Cara slammed Nick and Helena’s drinks on the bar. Luke stared up at her, noticing the dark circles under her eyes that she tried to conceal with makeup. She turned away and sauntered to the other end of the bar. Luke watched as she helped the other patrons, shooting him daggers every time their eyes happened to connect.
“So, Nick, how long have you been back in Riverdale?” Helena asked, trying to break the tension that had abruptly filled the air.
“A while now,” He sighed and wondered where the time went. He felt someone poke a finger into his hard shoulder. He glanced behind him and saw Phillip standing beside him with his arms crossed at his chest. “Phillip, how you doing buddy?” Nick asked as he turned back around and grabbed his drink. He couldn’t look at Phillip without picturing Jack Tripper, thanks to Luke. He took a gulp of his drink to hide his grin.
“Don’t you buddy me!” Phillip said and shoved himself between Helena and Nick. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Luke looked over at them, dragging his eyes away from Cara to see what the ruckus was about.
“Nick?” Helena asked from behind Phillip.
Phillip turned around abruptly. “Do you know you’re cozying up to an unavailable man?” He sneered at Helena.
Nick began to choke on his own saliva, and coughed. Luke slapped him on the back, hard. “What’s he talking about Nick?”
Phillip crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side, daring Nick to deny his accusations.
“Phillip, I don’t know…” Nick started as he tried to move away from the death grip Luke now had on his shoulders. What the hell was going on? Phillip grabbed his phone and waved it in his face.
“Well, if you don’t remember, why don’t I refresh your memory with a phone call hot stuff?” Phillip quickly found his contacts and dialed Sam.
Nick rubbed his temples as the room spun around him. “Go ahead.” He may be three sheets to the wind, but he knew one thing for certain. He wasn’t the one who ended shit between him and Sam. That was all her.
“Samantha, guess where I am?” Phillip said into the phone. “I’m sitting at the bar with Nick.”
“Give me the phone.” Nick said through clenched teeth. He heard a laugh from Luke behind him, and silently cursed his friend to hell. Nick snatched the phone out of Phillips hand before attempting to stand. He made it to his feet, swaying until he steadied himself. “Sam?”
Sam bit her lower lip and glanced at her niece who was tucked into bed beside her. Carefully, she slipped out of bed, not to wake her, and made her way into the living room. “Nick?”
“I take it you didn’t tell Phillip that you were keeping your distance from me.” Nick said as he walked towards the hallway where the bathrooms were, looking for someplace quiet to talk to her.
She hadn’t realized how much she missed hearing his voice. “I didn’t tell Phillip anything. Don’t mind him, he’s probably drunk.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling cold and lonely.
“Yeah, well you might want to, seeing as how he was about to throttle me because I’m talking to an old friend.” Nick said as he leaned against the wall. Hearing her voice and knowing he couldn’t go to her and take her in his arms was tormenting him, making the last two weeks of hell seem like a walk in the park.
Sam felt her heart stop. “An old friend?” She closed her eyes regretting the words the instant they slipped from her mouth.
“Yeah, she’s a bartender here that Luke and I went to school with.” He closed his eyes already forgetting her name. He was so screwed.
“Oh.” Was all Sam said for a moment, “I’m sorry Phillip got in your face, I’ll talk to him okay?”
“Yeah, well…..” Nick whispered, feeling calmer and then opened his eyes. “Sam?”
“Yeah…?” She asked hoarsely.
“I’m still waiting.” He said and then before she could answer and tell him not to hold his breath, he ended the call.
He stared down at the phone as the call ended catching a glimpse of the picture Phillip had assigned to her number. She would be the death of him.
Nick sighed and pushed off the wall heading back towards the bar to give Phillip his phone back. Nick held it out for him to take and Phillip eyed him suspiciously.
“You should probably talk to your friend if you have any questions. She’s the one with all the answers.” Nick said sadly.
“Yeah, she’s your best bet.” Luke offered, adding his two cents. “This guy is on another continent, apparently.” He said as he motioned towards Nick with his thumb.
Nick had enough for one night. He patted Luke on the back. “I’m heading upstairs.”
Luke nodded and looked his friend over, he looked like shit. It was probably best if he bailed now, while he still could make it up the stairs to his apartment.
“I’m going to hang out for a while. Leah’s working an overnight shift and Ava’s with Sam, so might as well take advantage.”