The Hustle of Love

Chapter 9: The Date

Thursday dragged on for Nick until he got off work. When he got to his apartment he began getting ready. He brushed his teeth and showered. Just as he stepped out of the shower he heard a knock at his door.

"Nick it's Finnick, open the damn door already!"

Nick wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the door to welcome his friend in.

"Hey it's officer toot toot."

"Shut up you dumb fox, here's your tux."

Finnick walked passed Nick as he handed the tux to him and went to the fridge for a beer. He sat on the couch and turned the TV on.

"Nick Wilde going on a date with a bunny, that's a surprise."

"Something wrong with that?"

"You could date a elephant for all care buddy, it's who the bunny is that surprises me."

"Judy is sweet and I think this could work out."

Nick began to get dressed in the living room. He had lived in a van with Finnick for a long time before he had moved into his apartment, so any sense of modesty between the two was long gone.

"I know Nick, honestly I'm jealous."

"Why, were you planning on asking out Judy?"

"Ha, no offense Nick, but I like my own species. No, I'm talking about your life."

Nick stopped dressing and stared at his friend.

"What do you mean my life?" Nick asked confused.

"Well think about it Nick. Your mom makes you lunch and comes over to see you ever Sunday. You have a real job, a real place to live, and now you got a real girlfriend."

"Yeah but you got..."

Finnick cut Nick off.

"You Nick, I got you and a old van. My family, if you want to call them that, threw me out the second they could. I lost everything but the van that I sleep in during the divorce, and I have to hustle people to pay my alimony. You're all I got in life Nick." Nick took a drink of the beer.

Nick had never thought about his oldest friends situation. He felt bad for him, he knew Finnick didn't like others feeling bad for him. But he knew he had to do something. He went to his dresser grabbed his date night money, some extra cash, and his spare house key.

"I'm leaving to pick up Judy now"

"Ok I'll finish this beer then I'll leave."

"Actually you're not."

Finnick cocked an eyebrow at Nick as he spoke

"What do you mean?" Finnick asked

"Here man."

Nick extended his arm to hand Finnick the extra cash and the key.

"What's this Nick?"

"Go buy a bed frame and when I get back I'll help carry that mattress in the back of your van up. Your moving in with me."

"I don't take handouts Nick." Finnick scoffed.

"I know, you can repay me when rent day comes. This place is small, but it's better then a van."

Finnick knew once Nick got a idea in his head there was no stopping him. So he accepted the key and cash.

"Thank you Nick, now don't be late."

Nick left his friend, now roommate, and went to pick up Judy. The drive was a nerve racking one. When he got to her place he was so nervous he could barely walk up the stairs. He looked at his watch, 6:58. Two minutes to spare, he knocked three times and waited. When Judy opened the door his mouth dropped. Not only was Judy not wearing her arm sling, but she was wearing the purple dress Mr. Big bought her that matched her eyes. She was also wearing a white cotton jacket and the heart shaped necklace he had gotten her.