Bravo 🤍

Twelve

"What are you doing here, Alba?" Lucas pulls her off to the side as everyone begins to congregate from the noise.

"What do you mean? I came to surprise you and meet your family on Christmas. Aren't you happy to see me?" She runs her hand along his chest as he grabs her wrist.

"Merde..." Marie mumbles beside Nikki as François takes her other side.

"I don't understand, Alba. You haven't responded or picked up your phone."

"I've been busy. I don't understand why you're so mad to have your girlfriend here." She glares at Nikki as she steps toward them.

François and Marie flank her, stepping cautiously behind her. "Lucas, you said she was gone. That you broke up with her."

"I did! Or tried to... Nikki, I'm sorry." He turns back to Alba as she grabs the box from his hand, opening it.

"Is this for me?!" She grins, pulling the necklace from the box.

"No!" He tries to take it back but she moves away from him.

"Keep it, and him," Nikki spits before rushing away up the stairs to Lucas's room. She throws her suitcase on the bed and begins to shove stuff inside. She hears the door open and shut quietly behind her. "Fuck off!"

"I'm only here to check on you while Lucas tries to get rid of that girl. She's not very bright, that or she's just hoping he'll give in."

She zips her suitcase and turns to François. "Can you just get me out of here?"

"Just give it some time. Let him explain."

"No!" She pulls her coat on, glaring up at him. "Are you going to drive me to the train station, or should I call for a car?"

"Fuck, fine!" He turns on his heels and disappears before coming back a minute later with shoes and a coat and grabs her suitcase. "Come on. We should be able to slip out the back of the house." He walks her down the back stairs, leading into the kitchen and garage. She watches him toss the suitcase into the back of the car as she climbs into the passenger seat. She watches Lucas from the front porch as François pulls out of the garage, leaving the house behind them.

***

"You're sure about this?" François asks as he grabs Nikki's suitcase from the back, handing it to her. "You shouldn't just run away from your problems."

"Says the man too afraid to tell his mommy he's getting a divorce," she spits, glaring at him.

"Touché." He chuckles as she sighs.

"Sorry," she mumbles softly. 

"Don't be." He pulls a card from his pocket, handing it to her. "If you ever need anything, let me know."

"Thank you, Frank." She smiles as he laughs, and she wraps him in a hug, kissing his cheek. "I just need time to think about everything. Thanks for getting me out of there."

"You're welcome. And um..." he hesitates, wiping a stray tear from her cheek, "don't give up on him."

She sighs, not responding as she turns away from him to the train. Once she gets seated on the train, she pulls out her phone to find calls and messages from Lucas begging her to answer. She shuts off her phone and shoves it back into her pocket, resting her head back on the chair as she stares out the window.

***

"Mademoiselle?"

Nikki jostles awake to find an attendant standing over her with a smile.

"Nous sommes arrives, mademoiselle."

"Oh, um... merci, monsieur." She wipes her cheeks as she grabs her bag and the man grabs her arm lightly.

"Ça va?"

She nods, smiling at him. "Oui, merci." She rushes away from him quickly, finding a taxi. She sits quietly in the back of the cab all the way to her apartment. She finally turns on her phone when she enters the building, calling her sister back.

"Nik! I've been calling you all fucking day!"

"Sorry," she groans as she climbs the stairs slowly. "I had to turn my phone off since Luke was blowing it up."

"The hot neighbor that invited you to his parents? What happened? Aren't you still there?"

"No. I'm back home. It's a whole thing about his ex-girlfriend, or possibly his current girlfriend, I'm not really sure anymore. Anyways, I had to get out of there."

"I don't understand... why would he invite you to his parents' house if he still had a girlfriend?"

Nikki sighs, turning the key in her door and pushing it open. "That's the million-dollar question, now isn't it?" She doesn't hear Michelle's response as she enters the living room to find Lucas standing up from her couch. "I have to go. I'll see you in a few days." She hangs up the phone, tossing it on the table as she holds her hand out to Lucas. "Give me my key back. What are you even doing her?"

He shrugs, ignoring her command. "I took a plane to get here before you. Please, you have to talk to me."

"I don't have to do anything! Get out!" She pushes against his chest as he grips her wrists. "I thought you were done with her!"

"I was! I am!"

"She doesn't seem to know that Luke!" She pulls out of his grip, tossing her coat onto the couch. "You chose her over me before. And you invited me to your parents' house last minute because why? You were hoping she would come with you? But when she fell through, you took the next best option."

"What?! No! Fuck, Nikki. None of that is true at all. I meant it when I said I love you."

"No. Everything you said last night means nothing. Last night never happened. Give me my key back."

He groans as she looks away from him, tears streaking her cheeks. "Please, Nik. I left her messages and she never responded or called me back. I was very clear that I didn't want to be with her. I'm sorry." She doesn't respond, only keeps her hand extended as he sighs, pulling his keys from his pocket. He takes her key off the ring and places it in her hand.

"Now get out." She waits until she hears the door close behind her before plopping onto the couch, burying her face in a pillow to cry.