A cold sweat prickled at Nia's armpits sending nervousness throughout her body. The sound echoed loudly into her quiet empty apartment, she was certain, which gave way to a rush of sweet vindication. Knowing Malcolm was finally here after almost a week with his tail between his legs and probably some weak apology fuelled Nia to scurry into her bathroom to quickly adjust her hair and zip down the sporty black jacket that matched her yoga pants to expose just the right amount of cleavage.
"For the last time you know the door code and you have a key." Nia said as she swung the door open,
to find her girlfriends on the other side of it.
"We know girl that's how we got here! But I'm never barging in on you – you answer FaceTimes naked, Lord knows what you do up in here all by yourself!" Jonelle giggled as she pushed past Nia with her arms full.
"What are you guys doing here?" Nia asked, in shock.
"It's Friday! We always hang out on Fridays. Why are you acting like you don't have a schedule?" Raven asked as she pulled Nia into a half hug on her way inside.
"I asked in the group chat if we could have a sleepover and you totally liked it." Sarina looked at Nia with puppy dog eyes as the door closed behind her.
"Yeah it was after you didn't confirm dinner plans by Wednesday, like you usually do." Raven reminded her.
"Oh... yeah." Nia replied blankly following into the kitchen behind them. She didn't really remember but she had been doing the bare minimum in the group chat not to worry them. She must not have been doing enough. Especially on the reading front.
The three women exchanged a worried glance but said nothing. The only noise was the shuffling her friends made as they set down their luggage and unpacked bags of groceries, all in tow for a one night stay at Nia's.
"Welp! I'm making sangria!" Sarina chirped, breaking the thick awkward silence looking through Nia's cabinets. Nia winced, unused to the noise every time one opened and closed with a swing and a crack. "And then we can all have wine outside while it sim simmas." She grinned deviously.
"I'm gonna get started on a little charcuterie." Jonelle wiggled her fingers magically.
"And I'll taste test." Raven pinched at the end of a baguette and Jonelle swatted her hand away.
"What do you need me to do?" Nia asked quietly, embarrassed at her own lack of enthusiasm.
"You..." Jonelle hesitated. Nia immediately picked up on her worried tone but Jonelle quickly switched it up to a perkier one. "You are the host, you relax outside and we will make ourselves at home, as usual!" She winked.
Nia relaxed into a lounger on her balcony and shut her eyes while they excitedly chatted inside. Getting lost in thought, she shut her eyes, recalling the last time she felt the warmth of the sun on her skin in this way.
5 days ago.
It had felt like forty. But it had been only five. Only five days ago had she held Malcolm in her hands, her fingertips tracing his jawline, her lips on his, while his hands grasped at her skin. Both hungry for each other, gasping for air, feverishly fiending for their bodies to get closer, panting, moaning and softly singing sweet nothings; five days ago.
"Nia."
5 days and 6 hours ago?
"Nia."
No. 5 days, 8 hours and –
"Nia!"
"Hmm?" Nia replied, distracted. It wasn't her fault. Since whatever happened, happened, Nia needed all of her mind's strength to get her through her workday. When it came to (unexpectedly) spending time with her friends, she only wanted to focus enough to barely keep afloat in the conversation as she drowned herself in her mind's memories.
YOU ARE READING
The List that Lead the Logical Nia Birch to Fall in Love
Romance"Nia." Her name softly fell from his lips and she soaked in his sweet breath like a pancake to syrup. Her eyes were low and she was watching his chest rise and fall. She couldn't look at him just yet. She was frozen in place. With just this brazen...
