Chapter Four | Nick

I stir awake, my eyelids heavy and slow as the dim room comes into view.

It's still dark. I don't normally wake up early on the weekends...

Wait a minute... I hold my breath, listening to the sound of rainfall outside. The low grumble of thunder is heard moments later.

I hope the thunderstorm is enough reason to cancel this morning. I don't have to meet up with my sister for another hour and a half, but my sister might want to set me up with her own set of women seeing how she has her own reasons why she wants me to date.

I could think of worse situations. Unlike our mother, Caitlin isn't trying to push me down the aisle. She just wants to make sure I don't die alone.

I think she'd like Talia though. The two of them would definitely get along.

Even though I was knocked on my ass when I found out who she was.

I push myself into a sitting position, resting my back against the headboard, running a hand through my hair as I think back to that morning.

I had fun hanging out with her at the diner. Her humor, her wit, how easy it was to talk to her... the way she just relaxed across from me while we ate breakfast, and it was so fucking comfortable and natural.

The way her eyes felt on me...

I wouldn't have asked her out. She's way too young...

But I couldn't help but entertain the idea for a little bit.  She's beautiful.

And then I found out who she was.

I remember seeing her sitting in one of the desks and clenching my hand so hard that my knuckles turned red and realization hit. I was angry. Because at that moment, I was jealous. I was jealous of all these high school pricks who got a chance to be with her.

Her flawless skin and big brown eyes. Her luscious lips that I think she caught me staring at.

The way she sat back, let her hair down, and just ate in front of me.

Everything felt effortless.

But the girl of my dreams is off-limits. She's my student, and she's eighteen. It's not even an option.

She's a kid.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, and I reach over, and grab it, groaning when I see the name that appears on the screen, but still I swipe at the green button and press the phone against my ear. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Josslyn, also known as Ms. Carver to her students, laughs softly. The woman is used to every man begging for her attention.

Well, almost everyone.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're not happy to hear from me."

I keep my snicker to myself.

Most women  knew the score of getting involved in a casual sex relationship. Josslyn Carver, my former friend with benefits, didn't understand what it meant getting involved with me. She didn't let the fact that I bluntly told her that I don't want a serious relationship with her keep her from crawling into my bed anymore than she let her husband hold her back from trying to get me to change my mind.

"How are you?" Joss asks, her voice taking on that sexy sultry tone that only comes out when she wants something.

"Still rich and not looking for anything serious," I answer. "How's your husband doing?"

"Why do you have to bring him up, Nick? I want to talk about us."

Us... I almost laugh out loud. There was never an us. Not really, anyways. We met at the faculty parking lot when I was leaving late because I stayed to grade papers and she was having car trouble. I offered to take her home, we talked and not once did she mention being married. She was beautiful and the attraction was clear between the both of us so we made a detour to my house.

"I can think of a million ways I would rather start my day and this conversation isn't it. What do you want?"

She doesn't respond right away, but after a moment I hear her sultry voice. "I want you."

And despite the fact that we're on two different pages on what we want out of this relationship, blood still rushes to my groan, much to my dismay.

We were great together in bed.

That was never the issue.

But starting things back up with Josslyn would only make things messy. I don't care if I haven't been laid in a while.

"Is that what this call is all about?" I push off the headboard and rearrange the pillows behind me. "What, you had a fight with your husband and now you want to use me to forget about him?"

"It wouldn't be the first time." Joss shoots back. "Come on. I know you remember how good we are together."

"I remember."

"So, you're not seeing anyone are you?" Josslyn asks.

"No." I answer, honestly.

"So come over here and fuck me." Josslyn says.

"I have a family thing." I tell her and hang up before I can let myself think about it more or worse, consider.

I swing my legs off the bed and place my phone on top of the nightstand near my bed and make my way into the bathroom. After a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I return to my room with a towel wrapped around my waist.

My phone rings again.

I reach for it off the table, seeing it's Ryan's name on the screen

"It's raining."

"No shit sherlock." I chuckle, pressing the phone between my ear and shoulder so I can pull up some boxers and jeans.

"You better not use that as an excuse not to show up this morning." Ryan scolds me.

"I'm getting dressed as we speak." I told him.

"I'm serious Nick. If your ass isn't here in half an hour I will come over there and bring you myself." He warns me.

"Sheesh. I miss one family brunch and you're ready to have my head." I pull the phone away from my ear, press the speaker icon and set my phone back on the nightstand before strolling over to my closet for a shirt.

"You're not the one who has to deal with an upset Caitlin for the rest of the day." Ryan reminds me.

"Tell my dear baby sister that I look forward to seeing her for breakfast this morning." I say just before I pick up the phone again. "Oh, and tell that beautiful niece of mine that I can't wait to see her either."

"See you soon man. Thirty minutes." Ryan chirps before he ends the call. I latch my watch onto my wrist and shove my cell phone in my pocket before heading out the house.

I drive to my sister's house, taking the same roads as I usually do, the rain forcing me to drive slower than usual. I sneak a look to my right, seeing the bus stop I must've passed a least a million times, but this time something is different. I draw nearer, seeing about four people huddled together waiting for the bus and only one of them sits on the bench, seemingly unbothered by the fact that they're getting soaked by the rain. I peer through the window and I'm startled to recognize the person is Talia. She sits with her hands in her lap and a gray hoodie pulled low over her head.

Without thinking I park the car and roll down the windows. "Get in the car Talia."

She looks at me as if she's not sure she's seeing me correctly. "Mr. Cross?"

"It's Nick on the weekends," I corrected her. "Get in the car."

"I'm waiting for the bus."

"Yeah, I can see that, but I'm not just gonna drive off and leave you here. Come on, get in the car."

She studies me for a moment before she stands up from the bench and jog towards my car and climbs into the passenger seat.

"Hi." I greet her before I put the car back in drive. I ignored the people honking behind me, checking to see if it was safe to go before merging into the correct lane and driving away from the bus stop.

"Hi." Talia repeats, sliding the hood off her head.

"You want to tell me what you're doing all the way out here." She was at least thirty minutes away from her hometown.

She shrugs. "I needed to clear my head for a little bit. I got on the bus and before I realized it I was out here."

"Clear your head from what?" I wonder if it had anything to do with the scar she came to class with on Friday.

I hate to admit that I wondered where she was that morning when I walked into class and didn't see her. I told myself that I was just worried as a teacher would be about any student who didn't show up for class but I knew that wasn't true. Then she shows up, looking tired and frazzled and just when I'm going to come down on her for being late (and making me worry) I see it.

The purplish round bruise that faintly appeared on her cheek as if it was fresh. Someone fucking hit her. I have to grip the pen in my hand tightly or else I'm not sure what I would do. The tiny voice in my head prevails, reminding me that I'm in the middle of class and all the questions I have for Talia would have to wait til later.

When we spoke after class I could tell she was lying about what really happened and it pissed me off that she feels like she can't trust me with the truth. I don't know why I expect anything different since we barely know each other, but I wanted to be there for her. If not as Nick then as her teacher and she wouldn't let either one of us help.

Talia turns her head towards me, giving me a look that confirms the answer I'm thinking in my head. And just like before, there's a look in her eyes that makes me want to keep her to myself for a few more minutes so she doesn't have to go back to her world.

"Tell you what, why don't you come with me to get breakfast and you can not tell me all about it?" I suggest.

"Fine. But I'm paying this time."

Yeah. Right. Even if we weren't going to my sister's house for breakfast, there was no way I was going to let her pay for our meal.

✏️✏️✏️✏️

Caitlin Cross is unpredictable. I know I should've probably given her a heads up before showing up with Talia, but I knew she was going to pummel me with questions to answers that I don't have. I figured she'd lay off the questions until Talia was gone, which would buy me enough time to come up with a logical reason as to why I'm putting my career and reputation in danger by being with her like this.

I turn off the ignition once we pull to a stop in front of Caitlin's home. The rain has died down some so I'm able to see Caitlin who waits for me at the door.

"Where are we? I thought we were going to a diner." Talia says, confusion and panic written all at once over her face.

"This is better than a diner," I tell her. "My sister makes the best damn french toast on this side of town."

"Nick, I don't want to meet your family." She tells me.

"Okay, ouch." I replied. "One, you're not meeting my family- it's just my sister, brother in law, and my adorable niece. And two, we're already here. I think it would be a little weird if we drove off, don't you think?"

"And how exactly are you going to explain how we know each other?" Talia insists.

"I'll tell them the truth... that I picked you up off the street." I answer and thankfully she knows I'm joking because she punches me in my shoulder but she doesn't seem angry. "I'm kidding. Look, let me worry about that."

"I'm not dressed properly." Talia tries again and I take in her gray hoodie and matching sweatpants.

"I'll handle it." I reassure her. "Now, can we go? Because we have about three more seconds before either my sister or my niece comes yanking this door open to come get me."

"This better be the best damn french toast I've ever tasted." Talia grumbles in response. I take that as an okay and I unlock the doors and we step out at the same time. The second I exit the car I can see the curiosity on my sister's face the moment she sees Talia.

I'll explain later.

Caitlin doesn't miss a beat, smiling at both me and Talia as we draw closer.

"You made it!" Caitlin opens her arms for a hug, which I happily give her.

"Uncle Nick!" Isabella, my five year old niece, wraps her arms around my waist and I bend down and scoop her up into my arms.

"Bella! How's my favorite niece in the world?" I ask her.

"I'm your only niece, Uncle Nick." She giggles.

"Oh, that's right." I kiss her cheek.

"And who is this?" Caitlin looks at me to explain.

"Caitlin, this is my new friend Talia. Talia, this is my sister Caitlin and this adorable munchkin is my niece Isabella."

"Hi." Talia smiles shyly.

"It's nice to meet you Talia. I'm happy to have you in my home for breakfast this morning. I hope you have an appetite." Caitlin says, stepping back and allowing us to enter.

"I'm sorry about how I'm dressed," Talia apologizes. "Nick didn't give me a heads up on where we were going."

"That's fine. I have some clothes you can borrow if you like?" Caitlin suggests.

"Oh, no, that's okay." Talia declines.

"I insist. There's no way I'm going to leave you in these wet clothes."

"I'd just say yes if I were you. She doesn't take no for an answer." Ryan says as he enters the room.

"And you're lucky I don't because then we wouldn't be married." Caitlin says with a smile as she looks at her husband.

"I'm Ryan by the way," He holds out his hand for Talia to shake. "It's nice to meet you."

"Talia," She introduces herself. And it's nice to meet you too." She shakes his hand.

"Honey, can you please make sure everything is ready and Bella sweetheart, why don't you tell your Uncle Nick all about your Birthday list?" Caitlin orders.

I look at my niece who is still in my arms. "You have a list huh? Let me hear it." I walk off towards the living room with Isabella rattling off all the toys she wants for her birthday in a few months but not before giving Tali a reassuring smile that she would be fine in my sister's hands for a little bit.

Ten minutes later, Talia walks into the dining room. I hesitate for a split second, taken back by how different she looks now. I've only ever seen her dressed in uniform-first at her job then at school; right now she's wearing regular clothes and I'm not prepared for how beautiful she looks. The two tone pink and orange dress she's now wearing outlines every dip and curve of her body and... my eyes drop before I can stop them, and I take in the ample size of her breast, visible through the skin tight material of the dress. Heat stirs low in my stomach and I turn away, clearing my throat.

She can't be eighteen...

"You look great." I tell her as I set the plates of pancakes down on the table.

I see her blush in the corner of my eyes. "Oh, thanks."

Her voice is small and embarrassed and I see her pull out a chair to sit. I turn my head to see her gracefully sit down next to Isabella. "I hope you don't mind me telling Talia that she's about to have the best french toast of her life." I say to Caitlin as I take up the seat next to Talia.

"Of course not. You're just telling her the truth." Caitlin grins as she sits across from me.

Before I know it, an hour has passed and our plates are cleared.

I throw my napkin on top of my plate and push my chair away from the table and stand up, looking around the room for Talia. I haven't seen her in a while after Caitlin offered to give her a tour of the house.

Guilt starts to wind its way into my stomach. I should've made her stick beside me while we're here. She doesn't know my family. Not everyone thrives in awkward situations.

Walking into the living room, I see it's completely empty, but I hear voices coming from upstairs and I make my way up, instantly spotting Talia inside of Isabella's room play feeding one of Isabella's dolls while my niece sits across from her preparing some imaginary tea.

She's smiling. Like Crazy.

Like eyes gleaming with happiness and she's about to burst into music, for crying out loud.

Is she actually enjoying herself?

She's sitting with her legs crossed and the material of the dress stretches enough that it completely covers her knees and allows her to sit like a lady and her hair is pulled into a high ponytail.

I hear footsteps and I look over my shoulder to see Ryan and Caitlin coming my way. I step aside before either Talia or Isabella spots me. "Talia seems great..." Caitlin starts, giving me a knowing look.

"She is."

"Looks a little young though." Ryan observes.

"She is. She's um..." I clear my throat, bracing myself for the reaction when I tell them who she is exactly. "She's one of my students."

The smiles on their faces fall fast.

"What?" It's Caitlin who speaks up first.

"Please tell me you're joking." Ryan says.

"I'm not. Shocked the hell out of me too when I found out." I tell them.

"Jesus, Nick. You could go to jail." Ryan says through gritted teeth, lowering his voice so that Remi and Isabella couldn't hear him.

"Relax. I'm not sleeping with her." I reassure them.

"You're not?" Caitlin asks, looking like she doesn't believe me.

"Of course not. It's good to know what kind of man you think I am sis." I shake my head.

"Then why else is she in my home with you?" Caitlin looks at me pointedly.

"Look, we met a week ago before I knew who she was. Nothing happened; we just talked but I don't know... she's cool."

"I like her," Caitlin says defensively. "But for your sake, I hope the relationship stays as teacher and student."

"It will." It has to. "Talia." I call out to her. She turns her head towards the doorway, her eyes are still gleaming when she looks at me and her smile does something funny to my gut.

"Oh hey, are we leaving?"

"Yeah." I tell her before looking at my niece. "Sorry to take away your new friend Bella."

"That's okay. We can play some more next time." Isabella says to Talia, unbeknownst to her that there most likely would never be a next time.

"Definitely." Talia agrees with a smile before she stands up and walks towards me. She looks at Ryan and Caitlin. "Thank you so much for allowing me into your home. And for breakfast. It was delicious."

"Of course. Any friend of Nick is a friend of ours." Caitlin reassures her. "Oh, and I insist that you keep the dress."

"Remember she doesn't take no for an answer." I remind her.

Talia's shoulder slump in defeat but I can tell she's grateful. "Thank you."

"It was nice meeting you Talia." Ryan tells her.

We say our goodbyes before I guide Talia down the stairs, out the house and back into my car.

"See, you made it out alive." I tell her once we're all buckled in.

"Barely," She jokes. "I can't believe how nice everyone was."

"I'm the only one who got the asshole genes I'm afraid." I say as we pull away from the house.

"You're not an asshole." Talia tells me. "At least, not outside of class."

I chuckle. "I usually am."

Talia turns her head and I can feel her eyes on me. "Why aren't you one to me?"

"I think you know why." I answer before turning my attention back to the road.

--------------

This story has a bit a angst to it and their relationship is a slow burn, but I promise it's worth it!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Thank you for reading!

Leave a comment please if you liked what you read 🥺