or his wife, you’d know that’s not the case. I’m fully aware of Heather’s situation and only a selfish piece of shit would put her in a position to choose.”
Nicole looks off at the kids running around and then back to me. “I’m protective of her.”
“I’m glad.”
“I won’t let you hurt her,” she warns.
“I don’t ever want to hurt her.”
Quite the contrary, actually. I want to be her protector, her sense of comfort, and the one who she can rely on. It’s a primal desire to take care of her. I just don’t know if she’ll let me.
“Wanting and doing are two different things and people tend to protect themselves over another.”
Her words strike me deep in my heart. Is that what I’m doing? Knowingly keeping things from her to protect myself? To be able to have whatever I can have with her at her expense? I hate myself in this very moment.
Chapter 18
Heather
“There you are,” I smile when I find Eli still sitting with Nicole in the backyard. His eyes are filled with sorrow when they meet mine. “Eli?”
With a blink, the sadness is gone. “Hey.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask quickly and glare at Nicole. I’ll kill her if she said something stupid.
“Don’t look at me.” She waves her hand. “I was warning Eli of all the ways I’ll make his life miserable if he hurts you.”
Seriously, I wonder if I can have her committed. I know she’s being a friend, but Jesus, she’s a pain in the ass. “Could you not scare him off so soon?” I ask.
Eli pulls me to his side. “I’m good. It takes a lot to scare me off. Besides, I’m pretty sure Nicole would like to meet a certain member of the band, right?” He kisses my shoulder, and I chuckle.
In one of our recent conversations, I told him the stories of Kristin’s tickets, Danielle licking the poster, and Nicole’s obsession with his brother. He called his publicist right away and got something special for each of the girls. I laughed hysterically when he told me they took a photo of Shaun licking his own poster for Danielle. I’m sure her dumbass husband is going to be thrilled.
“Shut up!” Nicole yells. “I can’t believe you told him!”
I shrug.
She turns her gaze back to Eli and huffs. “I know he’s married and all, but seriously, your brother has always been my favorite.”
Eli and Nicole are sitting on the table portion of the picnic table, and he pulls me so I’m sitting between his legs. I rest my hand on his thigh as they talk about how his sister-in-law would laugh so hard she’d pee herself hearing people talk about Randy. He tried to tell Nicole that he isn’t all that special, but she’s a dog with a bone, and there’s no changing her mind.
Nicole heads inside for another drink and then the guys come over, striking up a conversation with Eli. I sit, bored and then I encourage him to go look at whatever the hell they’re talking about. The three guys walk away, and I can’t wipe the smile off my face. He looks so domestic right now, and it’s adorable.
“Look what I got,” Nicole calls me over by holding the sangria she’s famous for.
“You’re the best.”
I take the glass, and we both take a seat away from everyone. “I think he really likes you, babe,” Nicole says as she watched me watch Eli.
“Yeah?”
She smiles. “He’s a good guy. Keep your heart open to him. I know you guys have a ton of obstacles, but he passes the best friend test.”
I think Nicole forgets we’re almost forty, and I don’t need her approval. Still, I’m glad I have it. She tends to see through people’s bullshit easier than anyone else. She also would never say it if she didn’t mean it.
“I love you.” I pull her close.
“I love you even though I’m jealous you’re sleeping with a God each night.”
“What about your threesome?”
She scoffs. “I’m over those two, I think they wanted to fuck each other more than they wanted to fuck me, and if I’m taking two men to bed, I better be the center of the world. I have my eye on someone else.”
My jaw falls slack, even though I’m not sure why. This is Nicole. She’s always been this way, and I’d be worried if she weren’t. “I can only imagine what the hell you’re up to now.”
Danielle comes over and touches my shoulder. “I can’t believe you kept this from