Bravo 🤍

Seventeen

Nikki groans, stumbling out of bed as she brings a hand to her head. She makes it to the bathroom, turning the light on to grab some aspirin and water. She finds François still asleep on her bed when she enters the bedroom. "Fuck." She gets dressed quickly, pulling on some leggings and a t-shirt before entering the kitchen. She starts to make coffee when she hears someone clear their throat behind her, causing her to jump. She turns to see Lucas sitting on her couch with a bouquet of daisies on his lap. "Jesus, Luke! You scared the shit out of me! I thought I took your key."

"I may have made other copies."

"Of course you did." She sighs, turning back to what she was doing. "Keep it," she relents as she hears him stand up to approach her from the other side of the counter.

"You know, I knew there would be a possibility of finding you in bed with another man, I just never expected it to be my brother."

"Nothing happened." François's voice comes from behind them both as they turn to him. "Nothing would ever happen, Luke."

"Then what the fuck are you doing here?!"

"He came here to talk to me about you. I drank too much and didn't want to be alone. Nothing happened, Luke." She turns to François as he puts on his shoes. "Can you leave us?"

"Yeah, of course." He squeezes his brother's shoulder, "I'll call you later, little brother." Lucas doesn't say anything as François smiles at Nikki. "Bonne chance, Nichole."

The kitchen falls silent after François leaves as Lucas sits on the stool at the counter, watching Nikki make him tea and herself some coffee. She sets a mug in front of him, and he grabs her hand, pulling her to his chest between his legs on the stool. "I miss you, Nik."

"Oh, Luke." She rests her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "I miss you too. I really do."

He groans, pulling away enough to look at her. "But? I sense a but..."

She brings her hand up to his cheeks as he leans into her touch. "I like the scruff. It looks good on you."

"But what, Nik."

"I'm seeing someone, Luke."

He watches her pull away as he keeps his hands on her arms, pulling away until he can no longer touch her. "My brother?"

"God, no. I told you, nothing happened. He showed up yesterday and asked if he could buy me dinner so that we could talk. So that's what we did. We talked and I drank too much. That's it."

"Okay." He sighs, pushing his tea away. "I love you, Nik. I thought we could start over."

"We can, like we began, as friends."

"What if I don't want to be friends with you, Nik?" He stands up abruptly, causing her to jump back slightly in response.

"It's all I can offer you for now, Luke. I'm sorry." She grabs his hands as he looks away from her. "Can't we try? I don't want to lose you. I'm just not sure I can give myself back to you fully again."

"I understand." He releases her hands, bringing a hand to her chin to lock eyes with her. "I miss your eyes. I'll bring you back to me. I'll try to be friends, okay? If that's what you need. I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I know you are. And this is what I need."

"Okay, poupette." He leans down to brush his nose against her, hovering his lips over hers as she whimpers before he pulls away. "Okay." She chews on the corner of her mouth as her eyes well up with tears, watching him leave her apartment.

***

Lucas hears giggling outside his door a few days after returning to Paris. He opens the door to find Nikki with her arms wrapped around another guy's neck, their mouths attached. His heart clenches tightly in his chest as he clears his throat, forcing them apart.

"Luke..." Nikki blushes bright red as the guy smiles at Lucas. "This is Louis. Louis, this is my neighbor, Lucas."

Neighbor, the title hurts worse than seeing her with another man. He smiles, shaking the man's hand. "Nice to meet you, Louis."

He only smiles at Lucas before Nikki ushers him inside her apartment. "You didn't tell me your ex is also your neighbor."

She groans, placing her stuff on the counter before taking off her coat. "Please tell me it isn't a big deal. I really like you, Louis."

"You do?" He teases, taking off his coat and setting it on hers. He grabs her and hauls her firmly against his chest.

"I do. We're just friends, I promise."

"I believe you. Let's stop talking about him, yeah?" He kisses her as they both kick off their shoes and she nudges him back toward her bedroom, both of them tumbling onto the bed.

"Please," she whimpers, dropping her dress onto the floor as he begins to undress quickly.

Lucas groans, throwing his pillow over his head as he hears the moans from next door. Nikki's moans infiltrate his head as he squeezes his eyes shut, trying to block it out.

"Mon Dieu! Louis!"

"Fuck." Lucas pulls open the drawer of his nightstand and pulls out headphones, placing them on his head. He turns on music full blast and places the pillow back over his head.

***

Nikki sits cuddled on the couch with Louis when they hear a loud thump outside the door. She rushes to the door to find Lucas on the ground outside his apartment, laughing. His friend shoots her an apologetic look. "Désolé."

"It's okay." She helps him lift Lucas to his feet as he smiles down at her.

"Nikki, I miss you, mon poupette." He leans down to sniff her hair as his friend groans, unlocking his door.

"Are you drunk?!" She helps him into the apartment and onto his bed, taking off his shoes.

"Oui!" He laughs again, laying back on the bed. "Nikki..." he moans softly, closing his eyes.

His friend nudges her out of the apartment. "I'm sorry. I'm Gérard."

"Nikki." She offers him her hand, but he shakes his head, ignoring it.

"Yeah, I know," Gérard spits before turning and rushing away down the stairs.

"What was that about?" Louis asks as she scoffs, slamming the apartment door before plopping back beside him on the couch.

"Lucas was just drunk. His friend was rude though. Doesn't matter."

"Right..." He sighs, wrapping his arm back around her shoulder as she turns her attention back to the movie they were watching.