"I'm not in love with Reagan." Nick muttered as the door slammed shut across the hall. Dammit Miller, you're such an idiot. Why didn't you say anything.
"Dumbass!" Nick snorted at himself as he moved over to the edge of his bed and took a seat just as his phone began buzzing again.
"Godammit!" Nick flipped open his phone to see 2 unread messages, plus the 3 Jess had already read.
"Hey Nicky, I think we need to talk, I hate seeing us like this. I thought we were having fun, but things just got messy with Jess. I want you to know that I still want to make this work."
He scrolled down to the next message.
"It was really good seeing you the other day. And I know that you had said that you needed time to think things through, but I can't stand not being with you."
"Shit!" Nick grimaced. No wonder Jess is so upset. He had only said that he needed time, because Reagan kept insisting they get back together and he was trying to leave as quickly as possible.
"P.s. I'm sorry I overreacted the other day. Let me make it up to you. Come by my apartment later. And Nick, I love you." Love me, where is this coming from?
"Oh by the way good luck later! You will do great!"
Nick scrolled to the final message. "Actually I'm just going to stop by the bar later and see if I can catch you there. I really want to see you Nicky. I miss you so much!"
"No, no, no..." Nick began to panic. What the fuck? He had only agreed to meet with her the other day to bring her stuff back, not to rekindle their relationship.
It had been a fairly awkward meeting; originally she had wanted to come by the loft, but he insisted they meet in public. She kept giggling and putting her hand over his, but he had managed to get away unscathed.
Nick began thumbing over the keys, "Sry Reagan, but I told you the other day that we are done, I didn't mean to give you any false hope. I can't see you again."
That should do it. Now for the difficult part, talking to Jess. "Ugh!" Nick sighed getting up from his bed and making his way across the hall.
He tapped lightly on Jess door. "Hey honey, can we talk?" There was no answer.
"Jess, please just let me explain." Nick called through the door.
Unexpectedly the door flew open, "Oh hey Nick, I was just on my way out. Don't you have to get ready for your big publisher meeting?" Jess stated unenthusiatically, clearly disinterested in what he had to say.
"Jess wait. Please just let me explain." He implored reaching out to grasp her hand.
"Sorry Nick, I made plans with a friend. So I need to get going."
"Plans? 20 minutes ago you were ready to go back to sleep."
"Well my plans have changed, ok!"
"Oh really, then who are you going with?" Nick challenged moving in front of her.
"I'm actually going to meet an old friend for lunch." Jess swallowed.
"An old friend? Jess, the only old friends you have are Cece and Sadie."
"Well if you must know, I'm going to meet Teddy." Jess mused.
"Wait, what? Teddy. Fireman Teddy!?" Nick stated hotly.
"Yes, fireman Teddy!" she exclaimed. "He texts me from time to time. And given that you have plans today, I figured I'd give him a call, you know, think things through!" Jess declared.
"You can't be serious!"
"Oh, I'm dead serious Nicholas. Now if you don't mind moving aside, I need to get going." Jess reaffirmed as she pushed her way past Nick.
"Jessica, please don't do this. I swear nothing happened between Reagan and I."
"Well clearly you still need to figure things out Nick. And I am not willing to wait around and get hurt again." With that Jess grabbed her keys from the entrance table and made her exit.
As Jess exited the loft, tears welled there way up her eyes. She turned towards the stairwell and made her way up to the roof. She wasn't really going to see Teddy, or anyone for that matter. She had only told Nick that to make him jealous. She just needed to hide out for a few hours and be with herself to mull things over.
As the front door closed, Nick's phone buzzed. Once again it was Reagan.
"Ahhh! For fucks sake!" he yelled angrily at his phone, throwing it against the front entrance. The plastic parts flew through the air as they smashed against the solid metal door. Well you really fucked things up this time Nicky.
Nick looked dejectedly at the broken pieces strewn across the floor, realizing that he had saved the publisher's address and number in his now broken phone. "Argh! Can this day get any worse!" He roared stomping towards his room to go get dressed.
"What do you always tell yourself? Never trust technology, always write things down!" He would have no choice now, but to call Reagan to get the address. Luckily he still had his burner phones.
"Hey Nicky!" Reagan answered excitedly.
"Hey listen, I lost the address to the publisher's office, would you mind giving it to me again?"
"Sure, hang on a sec."
"Thanks Reagan."
"Oh by the way, did you happen to get my texts?"
"Yeah Reagan, I got them..."
"Listen, I know things didn't end well, but I really want to see you again."
"Reagan, I really need that address, can you just give it to me?"
"Oh sure sure, here it is. 4276 Sunset Boulevard."
"Thanks."
"So what do you say, can we meet later tonight?"
"Sorry Reagan, I can't... Listen I have to go."
"Oh... okay. Umm... Nick?"
"Yeah, Reagan"
"I love you."
"Reagan, I gotta go. Thanks again for the address."
Nick flipped his phone closed and wearily ran his hand over his face, squeezing his eyes shut. Hopefully he made his feelings clear to Reagan, because he really couldn't handle a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend right now, but at least he managed to get the address.
"Shit!" He exclaimed looking at the time on his phone. He had to get a move on, if he actually wanted to make it on time.
Not like he felt like going anymore, but this was his future and it wasn't like he could go searching for Jess. She had made it perfectly clear that she needed to think things through and that she wanted him to suffer. Besides it's not like he knew where she went with Teddy; all he could hope was that they would just go to lunch and nothing else would happen.