The One In Front of Me

Chapter | Nine

Nikki

I walked as quickly as I could, trying to create as much distance as possible between me and them. I couldn't really wrap my head around what I saw and how I was feeling in that moment. I hardly knew him and we weren't together. Why would it bother me like this?

I opened the storefront door of the student mess hall and was about to walk in when I felt a hand on top of mine stop the door. The lightning ran from the tips of my fingers and into my gut.

"Nikki, please let me explain."

I didn't want to look at him. Instead, I looked straight ahead. "Ethan, there is nothing to explain, really. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Please, just talk to me. I'm not with her."

"That kiss said otherwise."

" I was telling her to stop what she was doing, that there wasn't anything between us."

"You don't owe me any explanations, Ethan. We aren't dating. Hell, we don't even know each other."

"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted you, Nicole."

"Stop. I'm only here to go to school and get my degree. You clearly have a type, and I don't need you to mess with me."

"I'm not messing with you, Nicole. I know you feel what I feel. You felt it just now. I saw how your body tensed."

"Maybe my body tensed because a stranger touched me loop out of nowhere"

"Nicole, please," Ethan said in a soft calm voice. "Let's talk over lunch, give me a chance to explain."

"I dyon't understand what there is to explain. You have a sexual relationship with that woman. A woman that looks entirely different than I do. We aren't friends, we aren't dating! You don't owe me an any explanation and I don't want one anyway."

"Okay, I won't push it. I'll give you your space. I'm sorry."

I just nodded my head and looked down at the ground. I didn't understand what was going on with me, with him. This entire situation was fucked.

"I didn't lie when I said I'm not in any type of relationship with her."

My phone started to ring, and I looked down to read Matthew's name on the screen. I gave Ethan a sympathetic look, "I'm sorry, I have to answer this."

"I get it. Tell him I said hi." Ethan walked away

"Matt! Hey!" my tone was so sickly sweet and fake that I almost made myself gag.

"Excited to hear from me?"

Of course Matt couldn't tell the difference. "Always, what's up?"

Ethan

"FUUUUUUUUUCK!" Ethan slammed his fist on his ebony desk. He heard the dark wood crack and moan beneath the weight of the impact.

He sat forward in his chair, propped up on his elbows. He pressed his thumb and index finger to the bridge of his nose. "Oh, I could kill her," he whispered to himself.

Ethan looked at the door, sensing his beta was about to barge in. The door collided with the doorstop and shook for a second because slowly closing behind Hunter.

Ethan gave him the most annoyed look anyone could muster, "was that necessary?"

"Was your yelling necessary? Everyone in the pack must have heard it. What the hell happened?"

"Eliza happened."

"Oh no," he said pulling up and chair and sitting across from Ethan, the table between them. "What did she do?"

"She may have ruined my chances with Nicole."

"What?" He asked with a puzzled look on his face. "How?"

"Well, I ran into her on campus while I was looking for Nikki."

"Okay.."

"I was telling her that whatever happened between us in the past, was the past and that we were no longer involved as I had found my Luna."

"And what was her response?"

"She didn't really have one. What she did instead was wait until Nicole could see us and she jumped on me and kissed me."

"What the actual fuck...?"

"She wrapped her legs around me and kissed me. Totally caught me off guard and I didn't realize that Nikki was right behind us... fuck."

"Did you talk to her?"

"Well I pushed Eliza off and chased after Nikki. I tried to explain but she wouldn't listen to a word I had to say."

"Can you blame her?"

"No. But it gets worse. While I was trying to plead my case, her ex called."

"Ex?"

"Yeah, her last long-term boyfriend, strings her along and called her right at that moment."

"Did she answer?"

"Yeah. She did and I walked away. If I hadn't, I probably would have smashed her phone to pieces."

"Well, fuck man... that... that's rough."

"Yeah." Ethan got up and pour himself a drink. The amber colored liquid  almost filled the glass. "Want one?"

"Nah, I'm good." Said Hunter waving his hand.

"Suit yourself," he said tossing his head back and drank it like a shot.

"So what are you going to do Eliza?"

"I'm going to hit her where it hurts the most, her pride."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I've got a few things liked up, starting with garbage and kitchen duty."

"That's light weight."

"Not for her. You know she's only concerned about appearances."

"I guess you're right. What's next?"

"Well, she's going to do that until I get Nikki to give me a chance and once that happens, she's going to get on her knees and apologize to her in front of the entire pack."

"Wow, you think she'll do that?"

"It's either that or she becomes a rogue."

"That's rough."

"She needs to understand that her actions have real consequences. She's lived her entire life thinking she's better than everyone because her dad was best friends with mine. It ends now."

"Do you want me to be here when you talk to her?"

"Yes, actually. I need a witness. You know, so she can't lie about anything that happens in this room."

"Understood, boss man."

"Please, call her in and tell her to come immediately." Ethan asked, returning to the cabinet behind him to pour himself another drink.

Hunter's eyes glazed over and for a moment before returning back to normal.

"She's on her way."

"Great, thank you." He said, raising his drink in salude.

Ethan sat at his desk and sipped on the bourbon in his glass. Hunter sat across from him and the pair waited.