Just have to say I really didn't know that Erin was Jake Johnston's wife name, huge coincidence :)
Once again MASSIVE thank you to You-drive-me-nuts-miller and everyone who has reviewed, followed/favourited really does help to push to continue.
By the time Nick finally arrived at Clyde's it was pretty busy; not the kind of rushed off your feet busy that gave him a headache, but a steady stream of customers that helped the minutes tick by more easily. The usual barflies were propped up on tall stools to his left and a mixture of office staff and college types filtered in through the doors on a regular basis.
All afternoon he kept a permanent eye on the clock; counting the minutes until he could leave and return to the loft. Getting back to Jess was his first important task as her boyfriend and he was determined not to mess it up. Ever since he and Jess decided they were going to give this a real shot Nick had promised himself that he would not prove people right about him - okay, if he were really honest the person he wanted to prove it to was Jess - so she knew she hadn't made a mistake by wanting to uncall it all those weeks ago.
What Nick didn't notice during his musings was a woman dressed in a sheer white blouse who had sat herself at the other end of the bar. She watched him for a while, taking note of his messy hair and scrumpled shirt, waiting to see if he would notice her. She began to drum her fingers on the hard wooden surface of the bar but it seemed useless; he was lost in his own thoughts. Pursing her lips, she decided he was kind of cute -in a way rough, untidy way - so she may as well have some fun with him, "So who does a girl have to do, to get a drink around here?" she asked loudly, leaning over the bar, pushing her arms together to give him a hint of cleavage.
Nick finally looked up, spotting her and making his way down the bar, "Sorry, what? Miles away there. What can I get ya?" He gave her a twisted smile as he threw the towel he was using over his shoulder. He obviously hadn't heard what she had said.
"Whisky on the rocks please. Though don't judge - I am facing a hell of an afternoon." The smile that she had in place, faulted slightly as she remembered why she was in this part of town. Tucking a piece of her unruly, dark cropped hair behind her ears, she returned the confident smile back to her face and leant a little further across the bar, "Not that I would bore you with my issues."
"Hey no judging here," he replied as he poured two fingers of whisky in a glass and placed it in front of her.
As he moved away his hand, he caught her gaze - she was looking at him in that way that women sometimes did at the bar; usually the ones who wanted to talk about their latest break up or try and hit on him after too much wine. But, there was something more, something he couldn't put his finger on it. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned his attention to unloading the dishwasher that had just beeped to say it was finished.
"Aren't you meant to say that I am not boring you?" the woman continued, trying to pull him into conversation. She was the kind of girl who always got what she wanted - especially when it came to men, but this guy didn't seem to be catching on, irking her slightly. This, however, only made her more determined and she straightened up in her seat.
Nick gave her his classic bartender smile, "Do I have to mean it?" he asked playfully. For one reason he felt comfortable talking to this woman, unlike most people who visited the bar who he fobbed off with a joke or a flippant comment.
"I don't know," she said as she took a sip from her glass, twirling the straw around her mouth, "I just can't stand those people who just blurt out their problems to complete strangers." She leaned further over the bar, as if she was relieving a big secret; Nick tried not to notice that he could see right down her shirt, "You know the type, feely people."
He couldn't help but laugh - boy did he know them. They were in here all the time, "I totally get that," he chuckled, "I just don't get the people who want to tell me their life stories, I mean do I look like a therapist?"
This was an issue that cropped up from time to time between him and Jess. So many times she had told him to be more sympathetic, lend an ear - maybe people are lonely and have no else to talk to. It was a side to her that amazed him. She could sit all day listening to stranger's problems, and if he was honest he could sit there all day watching her. But he - Nick Miller - he just didn't have it in him; that 'caring' gene and for the most part he couldn't gather enough energy to pretend to.
"You certainly don't," she laughed with a wink in his direction. "Luckily, I don't need the therapy thanks. Just the drink!"
"I think you have just become my favourite customer." Nick joked back, before stepping away to serve another customer.
A little while later he checked the clock for what felt like the millionth time. Nearly there, one hour to go, he thought to himself.
"Keeping you from something?" the flirtatious customer asked taking a slow sip of her second drink.
"That obvious is it?" Nick knew he was being over cautious, but a lot was riding in him today.
"Only that you have barely taken your eyes off the clock. Got a hot date?" She was finishing for information; this man was a closed book and she was determined to find out more. When she first arrived, her plan was to stay for one drink only, put some alcohol in her system to deal with the nightmare ahead. But as soon as the bartender started clearing the glasses, she was fascinated with what those hands could do outside of the bar.
"Not quite," the bartender replied. So no hot date then. Good.
Just then Nick saw Tom, the replacement bartender, walk in; he sighed in relief. Grabbing his things that were stored under the bar he went to make a run for it. She saw this as her opportunity to play with him a little more. As he walked past her to the exit, she grabbed his forearm, "Thanks for keeping me company this afternoon."
Before Nick's brain had a change to catch up with what has happening she leant in a placed a kiss right on his lips: a slow, soft kiss. It happened so fast Nick didn't have time to think. But his brain started working again his stomach dropped. He pulled his arm away from her, stuttering, "No, I - I have a girlfriend, I have to go..."
She laughed smugly, shrugging her shoulders. What did it matter to her if this guy had a girlfriend, she didn't want to date him, he was just a toy for the afternoon, "It was nice to meet you," she called after him in a cheery voice, giving him a little wave.
Nick walked out of the bar and towards his car feeling almost sick. Should he tell Jess about that woman? She had a lot to deal with at the moment. And its not like he kissed her - she kissed him. It was just a drunken customer being too handsy. Wait, she was drunk - wasn't she? Two cocktails, no food - maybe the woman couldn't handle her liquor?
By the time he pulled up to his usual parking space he convinced himself it was going to be fine. That Jess didn't need to know. A little calmer, he entered the lift and punched the number four.
Inside the loft, Jess was pacing the floor of the hallway, flinching at every sound. Hoping desperately that Nick would be the first person through that door. When she heard footsteps on the other side she ran pulling the door open so hard it bounced on the back wall.
He was a little shocked when the door flew open, but the look of relief on Jess face made that quickly disappear. She threw herself into his arms, tucking her head under his, "You made it, knew I could rely on you." With that she lifted her head and her lips met his. Pulling him into the loft shutting the door behind them
These lips were the ones Nick wanted on his. Though his stomach did another drop at the thought of the other surprising, yet unwanted kiss that day. He wanted that memory driven out of his mind. So he did the only thing he knew what would work: bringing Jess closer to him, deepening their kiss.
As she made her way to her sisters apartment, she placed the smile she had practiced on her face, internally grimacing at the prospect of having to spend time with her goody two shoes little sister. It wasn't even her idea to visit; when she last spoke to her mom about being in this area for business, Joan had insisted on her visiting Jess - make sure she was ok. Why her Mom felt it necessary to have Erin check in on her 30 year old sister was beyond her. Trying to keep the peace she reluctantly agreed. So here she was, riding in a cab to see someone who she had spent the bast part of the last ten years trying to avoid.
Their embrace was rudely interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Jess sighed in disappointment of having to pull away from Nick, "Guess its time to face the music," she said twisting her mouth as she spoke.
"It'll be fine Jess, and I'm here. Go answer it and ill be there in a second." He pulled her back for one last kiss before making his way over to the fridge. Doing the other thing he knew would help rid himself of the memory - drinking.
Whilst he was hidden behind the fridge door, searching for a cool bottle of Heisler, he heard Jess welcome the new visitor.
"Hey Erin, welcome to your home, can I get your bag?"
Nick stood up, beer in hand, wresting with the twist top that stubbornly refused to open. He heard the the two getting closer to him, "This is Nick - my boyfriend. Nick this is Erin."
Upon looking up at Jess' introduction the frosty beer nearly slipped from his hand. Erin ... that was Erin? The flirty customer from the bar who had tried to kiss him was his girlfriend's sister? He knocked back a slug of Heisler as he composed himself. How didn't he see it? Now they were stood side by side the resemblance was undeniable. Same ivory skin, same dark hair, same eyes.
"Well hi there Nick," Erin smiled, reaching out her hand, "Nice to finally meet you." Inside she was laughing - she couldn't believe her luck. This was going to be so much fun.
Jess was a little confused at Nick's lack of greeting. She gave him a wide eyed stare until he walked back over to the two sisters and put his arm around Jess, pulling her tightly into him.
"Hi, I'm Jess' boyfriend," he said, quickly closing his eyes when he realised Jess had already introduced him.
"So I have heard Nick." She was enjoying his discomfort far too much. She decided to make him squirm a little more. "What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?"
Jess skipped towards the kitchen, reeling off a long list of beverages to Erin.
Whilst Jess was distracted Erin learned closer to Nick, placing a hand on his forearm and dropping her voice, "It's nice to meet you..Nick," she drawled, over pronouncing his name. Then she began to walk to over to join her sister in the kitchen, purposely swinging her hips as she did so.
Nick took a large gulp of his beer, feeling a seed of worry growing inside. He knew straight away that Jess had been right about Erin - she was trouble. And he had this awful feeling that this trouble was someone going to involve him.