Page 95 of Heartsick & Lipsticks
SKYE
“This is…”Ri’s statement tapered off as she scanned Nick’s backyard filled with loud music and kids laughing, eating, and swimming.
“I know.” I still couldn’t believe he’d done all of this for Callie. And he’d refused to allow me to pay for any of it. Even though I knew that he had plenty of money, I still felt guilty about it. I was sure I’d pay him back for everything he’d done for me, and Callie, and my mom; I just didn’t know how or when.
“And the house…the house is…” Again, Ri was unable to finish her thought.
“I know.”
I’d never seen my bestie speechless before. But I understood her being at a loss for words. I had to admit that I truly did not have any idea how to communicate what I was feeling either. Not just for today, although the lengths he’d gone to in order to do this for Callie meant more to me than he would ever know. But not just today; the past six weeks had been the best of my life.
Not because of the amazing house or not having to worry about paying for groceries or whether or not my car was going to break down. It was the people in the house. For the first time in my life I felt like I had arealfamily. Our dinners. Our movie nights. Our weekends down at the beach.
It wasn’t just Nick, the girls, and me; it was having Lola and Naomi there too. It felt intergenerational. And it was about to end.
“The birthday girl looks like she’s having blasties.”
“She is,” I confirmed.
Callie had not stopped smiling since she woke up this morning. She was so excited to bring Bella with us to the nail salon. They both picked out the same color for their nails and toes. They talked nonstop the entire time. I got some really cute videos that I sent to Nick. He responded with a GIF that said he couldn’t stand the cuteness.
Right now, Callie, Jenny, and a few of their friends were doing cheerleading pyramids with Bella, Lexi, and Hannah.
“She and Bella seem like long-lost sisters or something.”
“I know.” The sick feeling I’d had in my stomach since yesterday morning churned as I thought about the news I needed to break to them.
“What’s going to happen when you guys have to move out?”
I sighed and decided I couldn’t keep the secret I’d been holding any longer. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out next week.”
Ri turned her head toward me. “Next week?”
“The property management company called yesterday. We can move back on Friday.”
Ri’s eyes widened. “Does Callie know?”
“No, no one does. I’m waiting until after the birthday party to tell everyone.” We heard loud giggles, and looked over to see the pyramid had collapsed and all the girls were cracking up. Bella and Callie were both on their backs, holding their stomachs, belly laughing.
“That’s probably a good call.” Ri nodded before looking back in my direction. “Obviously, I know Callie’s not going to be happy about the move back, but what about you?”
“What about me?”
“How do you feel about no longer living in Casa de Love, I mean de Locke?”
Love. I was in love with Nick, but that was a moot point. “It was always temporary.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I nodded and tried to blink away the emotion as I teared up. I felt like Cinderella, and for the past six weeks, I’d been at the ball. But Friday was the stroke of midnight. The carriage was going to turn into a pumpkin. My dress was going to turn back to rags. This fairytale was ending, and it was not going to be with a happily ever after.
“Incoming,” Ri said without moving her lips. It was something she’d learned to do in middle school when we were in study hall. Mr. Bellamy watched us like a hawk, but he couldn’t hear anything out of his left ear. Ri would talk without moving her mouth, so she didn’t get detention.
I sniffed back my tears and turned my head in the direction Ri was looking. When I did, I saw Nick heading straight for me. He wore a white T-shirt, jeans, and a ball cap and looked downright edible. His long strides ate up the distance between us, and my heart skipped like it was in a double Dutch competition.
He’d been manning the barbecue all day with Alex and Maddox, and I’d been busy hosting and catching up with Ri, so we hadn’t really had a chance to speak. It was only a few hours, but I’d missed him. Which didn’t bode well for the emotional journey I’d be on after I left Casa de Locke.
Ri turned toward me, and her face split into a wide smile. “I’ve gotta go see a horse about a man.”
