Page 28 of Until The Lights Go Out

I glanced at her warily. “Nope.”

“Is he the reason for the elevator debacle?”

I blinked, she was so straight forward, honestly it was kind of refreshing.

“Uh, yeah. I ran into him, like physically ran into him, and it was so awkward, I couldn’t even string a sentence together.” I ran my hands over my face thinking about it. “I already did an interview with him, and it was…fine. I guess? I don’t know, but apparently when I’m not in work mode around him, I can’t speak.”

“Damn, that’s bad.”

“I know.”

“Well, shall we order food and forget about dumb boys?”

“Yes, please.” I nodded, leaning my head back. “And thank you for listening.”

“Don’t thank me. That’s what friends are for. You’re stuck with me now, though.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever made a friend this fast?” I giggled.

“Damn that’s what Lucia said too,” Nicola laughed along. “Apparently I just force friendships around here!”

“Well you’re like the coolest person I’ve ever met so…”

“Please, your story is so badass.”

“You mean sad and pathetic.”

“Absolutely not. You’ve been through it, babe, but you’re still here and back in your dream world. You got this, even if it looks a little different now. I am so proud of you.”

“You just met me,” I laughed, and she studied me with a smile.

“Yeah, but I’ve got a good feeling, ya know?” She shrugged. “Okay, so food!” Nicola clapped her hands together, already reaching for the hotel phone before I could even process what was happening. “Hi! Yes, hi… Can I please get—okay wait.” She covered the receiver and looked at me. “What are we feeling? Comfort food? Fancy food? Emotional support pasta?”

“Emotional support pasta sounds life-changing.”

She nodded seriously, then went right back into ordering like she’d been training for this her whole life. “Two pastas—one truffle, one…actually, surprise me. And a bottle of wine. The good one. Yes, thank you!”

She hung up with a satisfied smile, tossing herself back dramatically onto the couch.

“Done. Crisis management complete.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I curled further into the cushions. “I could get used to this.”

“Good, you deserve it.” Nicola turned her head toward me, studying me again in that soft, perceptive way she had. “So,” she said, voice gentler now, “how are you actually doing? This is all a big change.”

I exhaled slowly, staring up at the ceiling. Trauma dumping on day one of meeting someone? That’d bond two people real fast. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “It’s like…I thought I was prepared. I knew I’d see him eventually.”

“Mmhm.”

“But actually standing there? In the same room?” I shook my head slightly. “It felt like my brain just…short-circuited.”

Nicola hummed in understanding.

“I mean, I’ve had ten years to think about what I’d say if I ever saw him again,” I continued, a soft, disbelieving laugh slipping out. “And then I just…said nothing. Or worse—said the most boring, professional, robotic things imaginable.”

“Did he?”

My brows knit together slightly. “Did he what?