You Make It Easy || Nikki Sixx

Chapter 17

     "STOP HOGGING THE DAMN BLANKETS!"

     "NO, YOU STOP HOGGING THE BLANKETS YOU DEVIL WORSHIPING FUCK!"

     "Oh my gooooood!" he whined, sick of the bullshit allegations he gets from every interviewer, and now me. "Since I supposedly worship the fucking devil don't be surprised when I cast a spell on you for HOGGING THE FUCKIN BLANKETS!" he ripped the comforter completely off me, causing my body to roll right next to his arms

     "Well, well, well... isn't this romantic" I flutter my eyelashes

     "Yeah yeah whatever" he rolled his eyes, pulling​​ the sheets over us and pulling me in closer.

     I sighed in relaxation "Any plans for the day?"

     "This.. this is my plan." Nikki mumbled.

     "Not that I'm in any rush, but when am I going back home?"

     " 'I'? You mean 'we'." he responded.

     "Who said that 'we' are going back to Chicago?"

     "Me. I said that."

     I giggled and tangled my feet between his "How long have we known each other?"

     "Uhh three weeks as of yesterday." he said, running his hands through his hair.

     "I'm surprised you're keeping track"

     "How about I go make us some coffee?" I turn my head to look up at him.

     "Actually let's go out, we can get something to eat too" he suggested

     "Sure, a change of scenery sounds nice" I agreed, untangling myself from the sheets and getting out of bed.

     We spent the morning at a dinner down the street and Nikki took me on a little shopping trip which ended up being more for him than me. After browsing through various shops and trying on different outfits, Nikki eventually settled on a couple of leather jackets and a pair of sneakers that caught his eye. I don't care about buying clothes all the time but I will never pass up a nice pair of heels. For some reason, I was in constant need of caffeine so I kept making Nikki get me more and more coffee, Id say there's a fair trade going on- I relieve his sexual needs and he relives my coffee needs.

       Tommy met up with us and I made him take Nikki and I to the grocery store. We lazed around for the rest of the day not doing anything but relaxing. Tommy stuck around for dinner. I made my mom's stuffed shells recipe and garlic bread. "Holy shit Aria- this is really fucking good" Nikki said stuffing his face.

     "You need to try it with the apple sauce" I say pushing the container towards him.

     "That is a culinary sin! My mother would have a heart attack" Tommy chimed in.

     "It's good! Trust me" I declared.

     Nikki hesitantly poured the smallest amount of apple sauce onto his plate and tasted it with the shells. He dropped his fork onto the plate and leaned back in the chair while scratching the back of his neck.

     "What?" Tommy asked

     Nikki lifted up his head trying so hard to hide the grin on his face. "It's good isn't it?" I tell him.

     He stifles a laugh and rests his forehead in his hand. "You-... this should be illegal" he laughs.

     "And yet you like it" I lean back in my seat.

     "I will never admit it" he shakes his head as he grabbed the container of applesauce to pour more.

      "I may be crazy but don't ever doubt me on food combos" I laugh.

      "What else do you eat?" Tommy cringed.

     "Uhhh there was this one time Jen was over and she called me psycho for this- we wanted some snacks so I got out a bag of potato chips and a little bit of ketchup-"

     "NO!" Tommy yelled. "YOU SHOULD BE IN PRISON!"

     "IT'S A NORMAL THING!" I defended.

     "Yeah she's right, that is absolutely normal" Nikki added.

     "No both of you are psychotic." Tommy scoffed.

     I lean over to Nikki and lower my voice "Wait till he finds out that I eat cottage cheese with my salads" I grimace.

     "WHAT?"

     "I might need to agree with Tommy on this one.."

     "It's not like it's mixed in with the salad!... It's on the side..."

     "I think you're pushing it, babe." Nikki added.

     "When in Wisconsin, it is crucial to support the cheese economy, therefor you must eat all forms of cheese and have cheese present with every meal." I cross my arms.

     "She did buy a lot of cheese when we were at the store" Tommy giggled

     "That was the most pitiful cheese isle I have ever seen. Y'all don't even have Culvers." I rolled my eyes.

     "I think you're banging an insane asylum patient" Tommy whispered to Nikki. I glared at Tommy and he just shrugged his shoulders.

     "At least Nikki has a girlfriend" I stick my tongue out.

     "Heyy I have a girlfriend too" Tommy scoffed

     "Since when?" my voice got high

     "Eh, a while." he shrugged

     "Why haven't I met her? I didn't think any of you guys were in relationships.." I tilted my head.

     "Yeah Tommy's going out with whats-her-face, Mick's got a girl, and Vince is married with two kids" Nikki smiled from a laugh.

     My heart dropped like a boulder from a cliff. My ears were piecing with a ring... I think this is what a heart attack feels like.. Is it hot in here? I think I am going to be sick.. Very very sick. "Aria!"

     "Yeah yeah what!?" I shook my head.

     "You're pale! It looks like I can see right through you..." Nikki put his hand on my shoulder.

     I managed to plaster a weak smile on my face, hoping they wouldn't notice the turmoil inside me. "Oh, you know me, just spaced out for a moment there" I replied, forcing a chuckle. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing pulse. I've tried to justify not telling Nikki but hearing that he was married with a family shattered the walls of denial I had built around it.

     Tommy shot me a skeptical look, but thankfully, Nikki seemed to buy my excuse. "You sure you're alright?" Nikki asked, his concern evident in his eyes.

     "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just had a weird thought" I shrugged, hoping they'd drop the subject.

     The rest of the evening felt like a blur. I tried to engage in the conversation, laugh at the jokes, and enjoy the camaraderie, but my mind kept circling back to the burden I had tucked away. I couldn't help but wonder about the choices I had made and the secrets I had kept from the people I had grown to care about.

     As the night wore on, we parted ways. Tommy left, and Nikki and I retreated back to the couch. Later, when we lay in bed I was up staring at the ceiling as thoughts churned in my mind. Nikki's breathing evened out as he fell asleep beside me, his arm draped over my waist. I wished I could find ease in his presence, but the weight of this bullshit secret felt heavier than ever. Fuck.
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