Page 19 of Nick

“Can I stay here?” She looks at Alex and Seb.

“Of course, Gabby,” Alex smiles.

I offer Gabby my bed to sleep in, looking at Shortie, who nods. We watch a movie, then I bring Gabs into my bedroom and take a seat beside her on the couch. “Doing okay?” I ask her.

She begins to cry, so I wrap her in my arms, giving her time to let it all out.

Once she’s done, she punches my shoulder. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too. Tell me what’s happened.”

Gabby excitedly fills me in on her life over the past six months, including a boyfriend. I raise my eyebrows at that comment. “He’s nice; don’t scare him away, Nick. Seb has already given him a hard time.”

“As he should.”

Gabby rolls her eyes, but is in better spirits when she's done, so we rejoin the group. I hold out my hand to Shortie, quirking an eyebrow. She kisses Seb on the cheek and gets up and grabs a bag, then I pull her into the bedroom.

“Glad you’re back, man,” I hear Seb holler as we enter and shut the door.

Asking Shortie to join me in the shower, I head straight into the bathroom, strip, and get under the hot spray. My body is feeling amped up and exhausted. Sleeping has been minimal since I left. No real fights and no sex means I've been constantly exhausted. On the nights I was beaten up badly from forced loss, I usually slept a few hours, but that's it.

I sense Shortie entering the shower behind me. She washes my back, continuing until my entire body is clean, then scrubs my hair. I have to lean forward for her to reach, but it’s relaxing my mind and body.

As I’m rinsing my hair, she leaves. When I step out of the shower, she gently dries me off. I dig through E’s clothes to find a pair of shorts to wear and climb into bed, and Shortie joins me a few minutes later.

I get comfortable with her against my left side as another involuntary shudder runs through me. “Love you,” I murmur into her hair. I’ve never said those words to anyone in my life, but only she deserves them. She somehow became my strength and my peace without even trying.

“I love you, Grumpy. It’s going to be okay now. You’re not alone.”

Chapter 14

I wake as the sun is rising the next morning to find Shortie hugging me like a koala. Turning my head, I see E and Seb sleeping. I close my eyes and stay quiet until I feel Shortie stir. “Shortie,” I call her.

“I missed you so much, Nick,” she whispers.

Nodding, I pull her higher to kiss those soft lips. “Gotta go back to the station today.”

“Want me to come with?”

“No.” She doesn’t need to sit through all that boring shit with me.

“Okay. I’ll be with Jake. Call me when you’re done?”

“Jake?” Her best friend from Virginia?

“You’ve missed a lot,” she smiles. “Jake went into an experimental trial after you left that Zander found. He woke up and lives about 10 minutes from here with his dad. He’s still in rehab but is doing good. I can’t wait for you to meet him. He has some short term memory issues but is otherwise okay.”

Well, fuck. That’s surprising. “You’re back with him?”

“Not yet. He knows my story, but we haven’t discussed it. I’m with you and Seb. You’re not getting rid of me.”

“Good.” I’d fight to keep her, but I’m happy she has him back. “We should get up before Z and Troy come up.”

“Good idea,” she mumbles.

I kiss her head and then roll out of bed, going into the bathroom. I leave and slip into my room to grab some clothes. Once I’m dressed, Alex hands me a cup of coffee. Even that tastes better here. I’ve become such a spoiled sap.

“Do you need a doctor?” Alex asks.