Second Chances

Chapter 23

Sorry, i have really been busy at work and with other things.....

Season Greeting to you all

One down, one to go.

I thought as i made my way to Nick's office. I left the room immediately i gave him my answer. I just want to see Nick and get this out of my system as well. I admit i have trust issues, and I'm really trying my best to work on that, but i don't know, being a pessimist has really served me well so far.

When i got to his office, i stood outside his door for a while trying to gather my thoughts before i go in. I rest my head on his door and closed my eyes as i remember what i told my dad.

I sighed "It's not that i don't want to believe you, i just don't believe you can change that much overnight" 

"Ash" Drew and Carol said in a warning tone at the same time.

"No Andrew, Carol, its fine" he said without taking his eyes off me "I understand you, after everything you've been through. If i were in your shoes, i would probably feel the same way, but just know that i will do everything in my power to gain your trust, but before then, will you at least promise to make this work" he raised his brow in question

"Yes, i will try to make this work" I said after being silent for a while. "I promise" 

The moment i made that statement, i knew how much i wanted him to be a dad to me and how much i hope I'm not a disappointment to him, he came close to me and pulled me in for another hug. No matter how much i love the feeling of being hugged by him, i will not get used to it.

I sighed as i remembered where I am and what I'm supposed to do, it seems  I'm doing that a lot lately, the sighing. I sighed once more and raised my hands to knock but didn't get the chance to do so because the door opened by itself, to reveal Nick.

Okay, the door did not open by itself.

"I was wondering if you knew how to knock and how long it would take for you to figure it out" he said. 

"Sorry, was just thinking" i sighed "I have a lot on my mind"

"You're doing that a lot lately"

"Doing what?" i asked "Having a lot to think about?"

"No, the sighing, i heard you just now"

"Do you read minds now too?" i said as i made my past him and into his office "Nice place" i told him as i admire his work space.

"No, i don't think i was blessed with that gift just yet" he said and gestured me to sit on the couch instead of the chair opposite his own behind the desk "I mean, do you know how amazing it'll be for me to be able to read minds, yours especially" he continued as he sat beside me.

I rolled my eyes at this, he acts like a teenager sometimes with how fast his thoughts drift from one topic to another. I wonder how he does that.

"Well thankfully, you are not blessed with that and hopefully, you won't be" i stated "Because i can imagine what you're going to do with that kind of power"

"I won't ever do anything illegal with it" he said with an innocent face.

"Yeah, you can fool others but not me" 

"Really?" he asked as he leaned toward me. 

I gasped at how close he is, he is so close that any movement on my part is going to end with us kissing. My lips suddenly felt so dry that i had to run my tongue across my lip, he looked down trailing the movement my tongue made, and even after my tongue is safely tucked away in it rightful place, he still kept staring at my lip.  He is staring at me like he wants to kiss me but is restraining himself wanting me to make the first move. 

Well, let's oblige him then. My subconscious licked her lips in anticipation.

"Yes" I whispered breathlessly, i don't know who i replied right then, him or my subconscious, so i did the only thing (well, not really) i can do at the time and pushed his face from mine.

"We need to talk"

"When a woman makes that statement, it's either that man is in huge trouble or she wants to break up with him." he said "Which is it, It can't be the second, right?"

"Please, can you be serious for a minute" i sighed.

"Fine, what is it?" he  said getting serious.

"What are we?" I asked him directly.

"What do you want us to be?" 

"I'm asking you, i want to know what you would call us" I said putting emphasis on the you.

"Well, for me, we already are in a relationship" he continued "It's up to you to put a label to whatever it is we are?"

Okay, i didn't expect him to say that. I looked at him like he has grown two heads.

"What?"

"It's just, i didn't expect you to say that"

"What did you expect me to say?" He asked "That i just want to have fun with you?" he raised his brow.

"Well, yeah, i mean, uh..... I thought......" I trailed off confused.

"That I'm a player, a womanizer, a player?" he completed what i wanted to say, not the words i would have chosen though, so I just shrugged.

"Well, yeah" 

"What happened to don't judge a book by its cover"

"I'm sorry. its just that i heard a lot of gossips about you and even if you wanted someone to get serious with, it won't be me"

"Why would you think that?" he asked as he sits up to look at me directly.

"Well, look at me" I gestured to myself shrugging "I don't exactly scream gorgeous" 

"Okay, stop right there" he takes my hands in his and looks into my eyes "You are beautiful, much more than being  gorgeous and you are an amazing person. I know you, I've seen you both in your bad days and good ones, I know what you've been through and I'm still here, sticking around, and there's nowhere I'd rather be" 

"Did you just come up with that right now?" I asked my voice getting hoarse.

"Well, yeah" he said "I am actually good at coming up with this kind of things too you know"

"Oh my goodness" I laugh "I can't believe you would steal a line from books and pass them off as yours"

"Not a line, several actually and modify it to suit the situation better" He smiled.

"So now I'm a situation?" I asked feigning anger as i tried to pull my hand from his only for him to hold on tighter.

"No, I didn't mean it like that" He groaned.

"I'm just messing with you" I smiled "You're not the only one who can modify things to suit the situation" i said making air quotes at-modify thing to suit the situation-statement i made.

He just smiled when i used his words against him as well.

"Okay, so, what do you say to this?" He asked as he gestured at both of us "What label or title would you give us, or me, to me in particular?"

"Well........"