lighten the situation.
“I stepped over the line…I have a strict policy to never—”
“Mix business with pleasure,” I interrupt, finishing the comment he has made before, the promise he said he would never break. “I get it Aiden, but last night was you helping me out. If anyone is at fault for crossing that line, it was me.” I close my eyes for a brief moment, remembering. “I asked you to stay.”
“My behavior was out of control. I knew what I was doing, and I took full advantage of your situation.”
“Aiden, seriously it’s not that big of a deal.”
Says no one ever? I was one second away from framing his face with my thighs.
Standing up he whispers, “I can’t control myself with you.” He turns, grabbing his cell phone off the table and is to the elevator before I can even process what just happened.
I wonder what suitcase Gavin packed my little friends in…