Our Chance (16 page)

Nell rapped on my door ten minutes later; nine minutes after I’d finished throwing my clothes in the washing machine. I answered the door and she smiled sheepishly.

“Hey,” she said, biting her lip.

“Come in,” I replied, stepping aside.

She walked in much more reserved than usual. We’d argued a million times before but this one was different, it was about something real.

I kicked the door shut and held my hands up. “Are we cool? You’re not planning any revenge, are you?”

Tilting her head to the side, she said, “No revenge, I swear. Arguing with you is kinda fun.”

Was it? I liked when we teased each other mercilessly but not when we argued.

“I’m sure it’ll happen again.”

“No doubt.” She turned before going into the living room. “Damon, I’m exhausted. Physically and emotionally.”

Her words hit me like a fucking freight train. She hadn’t come here for sex, she came for comfort. That was a new development.

“Have you eaten?”

“No, but I don’t want to.”

Nell wasn’t the skipping meals type so I knew something was really affecting her and even if she wasn’t ready to open up and tell me why, she had come to me for support.

“Go to bed then.”

Laughing nervously, she tugged on the sleeve of her jacket. “You don’t mind me coming over just to steal half of your bed?”

Jesus, she could be really obtuse sometimes. “No, I don’t mind.” I actually loved that she was coming to me; usually it would be Chloe who got her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Something passed between us. My heart raced and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was a breakthrough and I wanted to push but it’d taken her years to get to this point. This was a huge deal to her.

“Are you coming too?”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I replied.

Nodding, she walked off to my bedroom, leaving me calculating the probability of this being a robot or alien version of Nell. Something had changed for her to come here tonight. I was worried about what that was. She could be in trouble but I had no idea what she could have possibly done.

Flicking off the lights, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and headed in to find Nell. I thought my heart was going to rip right through my chest when I saw her curled up in my bed. She had the cover right up to her chin and her face tucked against the edge of my pillow.

What’s happened to her?

Her vulnerability was difficult to witness.

“Hey you,” I said, slipping my jeans off.

Smiling up at me she replied, “Hey back.”

“Been a long day?”

Snorting, she raised her eyebrows. “Long life.” I sat on the bed and she shook her head. “Sorry, I’m being really depressing, aren’t I?”

“You don’t have to be happy and carefree all the time, Nell.”

Her silence told me she thought she did. Whatever she was hiding she’d been doing it for a long time. She’d mastered the art of pretending everything was fine. I wanted to know it all but the lengths she went to, to protect her secret scared me. I clenched my jaw as worst-case scenarios plagued my mind. What if she was hurt, abused?

“Hey,” I said, laying down and stiffly pulling her into my arms. I needed to snap out of it and focus on taking care of her.

She made a quiet gasping sound, like she was choked up, and burrowed into my side. I closed my eyes. That was better. Having her body tucked against mine felt like the most natural thing in the world. “It’s okay if you’re not okay. It’s normal.”

“Maybe I’m not normal.”

Smiling against her forehead, I replied, “Yes, you’re definitely not normal, but you know what I’m getting at here. Everyone has bad days and you don’t have to hide them from the people that care for you.”

The person that’s fallen so fucking much in love with you it kills.

“I just don’t like to be one of those miseries that brings everyone down.”

“You wouldn’t do that by showing when you’re struggling.”

“I’m not struggling,” she replied instantly, defensive.

“Perhaps that was the wrong word but you know what I mean, Nell. If you’re pissed off and down,
be
pissed off and down. It’s fine.”

Sighing, she kissed my bare chest and said, “Thanks, Damon.”

“Sleep now, okay, and if you want to talk in the morning I’m here.”

She wouldn’t want to talk in the morning of course, but at least she knew the option was there and I didn’t care if she wasn’t bouncing-off-the-walls happy.

It was half past six in the evening and we were in bed. No amount of hunger was going to tear me away from her tonight, not for a second. This was exactly where I needed to be.

Nell slept in long after I got up at 6am. She flat out refused to get up before seven. It was now ten minutes to, but apparently that ‘holy’ ten minutes was going to be spent with her face pressed in
my
pillow on
my
side of the bed.

We both had work today and I enjoyed the normality of getting ready together a bit too much. Or I would when she actually got up.

“Nell,” I said.

She rolled over leaving a mass of shiny black hair fanned out on the pillow behind her. Her lips pouted and she groaned. “I don’t want to leave this bed, I’m still exhausted.”

“I managed it.”

“Well, congratulations to you.”

I laughed and slipped my shirt on, buttoning it up. “Will you get up for coffee?”

“I’ll do anything for coffee.”

My hand froze on my button. “Why didn’t you say that sooner? I’ll get these trousers off.”

She bolted upright and put her palm up. “Oh no you don’t, you sex pest. I’m still tired so there is no way your ultra-randy self is coming anywhere near me until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

With a nod of the head she replied, “Tomorrow. Come over. Oh and be nice.”

“I’m always nice.”

“Fine, be gentle then.”

“That’s probably the only time I’ve ever heard you ask for it to be gentle.”

She frowned and her nose scrunched up at the tip. “And don’t you think I’m mad at you for making me want that?”

I laughed and went back to getting dressed, picking out a slim, red tie. “Don’t be mad. I happen to be very good at gentle too.”

“Well, I look forward to tonight then.”

“Tonight? You said tomorrow.”

“You look good in a suit and it’s making me hot. Tonight.”

“I won’t argue with that. We have time now…”

She held her hand up. “Definitely not. I need a shower and time to get ready. I don’t want to be sore and late.”

“You are no fun in the mornings.”

“Fuck off, Damon,” she muttered, making her way to the bathroom.

I laughed, enjoying having her here to get ready with me, despite her not being a morning person. She walked a little gingerly into my en-suite, still raw from opening herself up and asking for help last night.

“What do you want for breakfast?” I called, finishing fixing my tie.

“Anything, I don’t mind.”

God, I hated it when women said that. Why couldn’t she just tell me what she wanted?

“Bagel?”

“Sounds good,” she called back.

The shower turned on and I had to get out of the bedroom because the thought of water running down her naked body was calling me to go in.

I made coffee and peanut butter bagels topped with slices of banana that reminded me of my childhood. Nell came into the room looking incredible in a fitted skirt and knitted jumper. She’d not done anything with her hair but tie it up, but she still looked like she’d spent hours on her appearance. Beauty came very naturally to her.

“This looks good,” she said, picking up a bagel. “I’ve never had peanut butter on it before.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“My mum used to make them when we needed to eat quickly before leaving the house. Cara hates it but it’s still one of mine and Lance’s favourites.”

She took a bite, and I waited to get her verdict. “Like it?”

Nodding, she replied behind her hand, “It’s good.”

We ate the breakfast of kings together and then went to our cars to part ways. She stayed at mine at least once a week and visa versa so it would make sense to keep some things at each others, but I knew that if I suggested that she would freak out. So we lugged a bag back each time.

I put her small case on the backseat of her car and lent against the door.

“Well, thanks for letting me sleep over.”

“Anytime,” I replied. Literally
anytime
. “You free at lunch?”

“I’m meeting Chloe today, but I’ll see you tonight. And tomorrow is Scotland so you’ll be sick of my by the end of the weekend.”

“Not likely, and shit that’s come around quick.”

Kicking her mouth up at the side in a shy smile, she stepped into my embrace. “I really appreciate last night, Damon. I don’t like to…” Biting her lip, she lowered her eyes. Show weakness was what she was getting at. “Well, just thank you.”

I lifted her chin and pressed my forehead to hers. “You’re welcome. I’m always here. And I can’t wait to get you back in that huge bed in Scotland.”

I couldn’t wait to have Nell back the way she was the last time we were in Scotland. She was so free of whatever demons she carried around.

“Remind me to tie you to it this time,” she said with a mischievous glint to her eyes.

“Done.”

“Come here,” she said, reaching up and pressing her lips against mine.

Groaning, I cupped her neck and deepened the kiss.

Damon

Nell had insisted that she was going to drive to Scotland rather than fly again. She had also insisted that I fly with everyone else but there was no way I was letting her drive alone. Or at all – she was a terrible driver.

I was picking her up and Chloe and Logan stopped by to laugh at us. We were supposed to leave at eight in the morning because it was going to take seven hours to get up there. But it was now eight twenty-nine and she was still rushing around trying to find a certain top that I bet she wouldn’t even end up fucking wearing.

“Nell, do you need it? You have enough to wear and the second we’re in the hotel room you’re going to be naked anyway.”

Chloe laughed, Logan wolf whistled and Nell continued looking as if I hadn’t even said a word. She was either ignoring me or was just so used to it by now. Whether it scared her or not, we were a couple already.

It did scare me too. The way I felt about her scared me. I had no previous idea of what it was like to love someone in that respect, to put them before anything else, to want to do everything humanly possible to make sure they were okay. It was intense and sort of crept up on me. I was powerless to stop it or control any part of loving her. Which sucked for me because she was very anti anything even remotely serious.

“Nell, Damon’s right. You’re only there for three nights and you already have enough clothes. Why do you need this specific top?”

“It makes my tits look awesome,” she replied, getting a chuckle out of Logan.

I cocked my eyebrow. “Every top does that. Get your arse in the car, I’m leaving in two minutes with or without you.”

She huffed and shoved her hands on her hips. “Fine. Are the bags loaded?”

“They have been for the last forty minutes, yes.”

Chloe and Logan stood up while Nell stood still. Alright, she wasn’t getting in the bloody car of her own free will so I was making her. I scooped her up, swinging the top half of her over my back. She squealed and gripped onto my hips.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” She snapped.

“Do you mind locking up, Chlo?” I asked.

Laughing, she replied, “Not at all. Have a safe trip and we’ll see you there tonight. Love you, Nelly.”

“You do
not
or you wouldn’t let him manhandle me!” She shouted back as I carried her out of the house.

“I wouldn’t have to manhandle you if you just got in the fucking car,” I said, flipping her back on her feet.

Her hair was as wild as her eyes. She glared. “What. The. Fuck.”

“You’re not the one that has to drive for the next seven hours, I want to get going,” I said.

“How many times did I offer to drive whole or part of the way?”