Covet - Eve Vaughn Page 0,62

tabby kitten. Adam and I were watching television one night, and a cat food commercial came on. I’d mentioned offhandedly that I wouldn’t mind having a little furry friend. The next day Adam surprised me with a kitten I named Louis.

Since Adam had been home from rehab, his life had taken a full turn. He got a job at the grocery store in the butcher section. He was taking coding classes at the local community college and was looking to enroll in art school for graphic design. He also regularly attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings. I had to be honest; I was very worried when his stint at rehab was over. I watched him like a hawk, not exactly trusting that this time would be different, but there was a change about Adam. He seemed to have a purpose.

If I was being honest with myself, part of me was still scared that he would go back to his old ways, but every day of his sobriety, I relaxed just a little more. It was his goal to stay with me for at least a year until he was able to save up for his own place, but I didn’t mind having him around. He turned out to be a good roommate now that he had this new lease on life. I’d wake up every morning to a freshly brewed pot of coffee. He cleaned up after himself, and he was good company. It was just like when were kids again. My Adam was back.

The last few years of my life did not feel like my own, and because I’d tried to save a friend, it was ripped apart. But finally, I was getting my life back. I enjoyed my new job, my apartment. I even made a couple new friends I met at the gym. We went walking on local park trail for a few miles every Sunday morning. I’d started going through therapy again to get past my issues not just in the past but my most recent ones.

I thought about the ordeal I’d gone through with Nicholas, and I knew what he did to me wasn’t okay, but I could see it for what it was. It was ironic that the thing that had sent me back to therapy was seeing that news reports about Dr. Laski. I hoped that man burned in the deepest depths of hell failing to uphold the oath he swore to.

I didn’t want to think about that asshole. I was now at least able to sleep better at night knowing Dr. Laski was finally getting what was coming to him if the news reports were to be believed.

I was so lost in my thought I didn’t realize that Adam had pulled into the apartment complex, and he’d parked the car. “We’re home, Sis. Where were you just now?”

“I was just thinking about how happy I am. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.” I smiled as I got out of the car. I was glad I let Adam drive home because I was so full and slightly sleepy. The only thing to end this perfect evening would be a nice hot bubble bath with my new raspberry lemonade bath bomb. I could hear it calling my name.

I linked my arm through my brother’s arm as I basically lead me up the stairs to our second-floor apartment. All the good feeling whirling within me was gone in an instant when we made it to our door. Standing in front was the last person I expected to see.

After I’d left his house, I didn’t think he’d actually see him, but there was Nick leaning against our door, hands in his jean pockets. He was usually so well put together, and there was really nothing wrong with his appearance now. It was just different. His hair was longer as if he hadn’t gotten it cut since I’d last seen him. It fell in soft brown waves around his face that looked as if he’d raked his fingers through it several times. His face seemed thinner, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes as if he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in ages. Part of me wanted to be satisfied that apparently things weren’t going well for him, but the other part of me didn’t want to see him like this.

Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, he was still every bit as handsome. I couldn’t understand why he would show up now unless... It suddenly