Of Suitcases and Other Things

25

Nikko put down her phone, his question still running through her head. As much as she wanted to say yes, she was a little apprehensive about certain things. Yes, after a bit of a rocky start, things had turned around. He showed all the signs that he was interested; picking her up, dropping her off, he even made good on his promise and they finally had coffee together.

True, it wasn't exactly the situation she visualized. After all, they hardly spoke to each other while at the cafe. But they had smoothed things over that night. Plus, and this was the big one, he had kissed her after. KISSED HER! For the second time. That should count for something. Right? Right?

Nikko sighed and picked up the copy of MOT the office had given her. She knew she liked him enough to say yes. So why couldn't her mouth form the word when he asked for her answer?

She looked at the front cover, her gaze going down from Jay's eyes to his lips. Lips that were on hers last night. She could still feel the heat from that kiss, how she lost herself to it and how much she wanted to do it again.

Slow down Nikko! She shook her head as she thumbed through the pages trying to keep her mind from wandering back to that moment. Her eyes fell back on the page. She had somehow unconsciously rifled onto her article on him.

"Serious and intense are the words that come to mind when you first meet Richard Faulkeron Jr. Even his name has a no nonsense feel to it, much like the way he runs his business, the popular gastropub ATP. But when he asks you to call him Jay, with a smile that changes his arrogant features to a boyish one, you get the feeling that there is a lot more personality underneath the all-business one he pushes at you."

His non-work persona. The one that she only had glimpses of before. The one that was showing itself more often now. The one that picked her up every morning and texted her good night. The one that was pulling her closer and closer to falling in...

Nikko stopped reading and looked at the accompanying pictures, lingering on the one of him pouring out beer from the tap. His shirt sleeves folded above his elbows, straining against his bulging biceps. How she wanted to wrap her fingers around them and...

Ok! Enough with these kind of thoughts Nicomaine! She dropped the magazine on the coffee table still opened. Shouldn't you give the guy an answer first before you start fantasizing about him?

She pushed herself off the couch just as Liv entered the front door.

"Ugh! What a day!" Liv sighed as she dropped her bag on the coffee table and sank herself on the couch. "This new position is going to eat away my sanity."

"There's still that half open bottle of wine in the fridge" Nikko offered helpfully, "And we can binge watch Netflix if you want."

"Sounds good." Liv straightened up and pushed aside her bag looking for the remote. Her eyes scanning the table until it fell on the magazine.

"Is this the feature you wrote on Jay?" She asked picking it up and placing it on her lap.

"Uhhh...yeah." Nikko shrugged before getting up and searching for the remote.

"You just described him perfectly here." Liv tapped her finger at the first part of Nikko's article.

Nikko gave her a wan smile as she located the clicker and sat back down on the couch. She snuck a glance at Liv who was staring at the same photo that she had been looking at earlier and she suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"This is really good." Liv said softly, her eyes never leaving the image she had been looking at.

Nikko bit her lip as she flicked through the channels. Why did she have a feeling that...

"Umm...Nikko." Liv turned her attention to her. "I know it was weeks ago. But I was wondering if by chance, there was some possibility you still haven't given Jay the things I had asked you to." She gave her a small smile, "I mean I was wondering if you did because I never really got a confirmation from you and it's not like he contacted me about it."

Nikko pretended to be engrossed with the cooking show the TV was tuned into. She hadn't returned anything to Jay. The suitcase was still sitting in his office. Shit! She knew she should've given it to him earlier. It was her fault for being a softie and not wanting him to see him get hurt. Now what?

Maybe she should just tell Liv she did give it back. I mean what if she said she hadn't yet and Liv ended up going ballistic on her. Whatever Nikko. You know that's not the reason you want to tell her you already gave it. Fine! Nikko huffed inwardly. I still think I should-

"Nikko?" Liv' voice was now a little louder. "Did you hear what I said? I asked if you had already given Jay-"

"Sorry. I...I still...haven't." Nikko clenched her teeth. Why did she have to say that? Why couldn't she lie?

"Oh." Liv breathed out, her expression seemed to show relief. "If you still haven't. That's ok." then her face brightened a little, "Actually that's great! Since you haven't given it, don't bother. I'll take it off your hands. You can just give it back to me."

Nikko froze, blinking at Liv for a few seconds before recovering and nodding. "Can I give it back tomorrow? I have to get it from work."

"Sure. Not a problem." Liv said as she stood up and made her way towards her room still carrying the magazine in her hand. "I hope you don't mind,  I'll just borrow this for a while. I want to finish your article." And without waiting for Nikko to answer she disappeared inside.

"Sure. Not a problem." Nikko said quietly as she stared at the closed door.