To Hold and to Heal (BWWM Interracial Romance) (15 page)

             
“Or maybe you can call Alden back?”

             
“I'll call him when I'm ready.”

             
“And when will that be? Next week? Next year? Never? Don't mess this up, Nice. Sometimes we don’t get second chances.” Peggy's voice had a hard edge to it.

             
“What? I said I would call him!”

             
“Nice, we both know you. You're afraid to get close to anyone. Hell, I'm surprised we've been friends this long. And I think that's only because I'm such a shitty friend.”

             
“Peg-” Nice started.

             
“Cut the shit. I'm a bad friend. You got beat up by your dad and disappeared for three days and I didn't even notice.” She continued to talk over Nice's protests. “But that guy, Alden, he's not bad and he loves you. And you deserve to be with someone who loves you. You’re one of the good ones, Nice.”

             
“I know he loves me but I want to be someone. An actual person not this mess that I am right now!”

             
“Oh honey, you are someone. And he sees that. Get off the phone with me, call him. Or at least answer the next time he calls you.”

             
Peggy hung up the phone. Nice laid back down and the phone rang. She waited for a moment and then picked up. She let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. “Alden.”

             
“You finally answered the phone,” he said, the smile evident in his voice.

             
She nodded, and then realizing he couldn't see her. “Yeah, I thought we could talk?”

             
“Talk about whatever you want. I'm here listening.”

             
“Let’s just talk about regular stuff. You tell me about your day and I'll tell you about mine. That's how it works right?”

             
“How what works?”

             
“This. This being together, but not together thing.”

             
He laughed. “So there is an us?”

             
“Yes, there’s an us, but this doesn't mean that you get to be a knight in shining armor or whatever. I still need to…I don't know.”

             
“Find yourself?”

             
“Don't make it sound so daytime talk show. But yeah, I guess.”

             
“Fine then, we'll talk, but please don't ignore my phone calls. If this is all I get then you have to answer the phone.”

             
“I'm sorry, are we actually negotiating the terms of this relationship?” Laughter bubbled up.

             
“I guess. Come here boy!” The sound of heavy panting filled the phone. “Say hi to Nice!” The dog barked loudly into the phone. “Alright enough. Good boy.”

             
“Is that the dog? Roscoe?”

             
“Yeah, it's my dog. He’s keeping me company since you’re not here.”

             
She smiled, happy at hearing his voice again. “Tell me about your day, baby. And then I'll tell you about mine.”

             
“And that's the way it’ll work?”

             
“For right now, yeah.”

             
“Then I'll take it,” Alden said gently. “I’m willing to wait for as long as I need to for the rest.”

Chapter Eleven

             
Nice shivered in the frigid Maine air. The temperature change from Florida was astounding and she was glad she’d worn a heavy coat. She paid the cab driver and after tightening her coat around herself, picked up the box next to her on the seat and slid out of the cab into the cold night air.

             
Her boots crunched over the icy snow until she cleared the grass and stepped onto the freshly shoveled sidewalk. The taxi drove away and she walked up to the door. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she took a deep breath. She approached the door and rang the doorbell. Roscoe barked fiercely on the other side.

             
“Get down, Roscoe! Get off the door!”

Nice's heart sped up and she felt blood rushing to her face. She pulled the scarf from around her neck as he opened the door.

             
He stood there. One hand on the door, the other wrapped in the massive animal's collar to keep him from running out the open door. His eyes were wide with shock.

“Nice.”

             
“I'm sorry I should’ve called before I came. I just, well it's almost Christmas.” She looked down, blushing, worried for a second that she’d made a mistake by doing something so impulsive.

             
Alden let go of the dog and stepped towards her. Wrapping his arms around her, he bent and kissed her. The package was an awkward space between them. She maneuvered it into one hand and reached up to his face. His warmth flooded her, chasing away the cold of the air. The dog barked and jumped on their legs.

He broke the kiss and pulled back to look down at her face. “You're really here,” he whispered. “You kept your promise.” He kissed her gently then frowned. “Where are your bags? You're not staying?”

             
She smiled and shook her head. “No, I'm staying. I just don't have any winter clothes. I figured there wasn’t any point in packing a bunch of shorts and tank tops. At least I was smart enough to buy this coat before I left Florida. Damn! It’s cold up here!”

             
“What about the bar? And your Dad?”

             
Nice took a deep breath. “I sold the bar and paid off the bank with the money. My Dad is in rehab. I know I should’ve called first before coming. Here, I made you a cake.” She shoved the box into his hands, aware that she wasn't making sense.

             
“You're staying?” he asked again. “Here with me? For good?”

             
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m staying. If you’ll have me.”

             
He kissed her again. Pulling her close, running his hand down her back. She rested her hands against him, feeling his steady heartbeat through his plaid shirt. “You must be freezing,” he said softly.

             
She smiled into his green eyes, feeling safe and loved for the first time in her life. “Not anymore.”

             
He took her hand and pulled his inside, a happy Roscoe trailing behind them.

***

THE END

About the Author

Naomi Lecroy lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband, three sons and a Yorkie.

Copyright 2013 by Naomi Lecroy

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. All characters are a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental. All characters are over the age of 18.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.