LII

                                    

                                          
N I C H O L A S
                          
"I've been waiting for someone like you. Baby, this time, please don't be too good to be true."
                          
. . .
                          
The warmth of my bed wakes me up, and when I look at the clock in my bedroom, I see that it's ten in the morning.
                          
I throw the bedsheets away, sitting up on the edge of the bed. My body is sweaty and my breathing is fast.
                          
I wonder if I did the right thing. 
                          
Because I'm tired of hurting people. And I don't want to hurt Fallon more.
                          
The door of the bedroom opens from behind me, making light fall inside the dark room.
                          
Familiar footsteps walk in, and the bed dips beside me. A hand is placed on my shoulder, and I throw her a glance over my shoulder, meeting her eyes.
                          
"Are you okay?" she asks with a frown on her face. "I hope you're not regretting this."
                          
"I don't regret it," I reply and rake a hand through my hair. 
                          
Because I don't. I wouldn't undo my actions because I know I need to be here.
                          
"Then what is it?" she asks, and I shrug. "I'm just tired," I answer. 
                          
"Come on," Aurora scoffs and rolls her eyes, "you've traveled across the world and now you say you're tired from a six-hour flight? Please."
                          
I arrived yesterday, took the first flight to New York I could get. I told Aurora that I'd be on my way, before talking to Stella.
                          
She understood that I needed to leave, but I didn't disclose why. I think she got the hint, and she left. 
                          
"It's some adjusting," I fire back and stand up, rubbing my eyes before opening the curtains in front of the window and looking out on the city.
                          
"Right..." Aurora drawls out, "anyway, I'm glad you didn't lose your mind completely and decided to come here."
                          
"Of course, I'd come here," I murmur, "that was my first instinct. Now, where is Fallon?"
                          
"Give her time," Aurora says. I turn around, meeting her gaze.
                          
"I'm not a patient man," I reply with narrowed eyes.
                          
She sighs, annoyed. "A few weeks, at least."
                          
"Hmm." I don't want to wait. I want to see Fallon. Talk to her. Explain everything and apologize for being an asshole and not being there for her.
                          
"You know she's the best thing that happened to you, right?" Aurora asks. 
                          
"I know, that's why I want to see her," I reply, feeling myself getting fired up. She rolls her eyes and gets up from bed, walking back towards the door. 
                          
"Get over yourself and wait just a bit more, she'll be thankful for that, and so will you."
                          
She exits my room, closing the door behind her. I don't recall giving her a key to my penthouse here, but she managed to get in nonetheless today. 
                          
Walking over to my suitcase, I get some comfortable clothes and put them on. 
                          
Even from my room, I can hear Aurora working in the kitchen. The pans are clinging and I hear the cupboards being slammed shut.
                          
I wince. Aurora has never been a good cook, but she always claims otherwise. 
                          
Her grilled cheeses are good. That's all I can give her. 
                          
When I hung up the phone with Aurora, I turned towards Stella who came by telling me that she was leaving. 
                          
I was relieved, and led her out of my house, saying that I needed to take care of something. Our parting ways was peaceful, and I hope she'll one day grow back to the girl I used to know and find her own happiness.