Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 53

Quinn's POV

The elevator doors open revealing the apartment and I walk out of the elevator into a very dark but completely Christmas decorated apartment, and I mean it because every room on the main level from the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, and even the wine room has been decorated. 

"NICK!" I yell but get no answer back before walking into the main part of the penthouse apartment to see the huge living room is empty but taking in the room as whole you could definitely tell that someone was here. The soft glow from the fireplace going, The entertainment center has been decked out in strains of multiple colored Christmas lights, the TV is on with some Christmas movie on with Chad Michael Murray in it.

 On the couch there is a body pillow on one end with a beautiful blanket with a snowman pattern on side and what looks to be white faux fur on the other side bunched up, in front of couch there is a small bowl of Neapolitan ice cream that is basically melted at this point on the table with the remote and a can of Guinness beer next to it, and the double glass doors that lead out onto the balcony area I assume is closed because the red colored blackout curtains are drawn and because of the 8 foot eye stunning decorated Christmas tree.

 "This is never how I picture Nick spending an evening at home." I say turning my attention back to the apartment. "HELLO!" I yell wandering around the lower levels of the apartment but no sign of Nick. The dining room is perfectly cleaned, the kitchen is mostly clean except for a few dirty dishes in the sink and an empty carton of eggnog on the counter. 

"Where on earth could he be?" I think to myself before reaching into my purse and pull out my cell phone trying to call him again for the twenty time and the call goes straight to voicemail. Throwing my phone on my purse I put my purse on the large center island thinking that I know Nick well enough to know that he isn't the kind of person to just up and leave unless it was something serious which I hope isn't the case. 

I take a deep breath heading upstairs walking up the spiral staircase that has Blue Christmas lights swirled around where the spare bedroom and my favorite closet turn up empty which leads me to stand in front of the security passcode locked door and the only room left on the second floor. "Nick?" I say knocking on the door which I get no answer but I keep standing there letting my curiosity and imagination run wild as I think of what Nick could be hiding in that room. 

What if Nick is a hit man and inside that room is surveillance headquarters? Maybe it is like a panic room for the end of the world or Nick is secretly hiding someone in there. 

He could use this room just as a simple hiding place for things that are special to him, but I can't help myself from thinking that Nick could be like Christian Grey from 'Fifty Shades of Grey?' I shake my head considering the fact that I might be overthinking this and this room is just a special room for Nick to get away from the world even for a little bit. 

I walk back downstairs with the only sounds coming from my heels on the floor and the low volume from the TV. I look around the apartment until my eyes land on the doorway that leads to the only room in this whole apartment I have checked which just happens to be Nick's bedroom.

 "The room I was hoping to avoid." I mumble to myself out loud slowly start walking towards the door and place my hand on the doorknob. "Nick better be in here." I say before entering the bedroom. His bedroom, his closet, and his bathroom are all empty. 

"I am starting to think that Nick isn't here." I say out loud looking around the bedroom to see the navy blue colored blackout curtains are drawn over the floor-to-ceiling window, his TV is off, the California king sized bed is a complete mess but something on the one of the nightstands catches my eye and at closer look I see it is a playbill from the musical Wicked from the Smith Center for the preforming arts. 

"Still a theater kid at heart it would seem." I careful place the playbill back down on the night stand before sitting down on the bed as memories of the last time I was in this room start flooding my brain.

Nick gently pushes me into his bed before hovering over me and with one hand pins my hands above my head while his other hand travels up my dress. I get the idea to tease him a little bit so I lean upward and start kissing his Yin and Yang Pisces Fish tattoo, I break free of his grip pulling on his tank top until he gets the message and pulls the tank top over his head leaving his upper body now exposed to me, I jump a little upon feeling his hands travel up my bare legs and my hands travel downward his dark and faded blue jeans as I unbuckling his belt pulling it through the loops of his pants and throwing it somewhere.

I pull myself from the memory thinking that maybe Alexa was right about this being the last place I needed to be after everything that has already happened tonight, I stand up off the bed and walk back out to into the main part of the apartment. 

Walking back towards the kitchen I grab my purse and leave a note for Nick for when he comes back, then a second later I hear the sound of the elevator dinging. "And to think I was just on my way." I say but when the elevator doors open I see the very last person I wanted to see anymore of tonight. "What in the hell are you doing here?" Nikki snaps at me storming her way into the apartment.