When the Tide Rolls In [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty-Two: Quit Whining Like A Child

"What the hell?" Is what I woke up to the next morning. The person screaming it at six in the morning had a very high pitched and very shrill voice.

Nick jumped and sat up as soon as the intruder had opened their mouth. Judging by the fact he wasn't reaching for the gun in his bedside table, this person was harmless. I lifted my pillow and placed it over my head to drown out the screaming.

"Who is that bitch and why is she ignoring me! Nicky you better explain!" the person I had now determined was a woman began shouting.

Just then, Nick's cell phone rang. He picked it up and as soon as the annoyed words left his mouth I practically swooned. His voice was gruff due to his throat being dry. Nick clicked the speakerphone button and growled, "What?"

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Sanduvol. I don't know how she got past the front desk," the voice on the other line apologized.

"It's fine," Nick mumbled, still clearly tired. He hung up and turned back to the screeching banshee before us.

"Nick I thought I was the only girl!" she cried.

At that I began laughing. Not just a chuckle, but hysterically laughing. Was this girl dumb? My stomach began to hurt and before I knew it she was heading around my side of the bed. But she didn't lay a finger on me, because she was staring at Nick with eyes as wide as dinner plates.

I glanced over to see his blue eyes freezing her over.

"If you touch her, Hannah, you will die," he growled.

"Nicky, I'm supposed to be-"

"Stop. You are not to call me that. We had sex one time, which does not give you claim over me. Leave."

Hannah looked conflicted about leaving, glancing between Nick and I before opening her mouth again.

"But... is she your girlfriend?"

"Oh for the love of God," I cried, sitting up and rolling over towards Nick. I ignored the pain as I sleepily planted my lips right on his. It was only for a second, just a peck, but it was enough to make Hannah go ballistic.

"Oh my god! Nick! How could you!"

Nick stood on his side of the bed. I took a moment to appreciate his back muscles as he escorted a crying girl out of his room. He returned shortly after, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. His side and arm muscles stretched beautifully.

Bicep.

"You didn't have to goad her on you know," he glared at me, referencing the kiss.

"It was a kiss, I didn't think she'd flip out like that," I laughed, but winced as pain blossomed in my shoulder.

"Fine. I'm going back to sleep," he mumbled, crawling back into bed. His inky black hair splayed itself across his pillow, and his eyes drifted closed.

For a moment, all was still. Nick reached his arm out and roughly drew me to him.

"Ow!" I exclaimed, swatting his arm.

"Shut up and go back to sleep," he groaned into the pillow, and I complied. But not because he was warm and comfortable.

--

When I woke up again, Nick was gone from the bed. I sat up and noticed a wheel chair beside me on the floor.

With a great deal of effort, I dressed myself and finally made it into the chair. My shoulder, however, was screaming in pain.

Wheeling myself out of the bedroom, I spotted Nick and Conner sitting at the kitchen table together.

"Good to see you two have made up," I smiled, earning a glare from both of them.