“You didn’t come here last night expecting to stay the night.” He said and then sighed. “We got closer than you anticipated. You’re just freaked out, Sam. C’mon.” He said, hoping he could defuse her nerves. “It’s just you and me.” He pushed off the wall and took another step closer to her. He wanted to reach for her but decided to give her space. He didn’t want to push his luck. He just wanted her to listen to what he was saying.
“We’ve known each other forever, babe. We’ve danced around our feelings for years, you’re just scared. But I promise you, you have nothing to be scared of.” To hell with space, he decided, and took her hand in his. He watched her look down at their hands and then slowly she lifted her eyes to his. He whispered; “We can be good together. I know we can, but you need to be willing to go all in, because I won’t have you if I can’t have all of you.”
She wanted to believe him. The look in his eyes was telling her his words were sincere, but she had been the broken-hearted girl before. She reached up and touched his cheek.
“You’re right.” She said and watched the hope spring to life in his eyes. “I am a coward, Nick. When it comes to you, I am the biggest coward there is on the face of this earth. This thing between us is my Kryptonite. I want it more than anything, but it will destroy me.” She dropped her hand. “I can’t survive anymore loss, and losing you in the end will break me.” She swallowed hard.
“There’s no changing your mind.” He stated. There was no reason to pose it as a question when her eyes told him the answer. He cupped the back of his neck and looked around the small bathroom, because if he looked at her anymore, he wouldn’t be able to control the need to throw her over his shoulder and make love to her until her mind stopped working.
“I don’t want things to be weird between us. We gave it a shot, we’re still friends, right?” she asked hopefully.
“We gave it a shot?” He asked and tried not to laugh in her face. Yeah, they gave it a shot alright, while they were at it, they should write a how-to guide on relationships, because hey they gave it all they had, right? He thought sarcastically. “Yeah, Sam, we’re still friends.” He said appeasing her. The last thing he wanted was to be her friend.
“Nick…” She said softly, but didn’t know what else to say. He looked at her longingly. His chest rose and fell, with a strangled sigh. Before either of them could think of the right words to finish whatever they had shared he kissed her. It was a quick kiss, a gentle meeting of their lips. He pulled away and swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.
“You should go.” He said hoarsely. He needed her to go, before he never let her go.
She nodded sadly, feeling the loss already. She found her footing, and walked out of the bathroom to gather her clothes. Nick’s fist collided with the counter top and he leaned his forehead against the glass of the mirror. The one woman he wanted, he’d never have. He wanted to drown his sorrows in the bottle of Jack that he tucked safely away after she decided to spend the night with him, he should’ve just let her go and had his pity party.
He mumbled a slew of curses. She was straightening her clothes that she hastily threw on when he opened the door. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her. She had one sandal in her hand and was desperately searching for its mate.
He sighed and threw back the comforter that had fallen off the bed. He grabbed her sandal and let it dangle off his forefinger.
“Here you go.”
She looked up and avoided looking into his eyes. She took the shoe he offered. “Thank you.” She mumbled.
Nick held onto the shoe, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You claim you want to be friends, yet you can’t even look at me. Tell me, how’s that going to work?” He raised an eyebrow, questioning her.
She shook her head. “Don’t you get it? I’m trying hard not to mess things up between us Nick. I’m not strong enough to walk away from you, I’m barely holding on by a thread.”
“Seems like an awful lot of work to walk away.” He said and eased off his hold on her shoe.
“Please.” She begged and balanced herself on one leg as she slipped her sandal on.
“Please what? Let you go?” Nick asked.
“Yes.” She whispered, her voice squeaking with emotion.
The silence was deafening until Nick found his words. “Fine,” he whispered. She let out a breath and nodded slightly before starting for the bedroom door.