"So you're telling me that Josh just showed up on your door step, Jennifer?"
"Yes and you could have been a little nicer, don't you think?" I said locking the door to my condo and following Nick towards his car parked on the curb.
"He was drunk! He came running to you! What am I supposed to think?!" Nick was almost shouting now as he ducked into the driver's side of his Audi next to me and slammed the door.
If the paparazzi was anywhere nearby they'd be all over us in a matter of seconds now. I was actually hoping they had caught sight of Avan and Josh leaving a few minutes ahead of us and were now following them around LA instead of me. I was especially regretting this whole situation now as I looked out of the window while Nick cruised down Sunset Boulevard. This was supposed to our night and it was starting out just perfectly. I could feel a tear slip down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away and willed the rest of my tears to stay in my eyes. Thank God for waterproof mascara.
"Seriously. There is nothing going on between me and Josh. He's my friend, Nick. You have to trust me." I finally piped up when I was sure I had my composure.
Nick's lips were pressed in a solemn line, his eyes on the road as he gave a small nod in response. It left me wondering what was going on in his head. We rode in silence until he finally turned the car over to the valet in front of a small Italian restaurant off Melrose Avenue. I gathered his gifts from the floor board and stepped out balancing on my red stiletto heels.
He slid an arm around me as he closed my door and leaned over to whisper into my ear. "Let's just enjoy the evening, all right love?"
I relaxed a bit, a smile playing on my lips as I conceded. I didn't want to spend the evening fighting. It was ridiculous. It was just Josh, we were just friends, I didn't do anything wrong.
Dinner was excellent. After a few glasses of wine and a plate of squash mezzelune, Nick and I were smiling and laughing. I had all but forgotten our spat over my drunken co-star and his rocky relationship.
"Here," I grinned widely. "Open your gift first." I passed the small gift bag across the table to Nick. It had grown quiet in the restaurant and I was glad to have the privacy. Nick dug around in the bag for a moment and his blue eyes lit up when he pulled the gloves from the red and green tissue paper.
"Jen, these cost a fortune!" He exclaimed, as a broad smile curled his lips. "And Tarantino on blu-ray. It's perfect."
I smiled lightly as he put his gifts down and reached over the table to take both of my hands. The candle votive in the center of the table flickered over the green table cloth.
"Thank you." He said quietly as his thumb traced over mine.
"You're welcome." I said nudging his leg with my stiletto heel under the table. He raised an eyebrow and motioned to the server for the check. She disappeared around the corner and he released my hand to grab a small box from his pocket.
I examined the little white box closely as he carefully placed it on the table in front of me. A hint of a smile played on his lips as he waited for me to open it. I slid a midnight blue fingernail under the red ribbon on the box and began to untie it.
Little boxes like this scared me. I always heard that "good things come in small packages" but so do huge commitments. My heart was beating a little too quickly as I slid the ribbon off the box and proceeded to open it up. As I lifted the lid off the box I could see that the object inside was a key and my eyes widened in disbelief.
"What is this?" I sputtered as I looked up at Nick. "Where does this key belong?" My heart was pounding against my ribs now. It threatened to beat right out of my chest, right onto the table in front of me as I waited for an explanation.
Nick's blue eyes trailed from the silver key between my fingers up to finally meet my eyes. The smirk spread across his face was so like him.
"Jennifer, will you move to Manhattan with me?"
My mouth was gaping open as I searched for words. I could barely think with my pulse pounding against my temples. A sense of dread washed through me and my stomach churned. Luckily our server returned to the table, giving me a few more moments to gather my thoughts. I took a huge swig of water hoping to wash my dinner back down.
I wasn't paying any attention to the conversation between the server and Nick. I was trying to figure out if I was ready for such a huge step in our relationship. I certainly wasn't planning on being one of those domestic wives who stayed at home raising children all day. Husbands, children, just weren't part of my plan at all right now, I had my career and that was really all that I wanted right now.
"So what do you say?" He inquired again. It felt like his icy blue eyes were piercing into my soul.
"I—I mean I'd have to sell the condo and all my contacts are here in LA. I don't know, Nick." I answered honestly. He was dreaming if he thought I could just drop everything and move across the country with him.
"So you'll consider it?" He said, a half smile playing on his lips.
"I'll consider it." I nodded. It wasn't an outright lie. I was considering it right now, wasn't I?
I finished my glass of water while Nick ran to the restroom. I put the small box containing the key to Nick's loft in Manhattan in my purse. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting for Christmas. Maybe a necklace or a bracelet, not a key to his loft across the country. I tried not to show how disappointed I was as he drove us home through the dark streets of LA.
When we arrived at my condo Nick parked in his usual spot on the curb and then came around to get the door for me. I stepped out, wobbling on my heels and leaning against him. He walked me up the stairs until we were standing at the door of my condo. I wasn't sure if he was expecting to come in, especially since I hadn't jumped at the opportunity to uproot my life at the drop of a pin. I was feeling confused and disappointed and I couldn't read from his expression what he had been expecting or how he was feeling.
He leaned down, catching me off guard before I could get the key in the lock of the door, and pressed his lips to my ear.
"I had a great time with you tonight, love." He whispered, his hot breath tickling my ear.
"Me too." I said breathlessly, turning to face him in the darkness.
His lips crushed against mine and my fingers wound into his dark hair. His body pinning me back against the door for a moment before the flash bulbs from down the corridor startled me from the moment.
"Jennifer. Nick." The voices called as cameras shuttered.
"Fuck." Nick muttered as he pulled away. I quickly turned, jamming the key into the lock and pushing the door open.
The two of us stood there for a moment, looking at one another, once the door was closed.
"The paparazzi is unbearable here anymore." I groaned, kicking off my heels.
"That's why you should come to Manhattan, Jenn." He reaffirmed as he caught his breath from our quick entrance.
"I don't know, Nick. It's just not that simple." I sighed as he pulled me into his arms.
"I should go. I have an early flight. Just promise me you'll think about it." He said, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I nodded and and poised on my tiptoes to give him a lingering kiss. Part of me wished he could stay tonight but the other part of me was still overwhelmed and frankly disappointed. I just wanted time to think and it was already past midnight.
After Nick left I found myself laying in bed, the covers curled up around me, trying to absorb their warmth. Before I fell asleep though my phone buzzed on my nightstand. I rolled over expecting a good night text from Nick. Instead I found a text from Josh.
Look, I'm really sorry about everything. I shouldn't have just showed up. Hope you had a great night anyway.
I stared at that message for a long time before I turned off the light. For some reason I wanted to call Josh, tell him how horribly everything went tonight, but I didn't. I laid down and closed my eyes trying to decide if I could really leave LA. If I could ever see myself marrying Nick, having his kids. Isn't that what living together leads up to? I tried to imagine myself as the mother of the little boy in the airport, giggling bashfully. Was that what I really wanted?
I finally gave up. I found my eyes closing and eventually sleep took me under it's grip. The next thing I knew "Jingle Bell Rock" was blaring through the room signaling time for my busy day to begin.