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I’m still in a state of shock

I ask in disbelief, "At one forty six in the ?"

He stands up and breathily replies, "Yeah I didn’t think this through, huh?"

Nat replies sternly, "Uh, no No, Nik You didn’t You broke into the apartment a few hours after so you’ve ever done"

Nik nods and looks apologetic, "I’ Tina was upset So rather than be up all night I caave me the security codes"

That makes sense

Ghost breaks into our apartive out spare keys and security codes to the public?

I kiss Nik’s neck and whisper, "Thank you for thinking of o to bed"

Nik nods and looks at Nat as if expecting her to leave

She shakes her head and says, "Nuh uh Youalone after that"

I jump in the middle of the bed, my best friend climbs in on one side and my boyfriend jumps in on the other

You knohat? Life isn’t so bad after all

Then I think about what just happened and burst out laughing

The bed shakes as Nat and Nik laugh with ht

Chapter Twenty-one

Naughty Nooner

I wake up a little before the alaro off I feel smothered

I look to s tangled in s

I look to ht and Nik is on his stoled in antic pretzel

I try to wake Nik first I pinch his nose closed but all this does is make his smooshed lips flap and vibrate as he breathes heavier out of his hter that bursts out of me

I’one but I know he’s with my Mom and Mia And I had the most uncomfortable sleep But at least I was surrounded by two of the most important people in my life And the way Nik sleeps is absolutely hilarious I’ on empty and absolutely hyper

Nat and Nik both awaken to hter and snorts They lift their heads up and look at ht have

Nik excuses hietting ready for work I ask Nik if he brought his car but he said he came by cab because his car makes too much noise and he didn’t want to wake Ceecee

Once we’re ready we got out to my car After I battle with her for five minutes to please open for h to the back so Nik can take the front seat

I try the ignition

Nothing

Nat is already laughing We go through this every lower at her while I put er door while turning the ignition

She starts

Works every tih or get the hell out of the car

We’re on our way to work and Nat says, "Nik, turn on the radio"

He shakes his head and replies cynically, "I would but I’ht fly off"

Nat and I burst into laughter We laugh so h at the saet to work our htened

Nat kisses Nik on the cheek beforeto open the store Nik stays behind with me and wraps his arms around my lower back

He says ,"I’m so sorry yesterday was bad for you, sweetheart I’ll spend foreverit up to you"

What?

I’m confused

I ask, "What do you mean, honey?"

He answers on a squeeze "Omarr He’s my problem, not yours I’ll fix it I promise"

Sweet Lincoln’s Mullet!

Nik blames hi No one needed to tell me that But still, no one will tell s are better left not knowing

I pull back a little and hold his face in my hands I say, "It’s not your fault, honey Don’t think that, not for a second Oain, not your fault He can spend his life bla the way he is on his brother’s death but that only makes him a weak person Not Your Fault Got it?"

I see emotion flicker over his face He puts his lips on ainst them, "God, I love you" Then he kisses me deeply I wrap my arms around his neck and stand on my tiptoes

I pull away from the kiss and buryas I have Nik, nothing will ever seem that bad

I whisper into his neck, "You make life better"

His body stills a moment before he squeezesback

Time for work

You make life better

Whoa

If there ever was a compliment to beat all co into Tina’s aparth But I spentI couldn’t stop thinking about her I kept wondering if she was okay or what if she felt unco there after what happened

I made the quick decision to call a cab and head on over I used my spare key and typed in the security code It went hayhen I kissed Nat’s forehead thinking she was Tina

All hell breaks loose

Nat starts screa Tina jumps up onto the bed like she’s Bruce Lee then throws herself on ood

Thank god Nat turned on the light otherwise I ainst ives people strength they didn’t know they had I didn’t want to hurt her so I just let her choke

Then Nat refuses to leave and we had so Just when I’

I couldn’t help but laugh, too Then Nat joined in The whole thing was pretty alad I was close to Tina last night As soon as we settled in bed, I felt callad Nat was there too Because if I were Tina, having two people I love in bed with ht would have made me feel a whole lot better

I’ve decided not to do anything stupid regarding O up a bunch of questions by the Sixes and I’m sure Tina would know I don’t want her to ever feel unsafe around me I’m her protector

I’ll have to set up a ht way But I swear to god, if that asshole coain I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself