Hard to Hold On

chapter Fourteen



Nolan



“Do you need help with anything else?” Sharon asks, watching me bend over to pick up a box that’s loaded with picture frames. “I have nothing else to do today and it seems like you guys have a bunch more to pack up and take to storage.”

“I think we’ll be okay. You’ve already done enough.” I carry the box outside and drop it behind the car. I dust my hands off then look back, realizing she’s followed me out.

“Nolan, I know you hate me,” she says. “Shit, I hate me, too. I was so wrong to you and I’m sorry but I’m hoping you can forgive me. It happened three years ago and I’ve learned a lot since then.”

“Kinda too late for that.” I step around her to get to the house again.

“So you’re never going to trust me again?”

“No.”

“Never going to at least kiss me again?”

I grimace over my shoulder as I kick the door open. “Hell no. Seriously, you can leave,” I say, spinning around to face her. “Mills, Tike, and I can handle it from here.”

Sighing, Sharon raises her hands with a shrug. “Alright. Suit yourself. I’m just trying to catch up.”

“There’s no point. We’re not happening again.”

“What makes you think I want us to happen again?”

I shake my head, an annoyed smirk curling at my lips. “You’ve been riding my dick all day, Sharon. First of all you came over here randomly. You’ve been doing it all week. I was being nice by allowing you to help us out but you’re no longer needed. I know you. You’re sneaky.”

She nibbles at her bottom lip, aiming to be sexy. “Can I ask you something?”

Sighing, I ask, “What?”

“What are you moving away so quickly for?”

Her question catches me completely off guard. Then, before I know it, she’s pushing me back and I’m landing on the couch. “The f*ck are you doing?” I growl as she climbs on top of me.

“Nolan, seriously. I know you miss me. Cut the f*cking act. Mills told me you and that girl broke up.”

“Get the f*ck off of me.” I push her off and she lands on the cushion beside me. Her green irises broaden but I shake my head as I take a step back. “Just get the f*ck out.”

“Wait a minute,” she says, a smile curling at her lips.

My heart thumps as she stands and inches closer. I can feel her perky breast rubbing against my chest, her fruity scent lingering in my nostrils. Her fingers trail from the center of my chest to my shoulder and then up to my jawline. I shove her hand away but she laughs. “I should have known,” she says.

My eyes narrow. “Known what?”

“You haven’t changed.”

“I’ve come a long from you.”

“Oh yeah?” She flips her hair over her shoulder. “How long exactly, Nolan? Because I’m sure if I were to lead you into that bedroom and yank your pants down, you wouldn’t be able to control yourself.” My nostrils flare as she smirks up at me. Her fingers curl around the hem of my shirt and her knuckles brush against my skin. “Just give it up. There’s no changing the player of all players. There’s no going back after doing it for so long. I’m sorry I and a few others made you this way but, to be honest, I kind of like it.”

Her fingers then unbutton my jeans but I pull away, shoving her hand away again. How the f*ck am I getting turned on by this? By Sharon? The bitch who ripped my heart in two. “You need to go. You’re not f*cking this up for me.”

She steps forward and leans against me. Her erect nipples press through my white T-shirt. “If you want something refreshing, remember I’ll be here. There’s nothing wrong with coming back to me, Nolan.”

“F*ck you. Get out.”

Just as my threatening words fill the heavy atmosphere, the front door swings open and Mills steps inside with a few more folded cardboard boxes in hand, Tike trailing in behind him. Mills looks at me and my unbuttoned jeans instantly and then down at Sharon who’s still standing close. “Well, I think we’re about done here,” Mills says, giving me a hard glare. “We’ll finish up tomorrow.”

Clearing her throat, Sharon takes a step back and pushes her hair behind her. “Tomorrow sounds great.” She grins then picks her purse up from the corner table. I grimace the entire time she pulls her keys out and makes her way towards the door. “Goodbye gentleman.”

As soon as she’s out of sight, Mills slams the door then marches for me. “I swear to f*cking God if you screw this shit up I will beat your f*cking heart out, Nolan!”

“What the hell are you threatening me for? She came onto me!”

Mills shoves me against my chest with hardened, intimidating features. “Just shut the f*ck up. I know you and I know her. If we wouldn’t have come you would have f*cked that girl, Nolan. I swear if we go to Miami for no f*cking reason I’m beating your ass and I’m not kidding. You aren’t about to waste my f*cking time and have me rushing around to get this house in order just to screw everything up. I don’t have time for your immature-ass games.”

“Oh yeah,” Tike says, butting in. “A chick named Natalie called your phone earlier. You left your phone in my car so I thought I’d just answer. She told me to tell you that “we’re done” . . . yeah . . . those were her exact words.”

“What?” My eyes narrow as I push Mills off of me and stomp towards Tyke to snatch my phone out of his hands. “What the f*ck did you say to her?”

“I just told her you were packing things with Sharon and—”

“Sharon!” Mills and I yell at the same time. “Tike, what the f*ck is wrong with you?!” I snap.

“Hey, I didn’t know! I thought she was a friend or something—well until she said that last sentence. I had no clue who she was!”

Ignoring him, I call Natalie immediately. I call again and again but each time it goes straight to her voicemail. “Great. Now she’s ignoring me. What exactly did you say?”

“I only told her Sharon was a student of your mom’s and an ex of yours who was—”

“Oh, come on, Tike! You f*cking jackass!” Mills yells. “That’s the stupidest f*cking move you’ve ever made.”

“Okay . . . seriously, don’t blame me,” he says, his eyes wide as he holds his hands up innocently. “I haven’t dated in years. I know nothing about what to say to girls that call—and she was making me nervous. You two classify me as the damn geek anyway.”

I shake my head at him before taking a few steps back and sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Geek or not, Tike, you should have known maybe she was someone I talked to. It’s says ‘Bunny’ for Christ’s sake.”

“Well, shit, I’m sorry. If you want, I can tell her Sharon is a nobody . . . although she seemed like somebody by the way she was pushed up against you . . . and since your pants are still unbuttoned.” Tike scratches his head curiously before pushing his round glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Okay . . . I’m curious. Did you have sex with that Sharon chick recently or not?”

“No,” I growl. “F*ck Sharon. I have no interest in her.” I rub my fingers against my temples, my elbows on my thighs. “Shit. That’s another thing I’m going to have to explain to her. I have to get the f*ck out of California. The more I’m here, the more Natalie drifts away from me.”

“I’m sure she’ll be alright,” Mills mutters. “We’ll be there in no time. If she loves you, she should trust you . . . but then again you do have a rep for breaking hearts and doing shit behind female’s backs. This one may take some work.”

“Whatever.” I stand quickly, raking my fingers through my hair. “I’ll do what I can to keep it going. No point in giving up now.”