He sat watching as the rain pelted down on his window. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he turned away from the window with a start. The rain had certainly brought a halt to his plans for the day. His only consolation was that with the impending storm Jessica wouldn’t be able to go anywhere either. He wouldn’t be missing much.
Still, he didn’t quite enjoy the idea of being cooped up at home when he really should be out getting to know the area or even the people. He couldn’t afford to waste anymore time than he already had. He had to move quickly from now on. There were other things he could do today though, like finish the letter. The letters were the reason he had lugged his heavy computer all the way to New York City with him. He didn’t need it for anything else.
He knew what he wanted to say but didn’t quite know just how to say it. He was angry – so very angry. She’d cost him so much and yet there she was cozily shacked up in that expensive apartment oblivious to the pain and suffering she had caused him.
There was only one way to make her understand just what he had been through these past months and that was to make her feel the pain too.
Jessica sat on the edge of her bed watching the puddles which were growing at an alarming rate. It had been raining cats and dogs all day. She didn’t mind though. Rain always reminded her of a happier time. Besides, she didn’t exactly have any plans for the day so staying at home was fine with her. She had woken up early and was unable to fall back asleep. She was going to call Nick but then decided not to. She was sure he needed his space right now.
Jessica couldn’t believe that he was supposed to be married. There were so many questions she had wanted to ask him when he had told her. She imagined that if he had told her that he impregnated a girl he barely knew or slept with someone and then never called them back she wouldn’t have been so surprised. Marriage however was a complete other story.
The look in Nick’s eyes said it all. He was still hurting.
The wind outside picked up and Jessica listened intently as it howled outside her window. A sudden surge of rain flooded the streets and she could tell it was definitely going to be a wet and dreary day.
Hoping to take his mind off Melissa, Nick had been driving all day. He was now feeling foolish because instead of clearing his mind all he had managed to do was deplete a tank of gas. Now it was pouring and he could barely see five feet in front of him. He knew he was fairly close to his house but at the speed he was moving he would surely run out of gas before he arrived home.
He hadn’t eaten or slept in the past two days. He didn’t need food or sleep though, what he needed was someone to talk to. Nick had thought about calling Jessica a few times but after all how well did he really know her? Even his closest friends wouldn’t be able to understand how he was feeling. This was something he was going to have to deal with alone.
Bringing his attention back to the road, he could make out the taillights of the car in front of him. It was going to be a long time before he arrived home. The rain had let up, but only slightly and for how long he couldn’t be certain. To his right, he could vaguely make out a sign indicating Pembrook Avenue – Jessica’s street.
He hesitated for a few moments and then realized that he couldn’t chance it. He was better safe than sorry. Seeing Jessica might take his mind off things some. He would just have to hope that she wouldn’t mind his intrusion. It was quite forward of him inviting himself over unannounced but he had no other choice really. Plus, he couldn’t deny that a part of him wanted to see her. He promised himself that he would only stay until the it stopped raining.
Signaling, he cautiously turned right and inched his way towards her building. He parked in the nearest spot he could find and then made a mad dash towards the entrance.
By the time he reached inside the building, he was soaking. He looked around at the strange building. The doorman shot him an inquisitive stare. “Can I help you?” he asked his voice dripping with disdain.
“Yeah. I’m hear to see Jessica Turner,” he said brushing the raindrops from his shirt.
“Her apartment number?” the doorman prompted suspiciously.
“Actually I don’t know,” he said sheepishly. “I’m sure if you call her she’ll let me up,” he added almost uncertain himself.
The doorman eyed him wearily for a minute before consulting the building directory and picking up the phone. “Miss Turner? Sorry to bother you at such a late hour, but there seems to be a young feeling here to see you. A Mr….” he paused looking at Nick.
“Nick,” he supplied quickly. Tapping his foot impatiently Nick realized he really should have called her first. What if she was busy? If only he had her number. If she let him up that would be the first thing he asked for.
“Oh I see,” the doorman said his voice faltering slightly. “You’re sure then?” he paused. “Alright. I’ll send him up,” he hung up and waved Nick in the direction of the elevators without so much as a glance in his direction. “ Suite 1604,” he said.
“Thank you,” Nick mumbled eager to get away from him. He dealt with enough people like him at work.
Stepping into the elevator, he wondered exactly how he was going to explain his impromptu visit to Jessica. He would come up with something.
“Great,” Jessica muttered to herself looking down at her oversized sweat shirt and pants. Her hair was tousled and socks mismatched. He’d be there any second.
Racing to her room jumped onto her bed yanking off her blue and red socks. Upsetting the contents of the laundry basket which contained her freshly folded laundry she began searching furiously for a clean T-shirt and a pair of socks. She pulled them out of the heap triumphantly after making a complete mess and slipped out of her clothes. Just as she was struggling with her socks she heard a soft knock at the door. He was fast.
Jumping to her feet she grabbed the other sock and headed towards the door. Hobbling around she tried to fit the sock on while maintaining her balance.
“I’ll be there in a second,” she yelled. She got the sock on a few seconds later. When she answered the door her face was flushed and her hair even messier than before. Self consciously she reached up to smooth it as best she could.
“Hi.”
“Hey. I was in the neighborhood running some errands,” after saying it Nick realized how foolish he sounded. It was almost 1am. Who in their right mind ran errands at this time in such bad weather? “It’s horrible out there,” he said stating the obvious.
Jessica watched as a lone raindrop trickled down the side of his face. She resisted the sudden urge to reach up and wipe it away.
“I though maybe I could hang out with you for a while until the storm lets up or something. Is that alright?” he asked running a hand through his wet hair.
“Yeah sure,” she mumbled following his hand.
There was a few moments of silence as Nick stood there eyeing her expectantly. “You going to invite me in?” he asked with a smile.
“Sorry, “ she said shaking her head and feeling like a complete fool. “Come in.”
As Nick walked in Jessica couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous. She had told herself that no matter what she wasn’t going to let herself get too close to Nick.