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Eighteen

Nikki smiles at Louis as she lets him into her apartment. "I'll be right back." She lets herself into Lucas's apartment, holding a small cake. "Luke? Are you still asleep? Happy Birthday!" She enters his bedroom just as he sits up in the middle of the bed, a naked woman on each side of him. She freezes in her spot as he gives her a sleepy smile.

"Nikki, what are you doing here?" The girls both sit up as she swallows hard, and he motions to either one. "This is Céline and Brigette." They both giggle, the blanket falling down to expose their breasts as Nikki turns away. "Nik is a little prude, don't mind her."

"Happy Birthday, Luke..." she mumbles, leaving the cake on the kitchen counter and leaving his apartment quickly, slamming the door behind her. She pauses in front of her door, taking a few deep breaths before plastering on a smile and entering her apartment to find Louis waiting for her. "I'm ready to go."

"Was he still asleep?"

"Something like that, yeah." They both exit the apartment as Lucas meets them in the hallway in sweatpants.

"You made me a cake?"

"I did." She glances at Louis, squeezing his hand. "I'll meet you downstairs."

He hesitates, glancing between them before nodding and descending the stairs. "You have him trained well." Lucas teases with a smirk.

"And you're a dick. What are you doing? Coming home drunk, bringing home strange women..."

"Jealous, mon poupette?" He runs his fingers along her cheek before she slaps his hand away.

"No! I just am maybe starting to realize that this may be who you really are. And that maybe I dodged a bullet!"

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Well, I'm just playing by your rules, Nik. You wanted to just be friends and date other people. That is what I am doing. You worry about who is in your bed, and I'll worry about who is in mine. Deal?"

"Fine! And don't call me doll." She pokes him hard in the chest as he smirks, cocking his brows at her. She hears him laugh behind her before he closes the door as she descends the stairs to ground level where Louis is waiting for her.

***

Nikki approaches the top of the stairs just as she sees Lucas opening his door with a woman beside him. "Hi." She offers them a smile as Lucas sighs, motioning to the girl.

"I think you might remember, Céline."

Nikki blushes as she shakes the girl's hand. "Right. I think you were wearing less clothes before."

Céline giggles, "no worries, I'm not ashamed of my breasts."

Lucas laughs, ushering her inside before Nikki grabs his hand. He pulls the door shut and turns to her. "What?"

"We haven't really talked much since you returned. It's been almost a month, Lucas."

"I've been busy..." He shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest as he frowns.

"Well... do you want to go on a double date with Louis and me?" She grins before he shakes his head, waving his hands at her.

"No," he answers immediately with a scoff.

"Why not?"

"Because, Nik!" He brings his hands to his head as he raises his voice. "I don't want to double with you! I don't want to see you with him! I just want to keep our lives separate."

"But I thought we were friends," she asks, confused.

"Barely! I can't be friends with you! And I don't want to be! Just leave me alone! Fuck!" He enters his apartment, slamming the door behind him, leaving Nikki sobbing alone in the hallway.

***

Nikki opens the door a few days later to find Lucas with his hands in his pockets, hanging his head down. "Luke, come in."

He sighs and steps inside her apartment, stepping into the kitchen. "Nik, we need to talk."

"Okay... Want something to drink?" She smiles, sitting on a stool at the counter as he hovers on the other side, still not looking at her.

"No." He waves his hand at her as she sighs.

"Look at me, Luke!"

He hesitates before looking up to lock eyes with her. "Nik, I..."

"You what? You're making me nervous." She fiddles with her hands on the counter as she watches him swallow hard, his Adam's apple bobbing slowly as he moves around the counter to stand in front of her as she turns to him. "Luke?"

He grabs her hands in his. "Nikki, I'm moving out. I bought an apartment across town."

"What?" She pulls her hands away as her heart plummets to the ground. "What do you mean? Why?"

"I've been renting. Time for me to buy my own place, plant some roots. And I can't be here anymore, watching you with him."

"Luke, I don't understand. Are you moving in with her?"

"No! I'm doing this for myself, no one else." He sighs as he watches her eyes welling with tears as he tries to keep his from doing the same. "I love you and I want you to be happy. But I can't sit around and watch it. I'm sorry, Nikki."

"I don't want you to go." She stands up as he steps away from her. "Please, Luke."

"I don't want to either, not really. But I have to. I love you, but I can't see you with him. I can't see you every day and I can't be friends with you. I hope you understand." He brings his hand to her cheek, her tears falling freely now. He brings his other hand up, cradling her face as he leans down to kiss her forehead before leaving her apartment.