On the way to the hotel it's quiet. I think Elliott knows I have a lot going on in my head. I have never told anyone about my bad reputation, not even Christina. I only keep in contact with one person from college, I felt like I had to leave it all behind in order to get on with my life. We check into the room and I immediately call Eric,
"Hey, what's up?" I smile,
"Hey, I'm in room 1106 come see me."
"What? You're in Boston?" I laugh,
"Yep, in your hotel. Room 1106, come see me." I could hear the commotion die down,
"Ok, I had to step out of the room, they're crazy. Does...does Nick know you're here?" Something about the way he asked that question made my stomach turn,
"He knew I was coming to Boston but I haven't talked to him in a couple of days." Knowing Nick he forgot,
"Hey, I'll be down we'll go to the bar and catch up." I hang up and tell Elliott to put his shoes back on.
Sitting in the bar I people watch as I drink a Sprite, I learned my lesson, and Eric, Elliott and I talk about everything from movies and music to family and work,
"So you don't have a man yet?" I look at Eric and stick my tongue out,
"Having a man or not having a man is no reflection on my life." Eric laughs,
"Ok Oprah." I throw a pretzel at him and smile and wave as Paul, one of the dancers, made his way over,
"Hey, what are you guys up to tonight?" We all shake our heads and he looks over at Elliott,
"I'm going across town. Wanna come?" Elliott looks at me,
"You hanging with Eric and Nick tonight?" I shrug,
"I gues so." He looks back over at Paul and nods his head,
"I'm in, let me go upstairs and get ready." I yank on his arm,
"Hey, I can't believe you're ditching me." Elliott looks at Paul and Pauls looks at me,
"Not your kind of party darling." My eyebrows go up and I nod,
"Oh, gotcha...have fun." I watch them walk off discussing their plans and look back over at Eric,
"We don't spend that much time together when I come out." He laughs,
"Because you're always with Nick." Guilt, shame or something washed over my face as he smile,
"It's cool. I know you two are like friends, it's not like you're chasing him. He asks about you." I look up from my drink,
"Really?" He smile,
"Yeah, at first I thought he liked you. I think he thought we were dating or something." He leans in,
"If a girl doesn't send him an obvious signal that she wants him or that she can be played I think he's a little shy and reserved. The guy is afraid of getting shot down, can you believe that? So he looks for the sure thing. He's young, he's still into girls. I think strong women who don't put up with the bull intimidate him." I nod and stand up, following his lead,
"They intimidate ALL men." He laughs,
"You got a point, let's go."
We make it to his room and he picks up a DVD,
"I need to return this to Howie. Wanna come or wanna stay here?" I shrug,
"I'll tag along." He knocks on Howie's room, the music was blasting. A door opens across the hall and one door over and I turn to see a girl come out of a room,
"Thanks Nick." She leans in and gives him a hug,
"Give me a call before you leave town." I turn my attention back to Howie's still unopened door as Eric knocks again. I turn to look at Eric, not bothering to look back at Nick just as the door opens,
"Hey man, here's the DVD I borrowed." Howie nods and looks over at me,
"Hey girl, how are you?" I smile,
"I'm good." Nick walks over,
"D , my man. Hey dog what's up?" He shakes hands with Eric and looks over at me,
"Oh hey, what's up?" Oh hey what's up? Like I'm a damn after thought, like he didn't know I was coming, whatever,
"Hey." I turn my attention back to Eric,
"You ready?" He nods,
"Yeah, see you guys later." We walk back down the hall to the elevator, I didn't bother to turn around and look at Nick, which is what he was probably expecting. I don't know why seeing the girl bothered me but it did, so sue me I have a crush on the kid.
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Mixed Feelings
Chapter 39