A/N: Wow, guys! I got so many reviews last chapter, thank you!
"Amber! Wow," Fabian scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, holding the door open with the other hand. "That was quick."
"I'm a matchmaker, Fabian," Amber replied solemnly, moving past him and into the apartment. Blinking at her abrupt entrance, Fabian closed the door, inviting Amber to sit down on the couch.
"Would you like anything?" Fabian asked politely, but the woman just shook her head, patting the seat next to her. Fabian complied, sitting down.
"So, Jerome?" Amber raised a perfectly waxed eyebrow, and Fabian paused, staring at her for a moment. Amber Millington was born from money, and anybody could tell, from her perfectly manicured nails, and the brand name on her purse. She wasn't snobby though, not stuck up, acting as if she was above everyone. Fabian and her were actually good friends, but there was no way he would tell her about Nina. Even during their first meeting, Amber had been trying to set him up with someone, and he just knew she'd go psycho if she heard about the mysterious girl he'd met.
"Well-" Amber started, before being cut off by Eddie, who entered the room. Upon seeing his fellow blonde, he rubbed his eyes.
"How'd she get here this fast?" Eddie asked Fabian, who shrugged.
"I'm a matchmaker!" Amber protested, turning to Eddie. "You know, we should really get you a girlfriend." She had given up on Fabian a long time ago, maybe Jerome and Eddie could be her new 'projects.'
"Actually," Fabian started. Eddie's eyes widened, begging Fabian not to say anything. "Eddie's in love."
"I'm not in love!" Eddie defended himself, groaning. "I don't even know her that well!"
"That's what they all say!" Amber squealed, bouncing on the couch and clapping her hands before going into serious mode once again. "What's her name?"
"Patricia," Eddie said begrudgingly, sitting down in the armchair.
Amber shrieked, "More details! How did you two meet?"
"She's Alfie's girlfriend's twin," Eddie mumbled.
Amber's smile faltered.
Alfie had a new girlfriend.
Alfie had moved on.
Mick sighed, closing his flip phone once again. Nina wasn't picking up. He had called her seventeen times and left her a handful of messages, mostly all pleading. He should've never cheated on her, no matter how funny and amazing Joy Mercer was.
He almost laughed at the situation. Here he was, Mick Campbell, pro futbol player, the ladies' man of his old high school, single.
Life's a bitch.
Nina eased into the coffee shop, peering at her phone again. Mick had called seventeen times, did he not get it? She didn't want to talk to him. He had cheated on her and if he thought she was just going to come running back because he made some lame apology…well, he was wrong.
"Hey," Nina looked up at the sound of a woman's concerned voice. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," Nina sighed, frazzled. The woman looked about her age, small and petite, cup of coffee in hand. "I'm just a little stressed. I'm Nina."
"Joy," the woman said. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around."
"I've been here a couple weeks," Nina shrugged, glancing at her phone again. New text message from Mick Campbell.
"Who's that, your boyfriend?" Joy giggled, putting down her coffee cup and trying to glance at Nina's screen, which Nina quickly hid. Joy looked a little shocked at Nina's reaction, but continued on as if nothing had happened.
"He's my ex," Nina confessed.
Joy looked at her sympathetically, "Hard breakup? Believe me, I know how that feels."
"More like he's a cheater," Nina muttered. "Sorry, I shouldn't be getting you involved."
"No, it's fine!" Joy reassured her before speaking again, this time a little uneasy. "Actually, I was just cheated on as well."
Nina's head snapped up in surprise, "Really?"
Joy nodded, throwing her coffee cup away in a nearby trash can before getting up. "But the best thing you can do is find someone else and get over it."
"And you've found someone else?"
"Not exactly, my friend Patricia gave me that advice. She hasn't actually been cheated on though." Joy admitted, blushing. "Well? Have you found someone else?"
"Well," Nina began before cutting herself off. "Never mind."
"Oh, come on!" Joy's eyes lit up, and Nina found herself exiting the coffee shop alongside the brunette, even though she had never ordered to begin with. The two were now walking the streets, casually strolling as if they had been best friends forever.
"I met a guy," Nina started slowly, blushing at the thought of him, wondering if she would see him again.
"Name?" Joy rolled her eyes impatiently.
"Fabian Rutter," Nina smiled softly. "He's really sweet."
Joy laughed, "Now we just need to find me someone."
Nina chuckled before shrugging, "I don't know anyone here though."
"You know me!" Joy protested indignantly. "Here, let me introduce you to my friend, Mara. You two would get along well, she's very nice. And the friend I was talking about earlier, Patricia. I was going to go over and meet with them today, would you like to come with? I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
"That sounds great," Nina beamed, eager to meet someone. After dating and being cheated on by Mick, she had locked herself up, so she never got the chance to familiarize with the people here.
No. She would not think about Mick. Not today.
Today, she was going to experience England.