Nina

“Niki! If you want to do this, let’s do this.”

I come barreling through the door, ready to take whatever she has to give me.

“I was wrong.” She peeks her head up over the couch.

“Wh-what?”

“That?” She points from me to outside. “He adores you.” She comes over and stands directly in front of me. “The way he touched you, the look…I was wrong.”

I begin to shake with laughter. “You were basically dangling his balls in front of him for keeping me overnight and now?”

“Nina, don’t be a dick. I said I was wrong.” She eyes me as she passes to the kitchen. Opening her cabinet, she runs her finger along the mugs until she finds the one she wants: #coffeesaveslives. Holding it up, she points to it then dares me to say something.

“Oh, is that a silent threat?” I throw my head back defiantly.

“Is that what you think it is? It’s just a mug, Nina.” She fills it, leaving a little coffee in the pot. “Kids, don’t try this at home.” She holds the pot to her lips and downs the rest. Not quite a full cup, but more than a sip.

“You’re something else.” I pull out a barstool, taking a seat at the island to watch her occupy herself with everything but me.

“Come on, Nik, talk to me.”

“What’s there to say that hasn’t already been said?” She stands across from me.

“Niki!” I slap the table, startling myself. “You went bat-shit crazy this morning. I need to know where that was coming from.”

“Fine.” She begins to pace. “I have been racking my brain with how I let you down.” She stops, staring at me. “Because I have. The past few years, I have been so wrapped up in my own life that I didn’t notice I knew nothing about yours. If I would have—”

“No!”

“If I would have asked more questions, demanded to see you...” She comes to stand beside me. “Nina, last summer, when you broke your foot. Did he hurt you?”

Clasping my hands over my head, I fight off the demons, the ones knocking on the door to memory lane.

“I can’t go there.” I drop my hands to my side and now I’m the one wearing out the floor. I can’t let myself remember.

“I knew it. He fucking put his hands on you.”

“Not exactly. It’s not as simple as it seems.” I try to give her peace of mind.

“Nina, if I would have visited, I could have stopped it.” She places a hand on my back and in this moment, I don’t want my sister. I don’t want her comfort and especially not her pity.

“I didn’t even know. Don’t you get it? If I couldn’t stop it, what makes you think you could have?” I jerk away. “I loved that man. For every single bad quality he had something good. I wanted to believe he could change.” I throw myself down in the chair, looking over at her. I sigh. “How could you save me from something I didn’t know I needed saving from?” I’m up again, not sure what to do or where to go. “I had to find the strength within. Only I could say when enough was enough.”

“I promised Mom I would watch after you.” A tear streaks down her cheek. “I failed.”

“Niki, you didn’t. Don’t you see?” I spin her around. “Look at where we are. You have a wonderful relationship, engaged to your best friend and I’m here, safe, with you.”

“Gavin is pretty damn awesome.” Her smile is bright, one reserved for only him.

“Yes, he is.” I hold out my arms for her. “Hug me.”

“Hmm.”

“Just trust me.” I wave her in.

“This is kinda nice.” She taps on my back.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

“How long do we hold on?” she continues to count.

Five.

“Is there a pop-up timer or something?”

Six.

Seven.

“You totally take the fun out of hugging.” I break free.

“Nina, I’m sorry about this morning. I just wanted to protect you. I thought—”

“I know and I thank you, but in all reality, I should have messaged you. Adult or not, I’m staying at your house. I shouldn’t have made you worry.”

“Yeah! That’s what I meant!” She flips me the bird, smirking. “Screw you for making me worry.” She heads down the hall hollering back, “Love you!”

“You have to!” I shout back.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone to let Kyle know everything is okay.

Me: Everything is fine. You get to keep your balls.

He must have been waiting because as soon as I fire off the text, the bubbles are there teasing me with a message being typed.

Kyle: Thank goodness. I was just saying my goodbyes.

“Hey Nina, I have a surprise for you.” Niki comes in the room dangling a key in front of me.

Holding my finger up, I press the microphone to send a voice text.

Me: Got to go. Call you later.

“What’s this?” I pull the key off her finger.

“It’s the key to your new house.” She bounces with excitement.

“What do you mean, my new house?”

“Well, it just so happens that the renter moved out of my old place.”

“Wait, you mean…” I try to contain myself, just in case it’s not what I think it is.

“Gavin and I talked about it and thought you should move in. Have your own place.”

“Oh! My! God!” I begin to jump up and down, screaming. Niki joins in.

We are so wrapped up in dancing and jumping around that we don’t see Gavin come in. Reaching for Niki’s hand he starts jumping with us, squealing like a schoolgirl.

“What are we screaming for?” Gavin shouts.

Stopping suddenly, I look over at Niki. “Is he always like this?”

“Yeah.” She shrugs her shoulders. “He’s a girl.”

“Take that back.” He lifts Niki up, throwing her over his shoulder. “Me Tarzan, you Jane.”

“Oh Lord!” She pounds his back. “Put me down, I get it. You are man hear you roar. Yada, yada, yada.”

“Tarzan take woman to bed.” Gavin turns to wink at me. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you! You guys rock.” I turn and swing my new key from my index finger.

What would one do with their new-found freedom? SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF — or living room in this instance. So, I dig out my phone to call Kyle, hoping he can celebrate with me.

“Miss?”

I spin to see a man in uniform at the front door, which Gavin apparently left open.

“Yes?”

“Are you Miss Niki Sanders?”

“What’s going on out here?” Gavin comes from around the corner, Niki right behind him.

“You left the door open. This guy is asking for Niki.” I look at her. “What did you do?”

“Niiiiiiki?”

“For Pete’s sake, Gavin. I paid the damn parking tickets.” She rolls her eyes. “You miss one ticket and all hell breaks loose.”

“No tickets. I just need to give her this.” The man waves a manila envelope around.

Gavin holds out his hand to take it.

“Actually, I need to give this to Miss Sanders.”

“Good Lord, you would think I was being served or something.” Niki pushes past us, grabbing the envelope.

“Miss Sanders, consider yourself served.” The deputy walks off.

“You got to be…” She rips open the envelope, scanning the contents. “Shit motherfucker.” She throws it on the coffee table.

“What’s going on?” I ask, but am ignored.

“Gav? What am I going to do?” She sits on the couch, face buried in her hands.

Picking up the papers, he scans through them. “Well, looks like they just need you to testify in the custody case of Tucker Alexander.”

“I’m not sure…Wait, what? She gave him Aiden’s last name?”

“Since you were his teacher and involved with all parties they are calling on you as a character witness.” Gavin sits down beside his fiancée.

“Gav…”

“I know babe…”

“Guys?” I plop down in the chair across from them.

“Aiden is the one who was in the middle of that situation that went down last summer.”

“Ohhh! That’s the guy?” I glance at Niki from the corner of my eye.

“Yep, that’s the asshole.” Gavin throws the papers down before he climbs back on the couch, pulling her with him. “We will figure this out.”

“Niki, I’m here to stay. I’ll go with you. Whatever you need. I’m here.”

Lifting her head, she gives me a weak smile. “Thanks, Nina.”

Deciding I’m just interfering, I slip away to my room for a little nap. After everything last night and now today, I can’t help but let the exhaustion take over.

Tomorrow is a new day.