Nick and I arrive at his place in less than ten minutes- courtesy of his madman driving skills. Even though we spent the whole day together, I haven't gotten used to that. But apart from his driving, I realise that we got here this quickly because he lives close to where I was. If I remember correctly I was somewhere in that area when I had nearly ran him over with my car.

The minute we pull up to his house my mouth drops​ open. Did I say house? I'm sorry, I meant mansion. "You live here?" I ask, still staring at the house in amazement.

"Well when I said you could stay at my place I think I meant my house. So yes. I live here." He replies.

No. He doesn't understand. This place is too huge for someone to live in alone. Wait. Maybe he doesn't live alone. Maybe he lives with his family. I am so not in a state to meet and greet. I'm soaking wet for crying out loud!

Nick must have noticed how quiet I became since he asks, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just that I... Do you live here alone?"

He smirks. "I'm not going to jump you or anything, Evelyn. Relax." I guess that means 'yes'. Although that's not what I meant.

He circles a fountain - which has a statue of a woman with a baby in it- and parks his car. He escorts me inside and I can assure you that the interior is more impressive than the exterior. It's absolutely exquisite. The chandeliers reflect off the white walls and the paintings seem to dance when the light hits them.

Paintings.

There are so many of them. There are paintings of things as simple as flowers to things as complex as what seems​ to be scenes from old romantic movies and scenes from war times. Impressive. But this can't possibly be the work of Nick van Hale. These look like the works of someone who has a serious passion for the Arts and Nick hasn't mentioned that he does.

"Evelyn?" I jump when Nick's hand touches my shoulder and calls my name. I think I might have been staring with my mouth wide open. He smiles when I close my mouth. "Your bags are already upstairs in the guest bedroom. So you can get out of your clothes now. I mean your wet clothes- you know, so you can put on dry ones. I-" He lets out an exasperated breath and buries his face in his hands when he notices he's rambling.

I laugh and remove his hands. "I get it. Show me to my room?" I ask. I hope that doesn't sound too suggestive.

With a nod he leads me upstairs to the second floor. I wasn't aware my mouth dropped open again until I hear Nick chuckle and say something then leave the room.

Well forgive me for being impressed.

This guest bedroom looks like what a master bedroom should look like. Lee has a nice place but it's nothing compared to this.

After drying myself and my hair I rummage through my suitcases for my pyjamas. I find my baby blue silk pants and matching top and slip them on. I am so exhausted I just want to sleep. But that thought is put on hold when I hear a knock on the door.

"Yes?" I call.

"Sorry to bother you, ma'am. Mr. van Hale would like you to join him for dinner," a lady calls back. I open the door.

She seems to be in her mid-forties from the greying of her hair but she has a strong build. From the black and white uniform she's wearing and her polite tone, I could easily tell she was the housekeeper. She makes a face when she takes in my attire - not one of disgust but of surprise.

"Oh. I thought I'd just go straight to bed..."

"I'm afraid he insists. He refuses to let you go to bed hungry," she argues. I hadn't eaten since lunch so I don't protest any further.

I follow her downstairs to the dining room. This room, like all the others, is grand. There are less paintings in this room so the long mahogany table draws my attention almost immediately. Nick is sitting at the head of the table. He rises to pull out the chair to his right when he sees me enter the room. The maid then leaves as I take a seat.

"Nice outfit." He remarks with his well renowned smirk.

"Thank you. I put it together myself."

He chuckles then grows serious as he stares at me. I look away. "Forgive me for staring. It's just that you're so...so beautiful."

"Nick, don't." I blush but I mean it seriously. Of course he would flirt with me. He probably thinks I'm going to sleep with him. "I'm really not that hungry. I think I should go to bed." I start to get up but he stops me.

"Please. Don't go. I promise I'll keep those thoughts to myself."

"Those thoughts?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"You can't blame a man for liking what he sees. Let's just eat then you can get some rest."

"Okay..." I say hesitantly but I stay anyways. I am starving.

"Your car should be ready and waiting for you outside in the morning, by the way."

"Thank you so much for helping me out. Just tell me the cost and I'll pay you back."

He laughs. "Absolutely not." I try to reason with him but he changes the subject.

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I thank Nick- and tell him to pass on the acknowledgements to his chef- for the best Mac and cheese and chicken I've ever tasted.

The minute I get back to the guest bedroom I collapse on the bed. It feels good to be lying down. As my eyelids begin to get heavy, my cell phone vibrates next to me on the bed. With a jolt I remember that I was suppose to call Nessa and explain why I didn't make it home. I grab the phone and answer without looking at the screen.

"Evelyn Genevieve Brady!" I cringe at the sound of my middle name. I guess I owed​ my mother a call too. "Are you alright? Did you get home safely?" Mom probes.

"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. I'm just so tired I forgot to call." I successfully dodge the second question.

"Oh. Well get some rest dear." I was trying to, I say mentally. "Goodnight, sweetie. Love you."

"Love you too, Mom. And Dad." I know he's listening. I hear him chuckle as he says goodnight.

I hang up and dial Vanessa immediately. I brace myself for the yelling that is sure to come my way. She picks up on the first ring.

"Evelyn! I cannot believe you. Where the hell are you? I thought you said you would be here today. And is it so hard for you to answer your phone or reply to a freakin' text message?" She yells, expectedly of course.

"I'm so sory. I-"

"Did something happen? Are you okay?" Typical Vanessa. Yell first, show concern later.

"I'm okay." I tell her the whole story of my afternoon in one breath.

"You're at Nick's? The surprise is evident in her voice.

"Yes, Nessa. No big deal. There's nothing going on."

"Please. I know that. You're not capable of looking twice at a guy who's not Marcel. I'm just surprised 'cause I didn't think Nick was the type to invite a girl over knowing he isn't gonna get any." She explains.

That's the impression I have​ of Nick so that's the one I pass on to my best friend. I probably should defend him seeing as I now know he's not that kind of person but I'm rendered momentarily speechless by her comment about Marcel. She's right.

Even now when I'm suppose to be mad at him I can't stop loving him for a second. I can't even think about the guy I'm sharing a house with for the night.

Vanessa notices my silence and quickly apologises. "I'm so sorry, Lyn. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine." I sigh. "I'll be there first thing in the morning. Goodnight, Vanessa." I am all talked out for the night now. Nessa had my mind wrapped up with thoughts of Marcel now and I can't stop it. She knows​ that. She apologises again and hangs up.

I throw the phone on the bedside table and close my eyes. Trying to get Marcel out of my thoughts is hard but at least I was on the verge of sleep. I will be unconscious in a while.

I growl as I hear my phone vibrate again. I grab it, ready to tell whoever it is to go away but stop short when I see that it's a text message.

From Marcel.

It reads.

I reply.

Why does he want to talk to me in person?

I ask. Even though I'm tired I would like to know what this was about.

I bite my lip as I contemplate what this could be about then reply with an "Okay". He says he'll tell me the time and place in the morning. As I put the phone back down I feel the sleep slowly drift away.

Great. Now My head is full of more Marcel.

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"I swear, if you don't eat this pizza right now I'm going to punch you in the face," Lee threatens. But I'm ignoring him. Like I have​ been all day and all night. I'm lying in my couch, staring at the ceiling for hours now. I haven't eaten all day nor have I even gotten up to take a shower.

What's the point? Dead people don't shower. And that's exactly how I feel.

Dead.

"Ow! What the hell, Lee?" I jump from the couch, holding my jaw.

"I did warn you. It's your face," he says as he waves the pizza.

"Fine. If I eat the pizza will you go away?"

"You know I won't," he counters. Taking a seat in the couch, he throws his feet up on my coffee table and picks up the remote. He finds an action movie and turns the volume up too loud in an attempt to drown out the sound of the rain outside. I groan and sit back down, finally taking a slice of the pepperoni pizza.

"I have to tell her, you know?" I say quietly. But Lee must have heard me as since he lowers the volume and turns to face me. "But I don't know how to."

"I know. But you have to. And you have to face her, so you're gonna have to see her. None of that calling or texting crap."

I scoff. "It's not like she answers my calls or my texts. So how am I gonna get her to see me?" He shrug.

"Let's try. Text her. Now."

"Did you hear wh-" I argue.

"Just do it. Tell her that you need to talk to her. That it's important." I sigh and pull out my phone and does as he says.

I type and press send.

I'm about to tell Lee that it isn't going​ to work but I stop when I notice she replied. It's stupid but I can't help the wide grin that spreads across my face. And as quickly as it appeared it vanishes. What I have​ to say to her is nothing to laugh about. I wanted to die because of it.

I tell her I need to talk to her face to face. She hesitates but then agrees.

"So?" Lee inquires.

"She's up for it. Yea." I tell​ him.

"Look, I know this is hard for you but you have to do this, okay?" Always the voice of reason.

"I know that. It's just how to tell her. What am I gonna say? 'Hey, Lyn. you remember that girl I cheated on you with? Yea, her. She's pregnant and it's mine.' This is just what I need." I add sarcastically.

While the sarcasm drips from my tongue I notice Lee's phone is ringing. He sees it too but makes no attempt to answer it.

"It's Nessa, isn't it?" I ask. But I know it is even though he doesn't answer. "Why are you avoiding her? Come on, man. Don't do this."

"Don't do what?" He replies acidly. "Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be around the best friend of the girl you cheated on? She's worried about the two of you and the questions are getting harder to dodge."

Okay. He lost me. "What questions?"

"The questions about you and Lyn. 'How's Marcel doing? Do you think there's a chance they could get back together? Don't you think they should just put this behind them and move on?' Those questions. There's no putting it in the past now. You're gonna be a dad for crying out loud." He explains.

So that's what he's doing? Avoiding her to save my ass? "Come on. We're going over there. No protests. I ruined my relationship. I'm not about to ruin yours too."

He hesitates but gets up. I'm going to tell Lyn anyway, so might as well let him tell Nessa, right?

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