“What? Do I have something on my face or something?” She said wiping at her face with the towel she was using to dry her hair. She already was beginning to look more like herself. She was dressed in black capri cargo pants, which dipped low at her waist. She had paired it with a plain white tank top. Her hair was wet and curly.
Sam looked at Jake for approval, and he nodded his head, smiling at Cara as he did so. “I have a different job today.” She walked over to Cara and slid her arm into hers. “I’ve come to kidnap you.”
Cara looked up at Jake, eyes wide. He shrugged his shoulders, playing it off. “What are you two up to?”
Jake balked at her innocently as Sam bent down and picked up a pair of flip flops and shoved them into Cara’s hands. “Okay, we’re on a tight schedule missy. You can ask questions later.”
“But…” Cara stared at Jake.
“Have fun.” He grinned and pressed his lips to her cheek, he needed to get into that bathroom and brush his teeth so when she got back he could kiss her properly.
“Oh we will!” Sam said, winking at her brother as she pulled open the door and collided into what she was sure was a brick wall, but to her dismay when she looked up it was Nick and the brick wall she thought she hit was none other than his broad chest. “Well thank god, we were just leaving.”
He smiled at her amused. “What a shame.” He said and cocked his head as his eyes bore into hers. She rolled her eyes and pushed at him, to move him, but he was solid and held his stance.
“Jake, can you tell him to move?” Sam said, pleading with her brother, holding up Cara’s hand as to emphasize.
“Boy did you ask the wrong one.” Cara said, reminding her that Jake got his kicks off of this.
Nick sighed and stepped to the side, reveling in the fact that Sam brushed against him as she dragged Cara out the door, huffing as she did. Jake watched Nick watch as they left, his stare lingering for a moment before he shut the door.
“Man, you lose your touch or something? By now I thought you would’ve sealed the deal with my sister.” He said as he took a seat on the foot of his bed.
Nick sighed and leaned against the door. “She won’t give me the time of day.”
“She’ll break eventually.” He sounded sure, and he was. He just would like to be around to see the day it actually happened. He cringed, and forced himself to block out the thoughts.
“How you feeling?” Nick asked, catching the cringe from Jake.
“Like I was hit by a bulldozer.” Jake shrugged. “I’m still looking at your ugly face, so that’s a good sign.” Nick laughed and threw something on his bed. Jake glanced down and picked up the book, flipping through the blank pages. He glanced up at him. “What’s this?”
Nick stepped toward him, and sat beside him on the bed. He nodded towards the empty journal. “A little birdie told me you were getting bored.”
“Well that’s true.” Jake said fingering the leather bound book.
“When I first got to Seattle, I threw myself a bit of a pity party.” He sighed and rubbed the stubble on his face with the back of his hand. “I was alone, and missing you guys. Missing my life and the guy I used to be.”
Jake looked at him, surprised. Since Nick had been back, he hadn’t spoken much of what his life was like when he left Riverdale. Hell, no one really even talked about why he left. To this day it was a mystery to Jake.
Nick glanced down at the book. “I began to write. I wrote letters to each of you guys, when I was too much of a pussy to pick up the phone and call you. I just found it as a way to get in touch with who I was and the people I missed.” He paused. “When I felt lonely or sorry for myself, I’d write. It was the perfect release for me, and got me through.” His eyes met Jake’s. “Thought maybe when you were alone and needed to vent, you could use it.”
“Thank you.” Jake said as he looked down at the book. “It’s crazy. I have a parade of people coming through that door every day and sometimes I feel completely alone. I think it’s more that I feel more alone in my feelings than physically alone.”
Nick nodded, but didn’t pretend to know how he felt. “But you do know you’re not alone right?”
“Of course I know.” He looked at Nick, and the question slipped before he could stop it. “Why’d you leave Riverdale?”
Nick turned and met his gaze. He studied Jake for a moment and then smiled half-heartedly. “It doesn’t matter. It may not have been something I planned, but it’s something I’ll never regret.”
Jake stared at him confused. “But you were miserable.”
“But it allowed me to do a favor for someone I’ll always admire.” He let out a breath. “Let’s just leave it at that.”
Jake contemplated pressing him, but decided against it. Nick wasn’t a man who hid much from people. He was an honest guy, an open book. So whatever his reasons for leaving, were honorable, Jake was sure. He just wished he would’ve had those six years with him. “Nick?”
“Yeah?”