Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“You don’t know that.”
“But I do. I know exactly how I feel when it comes to you, and these feelings are not going away. They’re getting stronger, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make you feel safe, and for you to realize I am telling the truth. I love you more than anything, and I am going to make it up to you. I am going to prove that I am sorry for everything I did.”
****
Nikki stood at the frying pan, thinking about everything Hawk had said to her last night. She hadn’t expected his declaration of love. That had come as one big gigantic shock. She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Last night had been intense, surreal, amazing, scary, and everything in between. She wanted to laugh and cry. It was her first Halloween party. And this morning, she had snuck down to make pancakes, bacon, eggs, and whatever else she could find in the fridge.
Much to her surprise, there was a fully stocked fridge. She already had the coffeepot going. A couple of the guys had already stopped by the kitchen, had some bacon and eggs, some coffee, thanked her, and left. They called her “Hawk’s woman.” Or “the Prez’s wife.” She liked it. She belonged to Hawk.
Part of her wanted to say fuck it to their past. They made mistakes, and it was time to move on. Hawk told her he loved her. That was still a hard one to get out of her head. Hawk loved her. Loved her. She couldn’t stop laughing.
Darlene groaned as she entered the kitchen. “You look way too happy, and how are you able to even be smiling right now? My face hurts.”
She’d never seen her boss first thing in the morning. Darlene did look rough, but she was still beautiful. Her hair was pulled back into curlers.
“Nice to see you too,” Nikki said, laughing.
“Don’t laugh too hard.” Darlene offered her a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Did you have fun last night?”
“It was a good night. I enjoyed it. Are all your Halloween parties like last night?” Nikki asked.
“Most of the time they are. Hawk’s appearance until late in the morning is not usual.”
“It’s not?”
“Nah, he tends to stick around for about an hour, then disappear to his library.”
“Does he take a woman with him?” Nikki asked. She was not going to be jealous of the past, but it was so hard not to be.
“Nope. No woman goes into that library with him.” Darlene shrugged. “I think half the women here are afraid he’ll ask them to read.”
Nikki frowned. “That’s not nice.”
“I’m not saying they can’t read, Nikki, I’m saying most of the women here don’t want to come and read. They came to party and have fun.”
“Oh, yeah, of course.”
Darlene laughed. “You find reading fun?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“The more I think about it, the more you and Hawk seem like the perfect couple.”
Nikki couldn’t help but smile. She nibbled her bottom lip.
“What is that smile about?” Darlene asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Does this mean you might be considering forgiving him?” Darlene asked.
Nikki poured her friend a mug of coffee and brought it to the table for her.
“I don’t know.”
“What is holding you back?”
“Would you forgive him?” Nikki asked.
Darlene wrinkled her nose. “Don’t even ask me that. I don’t hold grudges, and life is too fucking short to take things personally.”
“So, you would?”
Her friend sighed. “I better have extra bacon and extra pancakes.”
Nikki was already serving them up on a plate, and she quickly placed them in front of Darlene, with a knife and fork.
“I’m not going to tell you the answer. This one is on you. Do you think you can forgive Hawk, and if you can, then what are you waiting for?”
“What if he hurts me again?”
“Come on, Nikki. This is life. People get hurt all the time. Most of the time they get hurt by the people they love.” Darlene put her fork down. “You haven’t made your mom work years to get back in your good graces. After everything she put you through, you’re living with her again, aren’t you?”
“That’s different.”
“How? That woman put you in dangerous circumstances. She also wanted to use you to pay for rent. You had no choice but to get out of there. Hawk kept you a secret. He helped to change your luck. He lied to make your life better. He’s not looking half bad when you put it into perspective like that, and another thing, when you needed him, he came running, didn’t he?”
Nikki stared at her friend, and everything she said sounded so logical.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.”
Seconds passed and Nikki went back to the stove.
She looked at the batter she just put into the frying pan, and watched it start to set, and little bubbles appear across the surface. Could she do this?