"Hey, what's your hurry?" Damon asked the next morning as I pulled on my shoes.
"I feel like crap, my pain meds are at home, and it's too early to start drinking again," I told him bluntly. He smirked a bit at me.
"Well, you were a fun drinking partner to have...except for when you started singing drinking songs...That got annoying," He remarked, his blue eyes teasing. I grinned.
"I'll catch you around, then, Damon."
I got home and got myself cleaned up. When I sat down at my table for lunch, my phone started to ring. I glanced at the I.D., it read Mayor Lockwood.
"O'Sullivan," I answered tiredly.
"Maggie, hi, how are you feeling?" she asked. Now, I don't like small talk, it's just a way of beating around the bush so people don't have to tell you what they really want.
But this was my boss, so if she wanted to small talk, I had to comply.
"I've been better, but I'm gonna go into work today to catch up on paperwork," I told her.
"Oh, Maggie, you really don't have to-"
"I've never liked to lounge around the house, Mrs. Lockwood. Don't worry, I'll be fine," I assured her. I heard her sigh heavily.
"Well, ok. Are you coming to the Wickery Bridge fundraiser tonight, then?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose exasperatedly.
"Yeah. I'll be there."
Dressed in a plain, black dress, my hand pressed protectively to my side, I made my way up the steps to the Lockwood manor.
I picked out Mrs. Lockwood easily. She looked stunning and put together, as per usual. Her eyes lit up when she saw me.
"Maggie! I'm so glad you could make it! How are you feeling?" She gave me a light hug. Shaking off my surprise, I managed to hug her back.
"I'm managing," I told her firmly. She smiled at me.
"Your grandpa was a fighter, too. He always did so much for this town. He'd be proud of you." She patted my arm. I swallowed back the lump in my throat. Why in the hell did she feel the need to bring up grandpa?!
"Uh, thanks, Mrs. Lockwood... I'll come see you before I leave," I told her before walking away to get a drink. The strongest thing they had was champagne. That stuff tasted funny.
"What, no taste for anything that's not whiskey?" Damon approached, teasing look in his eyes. I raised my brow at him and downed the glass defiantly. He smirked.
"Your boyfriend's sucking up to Carol Lockwood. You might wanna go talk him down," Damon pointed out. I shot him a glare.
"He ain't my boyfriend. At the moment, he's not even my friend, so if you don't want to be tossed on your ass in front of everybody here, watch your mouth," I warned.
"Ooh, you're sexy when you're angry, Mick." He waggled his brows at me. I ground my teeth and felt an angry flush creep up my neck.
"Shut the hell up, Damon."
Nik's POV****
I watched Maggie storm from the party. She didn't look well. Her eyes were tired and her dark curls hung limply around her face. I felt a sting of regret, but stifled it. She wasn't my concern anymore. She certainly didn't think of me as a friend, so I would return the favor.
I'd had a thousand years to get good at this game. My patience definitely stretched farther than hers. Besides, she wasn't a mean person, deep down. She would come to her senses and forgive me soon enough.
I was counting on it.
