Chapter Nineteen | Talia

Ruth Cross is intense as she is beautiful. Her long dirty blond hair- the same as her son's- cascades down her back, which is exposed thanks to the body-hugging dress she's wearing. Despite being in her early fifties, it was clear she still kept up with her appearance.

We spend a lot of time together talking about favorite designers, favorite article of clothing and she even hints at a possible intern position for me with her personal designer.

"And here I thought the only beautiful woman in the room was my wife." A gravelly voice says from behind Ruth and me. The both of us turn around and I'm suddenly faced with an older man with a full head of grey hair neatly combed away from his face, and piercing blue eyes. He's dressed impeccably in a grey suit and dark blue tie. I recognize him instantly as the man of the honor and Nick's dad.

Julian Cross.

I continue to stare at the man who somehow convinced Nick that he wouldn't be a good partner. The same man who robbed a little boy of a positive male influence. He's handsome, I'll give him that. But unlike his son, he wears his entitlement proudly.

"Sweetheart, this is Talia, Nicholas's girlfriend." His mother introduces us.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Cross." I stick out my hand for him to shake.

"Please, call me Julian." He smiles at me before wrapping his hand with mine. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You must be pretty special for Nicholas to bring you to meet us." He says.

I smile in response. "It's an honor really Mr. Cross. Oh, and happy birthday."

"It's Julian," He corrects me. "And thank you. Would you like to dance?"

"Uh..." I look back at Ruth for permission or rescue.

"I'm afraid she already promised our son all of her dances tonight." Ruth tells him, thankfully getting me out of what I was sure was going to be an awkward situation. I wonder if Ruth was saving me out of love and respect for her son's new girlfriend or because she noticed the interested glint in her husband's eyes.

I wonder if he'd look at me that way if he knew I was old enough to be his youngest daughter.

Probably.

"I'd like to finish my dance with the most beautiful woman in the room if you don't mind." Nick says just as he wraps an arm from my waist from behind.

"She's all yours." His mother tells him before Nick is whisking me away from his parents.

Nick doesn't say another word to me until we're far away from his parents and he has his arms around my waist and my body pressed against his in a slow dance.

"Please tell me they didn't scare you away." Nick finally says as we sway to the classical music.

"Are you kidding me? Your parents are wonderful... compared to mine." I say, sheepishly.

"I'd like to think that despite them we turned out okay... some more than others." He squeezes my hips.

I smile. "I was right about one thing though." I say.

"Which was what?"

"You're nothing like your father." I tell him. My words surprise him and abruptly we stop dancing as Nick gazes at me in awe with maybe a glimmer of something else I'm too afraid to hope for. But it's true. Even though we only spoke a few words to each other, his father showed me the kind of man he is with his actions and the man whose arms I stand in tonight is nothing like that, nor will he ever be.

"That's gonna get you kissed." Nick finally says, making me giggle. "Come here." Nick tells me as he brings one hand up to cup of the back of my head and pull me in until our lips touch. I can't help but smile through the kiss and even after when Nick pulls away.

"What were you saying before? Something about burying your head somewhere...?" I smile coyly.

Nick smirks. "Let's go."

****

"Denise." Simone says just as I finished slamming my locker shut.

"You know, I'm kinda offended you don't know my name by now." I tell her, arching a brow at her.

She laughs in response. "No, I meant Denise's Diner. A few of us are going to skip and grab breakfast there. You want to join?"

It was late when Nick and I left his father's birthday party and it definitely didn't help that we made love for most of the night. Needless to say, I was exhausted this morning. I'm not even entirely sure how I managed to make it to school on time. If I'm being honest with myself I could really use a skip day. My brain was too tired to be in school.

"Count me in." I tell her.

Simone grins. "Do you need to tell your man?"

"He's my boyfriend, not my keeper," I tell her. "But yeah, I'll text him once we're at the diner. I don't want him to try to change my mind."

"Alright. Let's go before they close the student parking lot." Simone tells me before she turns and heads for the exit.

We pass by Nick's classroom, and I pause at the door when I see him standing behind his desk, arranging papers. Sensing my presence, he looks up, and I give him a small wave before jogging to keep up with Simone.

Right on cue, my phone dings with a text and I already know it's Nick before I even look at the screen.

Nick: Where r u going?

Me: Getting breakfast with Simone. I'm hungry 🙁

Nick: You ate this morning...

Me: No, that was you.

Nick: And you tasted delicious 😉

I blush, and hold the phone close to me as my girly parts clench together remembering how good it felt to have Nick between my thighs.

"Ooh, you guys are nasty." Simone says when I pull the phone away to text back.

I giggle, but shrug then start typing out my response.

Me: Breakfast on me tomorrow 😜 see you later.

Nick: Fuck. You better be at the beach house naked and ready for me when I get home.

Me: 🤣🤣

I finish hit send before pocketing my phone and following Simone to her car.

The plans changed from Denise's Diner to meeting up at Liam's house to hang out. His parents were out of town for the week so that gave us the whole place to ourselves. Simone stopped at the beach house so I can pick up a bathing suit and I gave her one of the new ones Nick insisted I buy the day we went shopping for my time on the yacht.

Liam's house looks like most of the houses I've seen in Rosemary Beach-- massive and elegantly decorated. There's music blasting from an unseen speaker when Simone and I walk in. Liam is shirtless which I peek Simone shamelessly admiring as he leads us to the pool.

"Now the party can officially start now that the hottest girls in school are here!" Liam announces just as I spot Jackson as he comes out of the pool.

His tan skin glistens from the water, his blonde hair is sleeker back away from his face and his muscles flex as he pushes himself to stand up from the pool.

Okay. He's hot. I'll give him that. But he still has nothing on Nick, especially now that I know exactly what's under all those tailored suits and button down shirt he wears.

"What's up, dimples? You gonna get wet?" Jackson asks.

"You trying to get me wet Jackson?" I arch a brow at him.

"Since the moment I saw you." Jackson replies, surprising me.

"You're too late QB. She has a boyfriend." Simone says as she passes by now dressed in a sky blue two piece bikini.

I catch her gaze and glare at her. Why the fuck would she say that?

I look back at Jackson. "Is she for real?"

"Yeah. I have a boyfriend." I admit.

"He go to kerrington?" Jackson wonders.

"No," I lie. "He's from my old school. We got together over spring break." At least thag part is the truth.

"Guess I missed my shot." Jackson replies.

"So does that mean I can expect you to stop flirting with me?"

"Sure."

"That wasn't a yes." I tell him and Jackson smirks in response before jumping into the pool.

Two hours later, and more people show up. Some of them I recognize and some of them I don't, but thanks to all the alcohol Liam is passing out, I don't think anyone would remember anyone after they leave here.

"You're too sober for me." Simone says as she comes over, whatever is in the red cup in her hand sloshes around before falling onto the floor.

"One of us has to be." I decline the drink she's offering me.

"Oh come on, just one drink." She urges.

"I'm pretty sure this is called peer pressure." I joke.

"Don't tell me you can't use one drink? After everything you've been through these last few weeks?" Simone arches a brow at me.

She's right. I do need a distraction. From everything with my mom, Otis, and the pressure of now keeping my relationship with Nick a secret-- I desperately need a few hours of just being a normal teenager.

With my mind made up, I take the cup out of Simone's hand and knock it back. It burns my chest and throat and I squeeze my eyes as I wait for the feeling to disappear before opening my eyes again to see Simone's smiling face.

"Let's go have some fun." Simone takes my hand and leads me to where there's a group of people dancing.

I dance. I sing. I make Tiktok videos and take a shot. I repeat the same steps over and over until the floor underneath me feels like it's moving and it looks like everyone here has a twin.

I reach out to grab something to keep me from falling and my fingers wrap around something solid. I blink to see Jackson holding out his arm for me to hold while his other arm wraps around my waist to keep me from falling.

"Are you okay?" He asks, softly.

I shake my head. "The world is moving."

"Come on, let's get you seated." Jackson says, guiding me until we're inside the house and in the living room area sitting on the couch. "I think you had too much to drink."

"Maybe just a little bit." I say before leaning my head back and shutting my eyes.

"I didn't think you could drink that much." I hear Jackson say.

"Well that's what happens when you're in a secret relationship."

"What secret relationship?"

"He's amazing though, so it's worth it." I continue.

"And hot. Like, very, very hot. Especially when he wears those glasses. He's like a sexy Clark Kent."

"Who are you talking about?" Jackson wonders and I open my eyes, annoyed that he doesn't agree that Nick looks like a sexy Clark Kent.

"Ni-" I start to say but interrupted by Simone coming cover.

"Hey! There you are!"

"He doesn't agree that Nick looks like a sexy Clark Kent in glasses." I frown at her.

"Who is Nick?" Jackson asks her.

"I have no idea. Maybe Nick Jonas?" Simone says.

"But she said-"

"The girl is three sheets to the wind drunk right now. Are you really gonna believe anything she says?" Simone demands.

"I guess you're right." Jackson says.

"I think we're gonna go." Simone says as she takes my arm and sling it over my shoulder.

I'm too tired to argue or fight her so I allow her to lead me to her car and help me back inside the passengers seat.

"I'm never letting you drink that much again. I didn't realize you were a lightweight." Simone says as we set out on the road before my eyes shut.

****

The next thing I feel is a pair of strong arms around my waist.

"I thought you guys were going to breakfast?" I hear Nick's familiar voice when I open my eyes. He's dressed casually in a pair of grey sweatpants and a loose grey tank top.

Ooh. His muscles look extra good today.

"There was a change of plans." Simone says.

"I see that." Nick replies before he swoops me into his arms.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that she was a lightweight."

"You two shouldn't even be drinking."

"Crap. Are you gonna call my parents Mr. Cross?" Simone frets.

"No. But I don't want you driving on the road."

"I'm fine." Simone waves off his concern.

"Sinone." He tries again.

"Okay. But I'm only staying for a few hours." Simone finally concedes.

"I'm sure you know where the guest bedroom is." Nick tells her.

"I do. Thanks." Simone says before adding. "You really care about her don't you?"

I hold my breath as I wait for his response. "I do."

I think Simone is gonna reply back but then I hear her sandal-cladded footsteps going up the stairs.

Nick presses a kiss to my forehead is the last thing I feel before I fall back asleep.