the best friend’s handbook to get you out of your funk. I knew it was out of my control when you volunteered to work on Christmas. That’s your very favorite holiday. You LOVE being at home on Christmas. So I called in reinforcements.” She jerks her head at Nicky.
“You’re a bitch.”
“Harsh, considering you have color in your cheeks for the first time in forever.”
“She may have color in her cheeks, but when’s the last time she ate? Or showered?” Nicky talks over me to Claire.
“She rarely eats, but I think she may have showered yesterday morning before her shift.”
“Could have fooled me. Her room stinks. When’s the cleaning service coming back?”
“In two days, but that’s not why her room stinks.”
“Hello!” I wave my hands wildly in the air. “I’m right here. Stop talking about me like I’m invisible.”
“Why does your room stink?” Nicky crosses his arms and gives me a pointed look.
“Um… maybe I should wash my sheets.” I slide off the sofa and make a dash for my room.
Stupid of me to think I could outrun an NFL athlete. My feet are yanked out from under me, and I fly sideways as Nicky lifts me and I dangle at his side.
“What the ever-loving fuck are those?”
I close my eyes and swallow down the mortification. I know exactly what he’s referring to. This is really going to be embarrassing. “Um…an experiment?”
“Bizzy, don’t make me ask again.”
“Fine! They’re all the flowers Shaw sent me on my birthday,” I huff out and cover my flaming face.
“They’re all dead… and shit is growing on the vases.”
“Isn’t it fucking disgusting? They died the first week. You’d think a nurse would have more hygiene,” Claire tells him.
“Claire! You have easily made it to my shit-list today. Stop antagonizing me! I’ll get you back for this.”
“Bring it on.”
I twist, trying to get my feet on the ground, but Nicky hauls me up his side and spins. Then he stops and spins the other way.
“This is over as of now. Bizzy, you get your ass in the shower. Get ready. I’m taking you both to eat. While you’re cleaning up, I’m going to get rid of them, and we’re going to air out your room.”
I open my mouth to argue, but I can’t because when he sets me down, I get a head rush. He shoves me toward my bathroom, and I go willingly. When I close the door, I hear him telling Claire to help and her refusing, saying the smell of rotten flowers makes her sick.
He mumbles something, and she laughs, but then she gags loudly, and I can’t help but giggle.
She deserves it. Traitor.
I step under the hot shower spray and think about everything Nicky said to me. Obviously, he knows something about Shaw’s situation he’s not telling me. But that’s not what sticks; it’s his description of me. It bothers me because I’m not this girl. Sure, I’m sad, and my heart is broken, but it’s beyond time to end this pity party.
“It’s so beautiful,” I gush, sipping my wine and staring at the Christmas tree in my living room.
“I’ll call around and find someone to haul it out of here after Christmas.” Nick drinks his beer and sits back in the chair next to me.
“We can get it out.”
“You and Claire combined couldn’t even get it in the stand.” He rolls his eyes, looking between Claire and me.
“If Bizzy didn’t pick out such an enormous tree, we wouldn’t have a problem.” Claire yanks on my hair.
“I don’t care that it’s enormous and was a giant pain in the ass. I love it.” I sigh dreamily, relaxing into the sofa.
They start talking about Nicky’s next game, and I daydream, thinking about the last two days. Nicky being here was the perfect medicine. He didn’t give me room to dwell, keeping me busy and making sure my mind was occupied. I almost fell over when he suggested Christmas shopping because he hates to shop. But I quickly realized he had an ulterior motive—needing my help with his family’s gifts. Usually, we have a tradition of helping each other, but it includes an afternoon of online shopping where he can click and buy without facing any holiday crowds. But this year, he took me from store to store, endlessly purchasing everything I suggested. He eventually had to purchase another suitcase to get the items home. It actually worked out perfect, because I’d been meaning to get out and ship all my presents to Miami when