Fire on Ice

Part 34

This is hella unedited, enjoy :) 

Nora POV

Nikolas and I walk into our hotel room and place our medals and trophies on the center table.

"How do you want to celebrate?" He looks at me suggestively, but I shake my head.

"I cannot have sex again, I'm still sore from yesterday. Let me call my mom and we can figure something out." He nods and pulls out his phone to do the same. He walks into the bedroom, so I stay outside in the living area and dial her phone.

"Hello?" A strained voice comes through the phone.

"Mom? Are you okay?" I ask in worry.

"Oh yes honey, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little tired. What's up?" I take a deep breath, "We qualified!"

"Oh my god! That's so amazing sweetie!" I know she's smiling on the other end.

"I know, we placed first too. We'll definitely be on the judges radar going into the NIDC."

"I'm so proud of the two of you. But, don't make this your whole life. Winning the NIDC isn't the most important thing." I know she's well intentioned when she says this, but I hate it.

"Mom, it is the most important thing." Tears threaten to spill over, so I take a deep breath, "The money can save you, and that is-" I'm cut off by a sob. I hold the phone away from my face for a second.

"Nora, now you listen to me. I want you to know that I appreciate you doing this for me. It just shows how tenacious you are, but you have to make sure you're still living your life." Now she sounds like she's going to cry, "I don't want to hold you back."

At this point there's no question that we're both crying, "Mom, you could never. I'm going to get the money and you're going to be fine. Okay?" She doesn't say anything.

"Okay?" I say again.

"God, you've always been bossy." We both let out a laugh, but it's a somber one.

"Listen honey, it's time for me to take my meds and they'll probably make me sleepy, so call me when you get home okay?"

"Okay, I'll come see you."

"I can't wait." She hangs up the phone and I can't help but wonder if she was hiding anything from me. Why did she keep telling me to move on? Just the thought of losing her, causes more tears to fall.

At that moment, Nikolas walks out and says, "So! What are we doin-". He's cut off after he sees me and he rushes towards me.

"What happened?"

"My mom." I mumble, not looking at him.

He sits on the table in front of me and places his hands on my knees. My head is tilted down and he uses his fingers to grip my chin and lift it up. The look on his face is sympathetic and it only makes me want to cry more.

"You want to stay in?" He suggests, while wiping the tears with his thumbs. I simply nod and he moves his hands to my waist to lift me up. I'm still sniffling when he sets me down on the bed and walks into the bathroom. I wipe my face with my jacket, and the sleeve comes back all wet. I decide to take off my jacket and wash up.

When I walk into the bathroom, Nikolas is sitting on the edge of the tub, running the bath. He turns his head to me when he hears me turn the faucet on. I avoid making eye contact because I don't want him to give me another look of pity that will inevitably cause me to break. The water I splash on my face feels good and refreshing and why I dry off using a towel Nikolas comes to stand behind me in front of the sink. He looks at me through the mirror but doesn't say anything. He grips my body to his and I lean back into his embrace.