“No, sorry, I didn’t.” I respond as I get off the couch. Walking into the kitchen, she places a large white paper bag on the counter. From the smell, I know it’s food. She hands me a Grande cup of coffee and I take a sip, wishing it had something much stronger than coffee inside.
“Sergeant’s orders,” she says while taking the contents out of the bag out and handing me a white Styrofoam container; I laugh at her use of my joke earlier.
“Thanks,” I tell her while opening the counter. It smells wonderful. I realize I’m very hungry.
“Nick said you like fried chicken salad and that you probably haven’t eaten.” She hands me a fork. I take it and then open the small container of honey mustard and pour it all over my salad.
“Should I assume you know about our fight?” I ask and take a large bite of my salad. Mmmm.
“You would assume right along with your trip to the ER this morning,” she says as she begins pouring what I’m assuming is ranch dressing over her salad.
“Does he think I’m a bitch?” I ask on a sigh. He has every right. I shouldn’t have been so determined to do things my way. Sometimes, I don’t think before I open my big mouth.
“No, but I do.” She laughs, but the tone suggests she is serious.
“Thanks for the honesty,” I say back sarcastically.
“Shannon, what kind of friend would I be if I wasn’t dead honest with you?” She takes a bite of her salad.
“The type that is probably biased seeing how Nick is your brother.” I’m cramming this food down like I haven’t eaten in several days.
“I can’t argue with that, but you aren’t the one who had to watch him get his ass kicked this morning,” she says with a sad look in her eyes, one that only a sister would have.
What?
“Excuse me? What do you mean? What happened?” I spit out, dropping my fork. My appetite just vanished.
“Everything is cool now. He’s fine,” she tells me, but I’m not feeling reassured.
“Explain, Nikki,” I demand. My mind’s a jumble. I feel slightly sick at the thought of Nick being hurt.
“He came in this morning before I got there. Apparently, he picked a fight with a guy he and Jase can’t stand. I walked in during the middle of the fight. He was letting Carson beat the shit out of him. Nick wasn’t putting up a fight. I could tell he was letting it happen. I stopped it immediately.” She kept talking, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Why would he do that to himself? I don’t understand. It hits me. I look up at her.
“Me. I’m the reason, aren’t I?” It’s not really a question. I already know the truth.
“Yeah, but don’t think it’s your fault because it’s not. That was all Nick and his fucked-up-ness.” She finishes the rest of her coffee and tosses the cup in the trash.
“I didn’t know why he did it at first. It took me and Jase over an hour before he would talk.” I sit in the chair just staring at her. I don’t really understand why he would do that.
“Was it because of last night or the fight?” I ask. Surely not because I pissed him off.
“Last night,” she says. “He’s pretty pissed at himself for hurting you.” She looks away like it is painful for her to tell me.
“Nikki, it was an accident. He’s not at fault. He told you the truth, right?” I question, wondering just what he told her.
“Yeah, kinky sex with my brother. Please don’t go into details. I really don’t need any more images going through my head than what are already there.” She has a disgusted look on her face. The same look Stacy gives me when I eat something she doesn’t approve of.
“I have to go and see him. He has to stop thinking he hurt me,” I say as I get up to search for my phone so I can leave.
“No!” Nikki says as she reaches for my elbow. “He would probably kill me if I let you leave.”
“I need to speak to him, plus I said some things I didn’t mean this morning,” I tell her, pulling my arm away. I walk over to the chair to retrieve my phone.
“If you think he was bossy this morning, then wait until you leave. You haven’t seen anything yet. Just send him a text to come here instead of home tonight. Trust me, it’s better that way.” She crosses her arms like Nick often does when he is serious.
“Fine,” I concede.
“Thank you. Now, I have to go. I’m supposed to report back that you ate and are resting.” she snorts out.
I roll my eyes. “Whatever,” I say as she walks out the door. I go back to the couch and decide to send Nick a message.