Writing a Wrong (17 page)

"He'd be a fool if he let you go that easily. We're young. We make mistakes."

"That's a cop-out. We're adults and we should know the difference between right and wrong. If we don't, we shouldn't be in a relationship."

"Whoa. That's harsh. I'm just saying I don't think you should give up hope yet."

I shrugged. Maybe my words were harsh, but definitely realistic.

He gave me another squeeze before dropping his arm and guiding me toward the elevators. "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some food. I went overboard on the freaking chocolate. What I wouldn't do for a pan of my mom's lasagna right about now," he groaned, rubbing his stomach.

I smiled meekly. I appreciated the fact that he was trying to change the subject, but I was in no mood for idle chitchat. I wanted so badly to be able to forget that Alec still hadn't called, but the truth was, the longer I went without hearing from him, the more it hurt. My mood would change by the time we arrived at the dinner. I would make sure of that. No one who spent time and money to meet me deserved anything less.

"So what are you going to do with your free time until your flight leaves on Thursday?" he asked while we waited for the elevator to arrive.

"Write, write, and write some more. I'm terribly behind schedule. The plan is to crank out at least fifteen thousand words in the next three days. I'd love to hit twenty thousand, but I'll have to get into a serious groove to accomplish that. I bet you'll be happy to be home."

He shot me a devilish grin. "Now that hooking up with you is out of the question, I need to get back out there and fix my bruised ego."

"Aw, poor thing. How will you ever cope?" I teased, stepping onto the elevator.

Greg walked in behind me, clicking the button for the lobby. "I won't lie. You left a chink in the armor. I think I'll hit some clubs with my friends and find a couple chicken heads to build up some momentum."

"Chicken heads?"

"Ha. You may think even less of me if I tell you what it means."

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Great. Well, now I'm not sure I want to know, but go ahead. Let's have it," I said, waving my hand.

"Chicken heads are chicks at clubs who are eager for attention."

"Oh, okay, so what girl at a club isn't?" I thought maybe he was about to tell me something outrageous, like they were prostitutes or something. They sounded like typical girls at a club to me.

"Well, there is a little more," he said, smiling. "Chicken heads tend to be more than willing to perform certain acts—acts that guys really like but not all chicks do, if you get my meaning?"

I got the meaning loud and clear, especially after he bobbed his head up and down for emphasis. "Oh my god. Could you be any more of a pig?"

"I told you it might make you think less of me," he said, chuckling.

Guys were such trolls, but I couldn't help laughing with him. We reached the lobby and the doors opened, revealing a group of people waiting to go up.

"Nicole." My name was called from off to the side as Greg and I stepped off the elevator. The laughter died in my throat. "Alec," I whispered. 

The air left my lungs in a whoosh as I watched his eyes narrow, taking in the scene before him. It was irony at its finest. For the past forty-eight hours I'd barely been able to crack a smile, let alone a laugh, but the moment I finally lighten up for the briefest of seconds, he was suddenly there.

"Oh shit," Greg said, taking a punch across the jaw before he could protect himself. He flew backward against the wall, landing in a heap.

Chapter 18

"Alec, what the hell!" I ran to Greg's side and knelt down to make sure he was okay. Blood trickled from the corner of his already slightly swollen lip. "God, are you okay?" I asked, searching my purse for a tissue.

"It's cool. I probably deserved that," he said, rubbing the side of his jaw where Alec had hit him. I grabbed him by the arm and attempted to help him to his feet.

I turned my attention back to Alec who stood behind me with his hand still clenched into a fist. "Why the hell would you do that?" He looked at me incredulously, like he expected me to congratulate him for defending my honor or something. "Say something!"

Two men wearing sport jackets with security badges arrived, looking like they had sprung into action to get there. "What happened? Is anyone hurt here?" Their eyes scanned over Greg and Alec before turning to me, demanding an answer.

"It's cool," Greg said, straightening himself up off the wall. "I'm sorry. We were screwing around and I accidently tripped and fell. It's all good."

One of the guards looked at him skeptically. "You fell?"

"How'd you cut your lip?" The other guard asked, glancing at Alec, who looked as guilty as a child being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Face plant," Greg said, slapping his hands together.

"Face plant, huh? Is anybody else hurt?" The guard looked at me for confirmation and all I could do was shake my head. "We're going to need all your statements and an accident report filled out."

"Sir," Greg said, trying to talk through his busted lip. "I understand completely and we will absolutely cooperate, but this is N.S. Blake. She's a big-time author and due for an appearance right now. Can we fill out the paperwork when we return?"

The guard shook his head. "I'm not sure about that. I appreciate you needing to go, but I have the best interests of the hotel to consider."

"I'm not going to the event. How about I give you my statement and then you get theirs when they get back?" Alec said, stepping forward.

"Are you a guest at the hotel?"

"Yes. He's with me," I answered immediately.

Reluctantly, the guards agreed after Greg provided our identification and the information about the dinner we were due to attend.

"Here," I said, handing my key card to Alec and telling him the room number. "I need to get out of here for this dinner. Don't even think of leaving before I get back." I glared at him, my emotions stuck somewhere between happiness to see him and downright aggravation.

He accepted the card without a word and walked with the guards to file an accident report as promised. I stood there like a statue, wishing he would look back at me. Give me some kind of sign that he wasn't here to officially end things. It seemed unlikely that he would travel all the way to Philadelphia to dump me, but I also hadn't expected him to be there to attack Greg either.

After a quick stop in the restroom to wash his lip, Greg and I hustled to the RV and danced around questions from Michelle, Tina, and Monica as to why we were late. As for his lip, Greg made up another ridiculous story of accidently hitting himself with the hotel room door. We all had a laugh at his expense as we drove to the dinner.

Knowing Alec was in my hotel room waiting set me on edge throughout the event. My nerves were jittery and it showed, at least to me. I noticed my hand shaking while reaching for my water glass, and God only knows how many times I dropped my fork during the meal. Through it all I remained my chipper self as I answered questions about book boyfriends and my favorite foods to eat while writing. I made several readers happy by disclosing a few teasers about the next book in the Wicked series. Mostly everyone wanted me to sign their books and pose for pictures, which I gladly did without ever letting my smile slip.

The evening finally came to a close after the last of the attendees staggered out. Only when I was once again on the Love Bus, cloaked in the darkness of night, did I allow my stress to show. During the ride back to the hotel, I told the others that Alec had showed up and was waiting in my room. Greg and I left out the details of the punch he had taken, but I could tell by the look on Michelle's face that she suspected something.

When we arrived at the hotel, we stopped in the lobby to say our goodbyes. Greg would be dropping the three of them off at the airport early the next morning before driving the RV back to New York.

Tina enveloped me in tight hug. The scent of her Chanel perfume tickled my nose. "It's a good sign he's here," she whispered in my ear. "This will give you two the opportunity to work it out."

I hoped she was right. The anger I had felt after Alec punched Greg that allowed me to exude a false confidence in front of him had now evaporated and been replaced with doubt.

"I'll miss you, girl," Michelle said, moving in for a hug after Tina released me. "My money is on you. And I never lose."

"I do," I muttered, thinking about my losing record with bets.

Monica took her turn next. She didn't mention Alec or wish me luck, but gave me a taut squeeze that spoke volumes about our friendship.

They jumped on an elevator together, leaving Greg and me alone.

We gave our statements to the security staff about the earlier incident, confirming Greg's made-up story about tripping, before saying our own goodbyes. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to say to him. In a weird way I felt like I owed him some sort of apology. He smiled and spoke up first, easing the awkwardness. "It's been a pleasure working with you these last few weeks, Nicole," he said formally. "Or should I say—the talent?"

"Funny. I hope this helps you move up at work," I said, deciding to keep it on a professional level. I turned to leave before Greg snagged my wrist, pulling me to a stop. He opened his mouth like he had something to say but hesitated.

"Was there something else?" I asked, looking at his hand that still held my wrist.

He took a deep breath and looked around as if he were searching for something. "If Bonehead up there doesn't see how spectacular you are, then I'm always here. I'd be more than willing to step in." He took a step closer as if he intended to seal his declaration with a kiss.

Instinctively, I took a step backward, shocked by the intensity in his eyes. "Greg, no. What about being friends?"

He gave my hand a squeeze. "I lied. You know, trying to save face and all. Truthfully, it was the most spectacular kiss of my life. Anytime you find yourself in need of another, call me." He dropped my hand and turned to walk away, leaving through the front entrance of the hotel.

Shaking my head at the complexity of men, I sank down on one of the plush chairs in the lobby. I needed a chance to collect my thoughts before heading upstairs. Whatever happened, I wouldn't use tears as a weapon. I had to keep my emotions in check.

My steps felt heavy as I made the slow journey to my room and yet, I still arrived long before I was ready. I stood outside the door, taking several shallow breaths before finally raising my hand to knock.

The door swung open almost immediately. Alec stood before me, tall and handsome as ever. From the instant I first laid eyes on him, I believed he was out of my league. He'd stepped off the cover and into my life.

A strange whistling noise annoyingly teased my ears as I stood on the threshold of my room. It took me a moment to realize the sound was coming from me. My breathing was a bit labored and I felt warm.

Alec didn't speak as I stepped around him and walked into the room. I dropped my purse on the dresser and removed my jewelry without looking back. Now that I finally had him here, I was unsure how we should proceed. Sitting on one of the chairs by the window, I tugged my boots off and slid them out of the way before pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

Alec moved to the other chair and sat down less than two feet from me. Our knees would have been inches apart if my feet would have been on the floor. I needed my legs tucked against me though. They were my shield.

Neither of us had bothered to speak yet. We seemed to be in a standoff, waiting to see who would jump first. Alec kept his head down with his hands folded over his knees. I couldn't even tell whether his eyes were open. It was strange not seeing him in his usual carefree and laid-back stance. He was serious when he needed to be, as Greg found out, but there was always something so approachable about Alec.

Each minute that passed felt like a rubber band stretching to the point where it was on the verge of breaking. Finally, as I was ready to cave and end the silence, Alec released his end of the rubber band with recoil that was more painful than I could have anticipated.

"You said the kiss meant absolutely nothing to either one of you. I didn't like it. No, fuck that. I hated it, but I dealt with the thought of another guy having his hands on you. Because it was nothing. That's what you said. Then I come here, ready to hash it out and put the whole thing behind us, and what do I find? You and Greg practically hanging all over each other. Not only did you lie, you already moved on."

I shook my head, trying to remember my conversation in the elevator with Greg. No way were we hanging on each other. "Alec, it's not like that at all. I've been torn to pieces over the thought of losing you."

He stood up abruptly. "How fucking stupid do you think I am, Nicole? I saw you. You were so wrapped up in that asshole you didn't even notice I was standing there. He's lucky I didn't do more to wipe that stupid fucking lovesick look off his face." His voice shook with rage as he paced around the small room.

"We were just chatting in the elevator. I'm telling you, there was nothing else happening. We are just friends," I whispered. Of course, there was no way I could tell Alec what Greg had said in the lobby, unless I wanted to be an accessory to murder.

He snorted mockingly. "Come on, Nicole. You can't be that naïve. That guy obviously wanted to be more than 'friends,'" he said, using air quotes. "God, it was fucking clear as day in New York. I just didn't say anything because I didn't want to give you any grief before your tour. Well, that and I trusted you. My mistake."

I opened my mouth to argue. I needed him to understand. The words refused to come out. I could deny everything until I was blue in the face, but if the tables were turned, would I believe him? I couldn't say.

Alec paced back and forth, practically wearing a track in the carpet. I had my own questions burning inside me, but I wanted him to finish unloading so that maybe he would calm down. I still didn't know where we stood. Was he planning to end us? If I asked, would it speed up the process? My heart thumped painfully in my chest. Even as angry as Alec was, I wasn't ready for him to leave.

Eventually he stopped pacing and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, placing his head in his hands. He glanced up with bloodshot eyes, looking at me as if he expected me to say something. I moved from the chair and sank down in front of him. My knees hit the floor with a thud as I reached for his hands. He resisted, clenching them into fists. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry times a million, Alec. I can't undo what happened, but I also don't know what else I can say to make you understand it meant nothing."

He jerked his hands away so abruptly it startled me. Then he snagged my wrists and shackled them in place. "Maybe it meant nothing to you, but trust me. It meant everything to him."

I debated denying it again. Up until an hour ago, I would have assumed he was wrong. I would have continued insisting we were just friends. Now that I knew the truth and could see how angry Alec was, I couldn't lie anymore.

I nodded. "You're right, but just because he has feelings that are different from mine means nothing. I love you. I realize that even more now."

"You know, this trip has been planned for weeks," he said raggedly.

I nodded my head, confused. "Of course. It's the last leg of the tour. It was planned months ago."

"Not you being here. I'm talking about me. I planned on being here for weeks," he said, releasing my wrists and pounding on his chest for emphasis. "Do you know what today is?"

I nodded my head. In my despair, I had forgotten until someone at the signing handed me a homemade valentine fashioned out of my book covers. I completely spaced out that the romance tour was scheduled to end on the most romantic day of the year.

"I've been planning this for weeks. I even made an ass of myself and went to talk to your father. What an idiot I was."

What the hell was he talking about? Why would he possibly need to talk to my father? The thoughts flipped through my head, slowly at first before revealing what I was missing. I sank back on my heels, watching in shock as he pulled a small box out of his pocket.

"You were going to propose?" I whispered, watching as he tossed the box on the bed with disgust. I felt like such an asshole. Since Christmas I had been struggling with my own fears of long-term commitment and starting our ever after together. Now I felt nothing but waves of crushing pain and fear that I would never get that proposal from him.

"What a joke, right? I actually thought we were ready for the next step," he said, laughing harshly. "Remember at Thanksgiving when we talked about it? I said maybe in the future? While you've been gone I realized my life was incomplete without you. I wanted maybe in the future to be definitely now. I guess I was the only one."