4 chapter 4

Friday night Trent, Madalyn, and Zara are in the living room watching a movie. Nickola sits on the stool at the island in the kitchen talking while Vanessa loads the dishwasher.

"She tells me they're arguing in the front yard about this girl he is cheating on her with. She's mad so she goes to confront the girl. He grabs her to stop her, they tussle for a minute and he snatched her wig." They both burst into laughter.

"What did I miss?" Greyson says as he comes through the side door leading to the garage.

"Just one of Nikki's love triangle stories." Vanessa gives Greyson a peck on the lips. Herring enters, grabs a glass from the cabinet and fills it with water from the refrigerator.

"Sounds exciting," Greyson says with both arms around Vanessa's waist.

"Honey do you have time tomorrow to help Nikki? She's cleaning out her shed and needs help moving stuff."

Before Greyson can answer Herring interjects, "I can help. I've got nothing going on." Greyson looks at Nickola awaiting a response.

"Okay," she says reluctantly.

"Well, that settles it," Greyson says.

"Let me grab my stuff and we can go," Vanessa says to Nickola. She and Greyson leave the kitchen.

Herring swallows the rest of his water, "What time should I come by?"

"Any time after noon."

He sets the glass on the counter and moves closer to Nickola so that he is standing a few feet from her.

"What do you have going on tonight?" Nickola ask.

"Going to the studio and chillin' with Bronze for a bit."

She laughs a little.

"What? Still can't believe I listen to rap?" he says smiling.

"It's just," she trails off.

"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover," he teases.

She nods, "you're right." They look at each other for a moment both smiling. He seems to be examining her hair.

"What?" she says tearing her eyes from his and directs them to the fruit bowl in the middle of the island.

"There's.." he moves closer to her. Gosh he smells so good. Her heart flutters and her body stiffens. "There's something in your hair." He gently pulls away a tiny speck of pink glitter showing her on his index finger.

"Oh," she exhales softly. "Zara's glitter."

Vanessa appears at the entrance of the kitchen, "Alright I'm ready."

Nickola turns and gives Herring a soft smile before heading out. "Be good Zara," she says before closing the front door behind her.

At the mall Nickola and Vanessa sit holding their hands in front of mini fans to dry their nails. "Next Saturday is our annual charity banquet. I got two extra tickets you should come," Vanessa says. They get up and walk to the register.

"And be forced to listen to Kellen all night," Nickola says with a dull expression. She takes out her debit card and hands it to the woman behind the counter. "My treat," she says to Vanessa. The woman returns Nickola her card along with a receipt. "I don't know," she sighs. They leave the nail salon and begin strolling through the mall.

"Oh come on. It'll be good for you. If you don't wanna be a third wheel I could ask my cousin Trey to come."

"Ros seems to think I need to get out there too."

"Wes put you through a lot Nikki. It's time for you to start enjoying life again."

"I know," she stares off in the distance. A familiar face is walking towards them. "Miles right?" Nickola says pointing at him.

"Yes. You...have a...Toyota Corolla," he says trying to recall where he's seen her from. They move to the side against the railing out of the way of foot traffic.

"Yes," she says smiling. "I'm Nickola and this is my friend Vanessa."

"Nice to meet you," he gives Vanessa a slight nod. "You ladies out shopping tonight?" he looks back at Nickola.

"We just got our nails done. Having some girl time. Is this your..." she looks at the boy standing beside him.

"This is my son Devaun." The boy gives a quick smile to Nickola and Vanessa.

"Hello," Nickola says to the boy. "Well I won't hold you up. You guys have a good night."

"You ladies have a good night as well," he waves and walks away.

"You never mentioned him," Vanessa says with raised eyebrows.

"He works at the Midas I took my car to."

"Then you need to have another visit to Midas," Vanessa says with a smug smile.

"He is cute," Nickola sighs. "I don't know if I can trust again."

"It's just gonna take some time," Vanessa says.

"And whose gonna wait it out with me? I'm so damaged," Nickola says sadly.

"There is someone out there who will love you the way you should be loved," Vanessa says in a caring tone. "Don't let your past effect your future." Nickola thinks about that. After a moment of silence Vanessa says, "let's get something to eat I'm hungry."

After they eat, they head back to Vanessa's house. Zara is asleep on the couch. Greyson comes from his office into the living room wearing blue and gray plaid pajama pants and a blue shirt. "Thanks for watching Zara," Nickola says to Greyson in a low voice.

He walks over to Vanessa, "of course. You're practically family." He plants a kiss on Vanessa's cheek and puts his arm around her waist.

Nickola walks over to the couch. "Zara wake up its time to go." She pulls Zara by the arm but she doesn't move. "So Wednesday, am I coming here and then we'll drive the girls to dance class?" Nickola asks looking at Vanessa.

"Yeah, and we can take my car."

"Okay, goodnight guys," she looks back at Zara trying to figure out how to move her from the couch to the car.

"Goodnight," Vanessa and Greyson say as they head to their bedroom.

The sliding doors by the dining room open causing Nickola to jump. "You scared me!" she whispers with her hand over her heart.

"Sorry," Herring whispers back smiling.

"What were you doing out there?"

"'I'm staying in the pool house at the moment."

"Oh," she says.

He watches as she struggles to pick up Zara from the couch. "I can carry her for you," he says walking over to her.

"Um..."she looks down at Zara then at Herring. "Would you please?"

He gently slides his arm behind Zara's back and sits her up. With his other arm placed underneath the bend of her knees he scoops her up with her head resting on his shoulder. Nickola opens the front door for him and they head to her car.

"Didn't make it to the studio?" she opens the car door for him.

"I did. Only for a bit though," he slowly lowers Zara in the car and carefully buckles her in positioning her head against the seat.

This warmed Nickola to see him handle Zara so tenderly. "Thank you," she says getting into the driver's seat.

He quickly walks around to the other side of the car. "I don't have your address," he says catching her before she closes the door.

Nickola pulls out her phone and texts him her address. "You have it now," she says smiling.

"Goodnight," he says closing her door.