Ronnie sensed more than anything the seething anger below the surface. Nikko was really pissed. The things he said made sense, but she wouldn’t, no couldn’t deal with that right now. She needed to get her life back before she could think of anything else. She did feel a twinge of guilt for the drugging part. But there had been no other way. Had there? She shook away the doubts and risked a sideways glance at Nikko. His face was set in a grim line. She could see the pain and hurt below the surface. It confused her. As they got closer to Spragueville, Ronnie knew they were just two exits away, her doubts grew as did her fears. What in the hell could she do to convince him to let her go to Gary? The anger wasn’t going to work. The crying either. She needed to try a different approach.
“Nikko?” she said softly. Perhaps some humble pie. And a little pleading.
He heard the difference in her tone right away, but he was still so mad at her it took a moment before he could respond.
She tried again. “Nikko?” Now her voice had a plaintive quality about it. It tore at him.
He sighed and finally asked, “What?” Not what he was expecting.
“Nikko, you can’t send me back yet.” His head snapped in her direction. They were at a light.
“What?” He repeated and looked at her like she was a moron.
“Please,” she begged twisting her hands in her lap.
“Like hell. That is one of the first things I am gonna do!” The woman had obviously lost her mind.
She had to make him understand. “Nikko, listen. Please.” She took a breath when he remained silent. “My lawyer is good, but he had bad news for me yesterday. His guys couldn’t find Gary, and the tapes don’t show much like he was hoping. I can’t wait months while my whole life is in limbo. I think I can get him to confess. I really do.”
“The hell you will,” he again gave her that look that said she was being a complete dumbass. The light changed and he continued up the road to the hotel. It wasn’t far now.
She knew he was pissed, but she just had to keep trying. Her time was running out. “But Nikko, I really think I can do this.” Still, no response. “What if you help me, I’ll let you help me? Then there won’t be a trial, I can move on with my life. My mom is pregnant. She doesn’t need this looming over her for months. Please, Nikko, if I ever meant anything to you, help me. You won’t have to baby sit me anymore. Your brothers won’t lose their money to the insurance company. I know if we put out heads together we can figure this out,” she begged.
Nikko just shook his head. The silence passed until he pulled onto the exit ramp.
“Nikko?” she asked again in a near panic, her tone sharp. He looked at her. Her eyes shimmered. He saw the fear there of years of prison possibly looming in her future. His heart ached. He didn’t want that for her. For them. “Please,” she whispered. “Help me.”
He was lost. It was in that moment he knew he was hopelessly in love with this crazy woman. A woman who drugged him, stole his car, and didn’t trust him. Fuck his life! His hands gripped the steering wheel like iron. He looked back at the road and sighed. Fuck! Fuck! He knew it was stupid, but he would do it, if only to prove to her once and for all, how much he cared. But, he wasn’t letting her off the hook for her actions. She needed to trust him and keep him in the loop. His eyes remained fixated straight ahead. Then his voice came out gruffly as he tried to mask the emotion there, after this revelation to himself, “We can talk about this more. Maybe. At the hotel,” he finished.
Ronnie, let out her held breath. There was hope. Surely, he would help just to put this all behind them. She wanted this over too. For her, for her mom and Jay and the new baby. And, she wanted to move on and forget this whole horrid time in her life.
“Thank you,” she whispered, as she settled back more comfortably into her seat. Yes, she wanted to forget about all of this. Put this hideous nightmare behind her. But a niggling little feeling, a little doubt persisted, and she knew, she wouldn’t ever be able to forget Nikko.
Despite his infidelity, she had begun to really care for him. No, she had fallen for him. So that part of the nightmare would remain with her for a long time. It would take her a very, very long time to forget him, and an even longer time to ever be able to trust a man again. Her heart hurt. He said he might help, and that she took as a good sign. Her words had sunk in. Yes, it was just a maybe, but it was a start. She would continue to work on him in the hotel, tell him her plan. He could help her tweak it, and they all would be out from under this mess. His agreeing and his frustrated sighs, told her all she needed to know. He too wanted to move on, and put this and her behind him.