Sunday in Atlanta, my flight leaves at three in the afternoon, Marnie and Chris' flight doesn't leave until eight. The thought of Marnie being with Nick longer than me makes my stomach turn. I want to leave without seeing Nick, maybe I would have if it weren't for the fact that he flew me in. I don't want to seem ungrateful and I had yet to thank him for doing so. I knock on his door and Larry opens it,
"Hey girl." I try to smile but it's just not possible and my eyes begin to water. I haven't done this much crying in years and now everything about Nick makes me want to grab a Kleenex,
"Hey, what's wrong?" He steps into the hallway and guides me away,
"Come on, let's go to my room." I nod and feel like such an idiot. He must think I'm crazy, some emotional wreck. Once in his room, I sit in a chair at the table in the corner and he hands me a glass of water,
"What's wrong?" I shrug my shoulders and he sighs,
"Nick?" I look up at him and I knew the desperate look on my face told him all he needed to know when he nods,
"I'm going to tell you something and it's because I like you. Anyone else and I wouldn't bother but I don't want to see you get hurt." I watch him look as if he is struggling with what to say,
"Ok, Nick is a good kid but he's a kid. He likes being single and everything that goes with that...if you know what I mean?" I nod, sure I do. Different women and no responsibility,
"He's never really come out and said it but I think he likes you, I think he's interested, kinda curious. He talks about you after you guys talk on the phone or spend time together." I clear my throat,
"So why are you telling me and not anyone else?" I get up to get tissue and he waits until I'm sitting in front of him again,
"Because the others kind of deserve what they get...I know that sounds harsh but they don't even think about what happens afterwards, they don't try to get to know him, it's all about that night. And some think that night is going to be good enough to mean something." I look over at the wall, biting my lip,
"So he gives it to them...actually he's not doing it for them, he's doing it for him. You, you're different, you talk to him, you don't push up on him." I shake my head,
"Maybe they go for it because they think that's all he wants, because he doesn't try to talk to them he just goes for it?" He laughs lightly,
"What guy doesn't try to get what he can at the very begininng? The only reason a guy becomes friends with a girl first is because they wanted more and the girl didn't. Like I said I think he may actually like you but I don't think he realizes it. I think he's more curious about sleeping with you than anything else." I nod and roll my eyes,
"So he just wants to sleep with me." He nods,
"I think that's why he flirts with you and hugs on you all the time. I've been around a few times when he says that stuff to you on the phone."
"Hey...you alright?" I nod and wait for me to invite him in the room,
"Yeah, headache." I follow him in and stand in the middle of the room,
"I just wanted to say thanks for flying me out and bye, my flight leaves at three." He looks over at the clock,
"Ok, it was nice seeing you again." He pulls me in a hug and kisses me on the side of the face. It was the most awkward I had ever felt around him, by far surpassing the first few times I met him, "Call me when you make it home." I nod and head for the door,
"I better get going, I still need to pack." He follows me,
"Um, how are you getting to the airport, we can take you if you need-" I shake my head,
"Remember my friend Marnie? She and Chris are giving me a ride." I can see it in his face at the mention of her name, whatever it is. I walk out the room not bothering to look back.
Home
Mixed Feelings
Chapter 59