The One Night Stand

Chapter 17

  Cat took the elevator to the top floor, hoping Nic was home. She lifter her hand to knock but heard soft guitar music, her heart dropped. It was apparent Nic was home but she wasn't alone. She was with Tom. She stepped away from the door, preparing to leave, then stopped, outraged. How dare Tom Bell cheat on Sam! He literally just sweet talked Jane, then snuck off to meet Nicola for a rendezvous!

  Tom Bell was nothing but a liar and a manipulator. He was completely incapable of being loyal. He'd managed to prove he was nothing but a compulsive womanizer. Cat took a deep breath and knocked on Nicola's door with a closed fist. Seconds later, Tom answered the door. The look of surprise on his face confirmed Cat's suspicions. She pushed past him and entered the apartment.

  "Cat, what are you doing here..." He began as she cut him off.

  "Stop. Tom, just stop with the lies. How dare you? Why even bother meeting Jane, pretending to be a decent human being while you're cheating on her daughter?" Cat yelled at Tom who was frozen to the spot near the door. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. "You must be the most heartless man I've ever met, talk about ruled by your dick! I'm sorry I ever had feelings for you!" Cat exclaimed glaring at Tom, her face red with rage.

  She was angry at his deceit and she was angry at herself for not having seen him for who he really was. Tom looked hurt by her words but didn't respond, he stood staring at her for a moment before taking a seat on the sofa and continued tuning his guitar.

"Tom?" She heard Nic's weak voice coming from the bedroom. Cat blushed profusely at the thought that she had arrived moments after the pair had made love. "Tom?" Nic called again, this time Cat turned her head towards the voice. Nic sounded croaky and out of it, she glared at Tom again, he was still tuning his guitar like he didn't have a care in the world. Cat marched into Nicola's bedroom. The sight of her friend caused Cat to drop her purse and rush to Nic's bedside.

  "Oh my God Nic, what's wrong?" Cat cradled her pale friend, Nic was sweating profusely, barely awake.

  "Cat, I'm sorry." Nic managed to say before she passed out cold, what ever sedative she'd taken, taking effect. Cat frowned, her friend looked like she were on her death bed, pale and listless. Cat swapped Nicola's drenched pillow for the dry one underneath and lay her friend's head on it. With wide eyes, Cat walked into the living room, staring at Tom for an explanation.

  "What the fuck did you do to her?"

  "What did I do to.... unbelievable... if you really must know... your best friend swallowed a bottle of pills last night. We spent all night in the ER, getting her stomach pumped." Tom said calmly to a shocked Cat.

  "She tried to... kill herself?" Cat whispered, taking a seat in the nearby armchair while she processed Tom's information. "You stayed with her? Why didn't she call me.... why didn't you call me?"

  "She specificities made me promise not to call you!" Tom said coldly. Cat stared at him, he and Nicola hated each other, yet she'd called him and he'd saved her life. "You should be asking yourself why she called me and not you."

  Cat was beyond devastated. She couldn't believe her best friend had tried to take her life. She should have been there for her friend. Not some practical stranger. Especially when that stranger was someone she couldn't stand.

  "I... I'm so sorry for what I said... I thought... Thank you Tom, for what you did for Nic. And for being here now." Cat looked at him, feeling guilty for judging him. He looked up at her with sad green eyes, not bothering to hide his hurt.

  "I didn't do it for her." He said softly, tuning his guitar again.

  "Why...why did she do it Tom? Was it because of Steven?"