If It's With You

021- Avoiding him

Neither would I deny that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, after seeing the look on his face the night he handed me my phone, nor that Julia saying it out loud didn’t send shivers down my spine. I blocked my mind off from that, assuring myself that Tim wouldn’t do that.

“Well, tell me about you and Nick, babe.” She said and I sighed.

I reached for my wine and took another large sip as if the alcohol was going to do anything to ease the ache in my heart, while I strolled down memory lane. “Okay, so what happened was— on that day, Nicklaus and I had almost kissed and also kissed,” I said, and the serious expression on Julia’s face melted into a smile.

“I know that was going happen, I know it had to do with something like that. I had never seen Nicklaus look at anyone the way he looks at you.” Julia said, and with her hand, she gestured that I continue but her words were stuck in my ears, blowing calm air into my aching heart.

I wanted to feel good after hearing that but the image of him and Ashley kissing was like an invisible billboard standing in front of my face.

“I guess the way he looks at me meant nothing to him after all,” I said, causing Julia’s brows to slightly furrow. “After we hung out with Andrew—”

“Andrew?”

“Yeah,” I took a sip from my wine, and Julia did the same. I went on and told her how Andrew almost caught us kissing on the skating rink, and how we hung out after that. Julia was surprised because none of us ever said anything about that to her. But the truth was ever since that day, we all had a lot going on for every one of us.

“So, what do you think about Simon?” she asked.

“He’s cool, he seems like a good guy.”

“He better be because if anyone breaks Andrew’s heart one more time, I am going to kill them.”

“Nicklaus said the same thing,” I chuckled. “Well, after we parted ways with Andrew and his boyfriend, we went home and in the elevator, we kind of kissed.” I shrugged, and again Julia’s face lit up in a smile, her eyes brightening up. “But when we got to his apartment…” I swallowed a lump of saliva, telling myself it was okay and I could talk about it without tearing a drop.

I went on and narrated everything about the kiss to Julia, whose face went from a smile to a scowl. The blood pumping into my heart did with so much pressure. So much that it hurts.

“You walked into them kissing?” She asked, scowling and I nodded pressing my lips together. “Is that even possible? They don’t like each other like that and when their fathers convinced them to be together, they couldn’t even do it past a couple of months.”

“I didn’t even know they were together, Nicklaus never told me and walking into him kissing her some minutes after kissing me, made me feel heartbroken and cheated. I know us kissing probably meant nothing to him but—”

“It did not mean nothing to him,” She chipped in. “It meant something,” She added. “Muna,” she said leaning to the table and placing her arms on it. “I have known Nicklaus for a long time to know that there is something about you that charmed the hell out of him probably from the first day y’all met.” She said. “I haven’t seen Nicklaus so worried about not being able to talk to someone. And I know for sure that he likes you, but what I don’t understand is why he kissed Ashley.” She pulled her body off the table, relaxing back on the seat. “Maybe Nicklaus didn’t kiss her, maybe it was all Ashley, you know.” she shrugged

“Well, I have thought about that too. It made me feel embarrassed because it meant I was jealous and probably overreacted with the whole dropping his phone and walking away. Then I went on and ignored him completely. I avoided talking about it, playing dead each time he was at my door. I don’t know, I feel stupid—”

“No, Muna,” she leaned towards the table again and placed her hand on mine. “You’re not stupid and your feelings are valid. Anyone would have done the same thing. I understand you perfectly.”

Julia sighed and after taking another sip of her drink, she called out to me and I gave her all my attention. “When Nicklaus lost his mom, something died in him, he started withdrawing himself from everything and was always making up excuses each time we tried to hang out with him. He was getting pissed over unnecessary things, and sometimes acting like a dick. But then, you appeared in our lives and I saw the old Nicklaus gradually return. I mean, the first time Andrew invited you to the club, that was the first time he hung out with us again and that was after he initially declined.” She sighed. “All I’m trying to say is that you should give him a chance, talk to him and—”

Julia was cut off by Andrew, who yelled, “Who missed daddy?!” as he pushed the door open, spreading his arms out in the air with a smile etching his face.

His action managed to get a chuckle out of me but not out of Julia, she was scowling and snapping her face behind as fast as she could.

I did miss Andrew. I did.

“What the fuck, Drew?” Julia hissed, “Do you wanna break the damn door, asshole?”

Andrew smirked, “Relax bro. Just wanted to make a grand entrance. Missed me, yeah?” He smirked, walking towards us.

I shook my head, smiling. They were always at it, even though they loved each other so much.

Julia scowled, “Who gives a fuck about your stupid entrance? And I am not your bro, don’t call me that.”

Halting at our table, he grinned mischievously and sat beside Julia “Hey, lighten up drama queen.” He said, throwing his arm around Julia’s shoulder. The same arm she flung back to him.

Andrew yelped pretentiously and then, threw me a wink, “How are you, princess?” He asked, smiling.

“I’m fine, and you?”

“Good over here and why are we not invited to the party?” Glancing behind, he said. “Where the fuck—” But before he could finish his words, the door was pushed open and there, Nicklaus appeared.

My breath stuck in my throat and I stilled in my seat. I wasn’t ready.

Clad in a white oxford shirt and black dress pants. With a perfect haircut and a clean-shaved face, he paused at the door, scanning the space and suddenly all the anger knot in my stomach melted into a confusing blend of attraction and frustration. Despite my aching heart, I couldn’t help but acknowledge his irresistible charm, leaving me torn between clashing emotions.

I was about to shift my gaze from him, not wanting his eyes to meet mine. But, it was already late because his gaze connected to mine just in time, sweeping across the inside of me with a fierce wave of emotions.

Holding, my gaze he walked at a steady pace towards us. The air around me grew hot, my heart pounding against my rib cage. I took a silent breath trying to calm whatever rage was surging in me. If it was attraction or anger, I didn’t know anymore.

Julia shifted in her seat, and that got a glimpse of my attention. She mouthed “I told him not to come,” and did a curt head nod, which was her way of telling me to keep calm.

Meanwhile, Andrew was already gulping down a large amount of wine, while nudging Julia, to pay attention to whatever he was showing her on his phone. The same thing that was making him smile hard.

“Is that Simon?” Julia asked, staring at his phone screen, smiling.

Andrew nodded, the grin on his face almost swallowing his eyes.“Isn’t he so cute, Jul?”

My eyes connected back to Nicklaus, who halted at our table and I saw the vividness of everything he was feeling in the depth of his brown eyes.

Dear readers, just want to say that my week is going to be so packed with lots of things. So, there will be no chapter update next Sunday.

I know that waiting until next two sundays to see how Muna and Nick will try to mend things is kinda long. But let me just say, our babies are about to get even cuter. Minus the drama of course.

Thanks to everyone of you for reading!

And also, you guys should please vote at the end of each chapter. Pleaseee.

Have a lovely week, guys! And share my story with your friends.