Free Shattered (Shattered #1) by Heather D'Agostino Page B

her
everything.”
    Nick leaned forward and cupped my cheek, before he skimmed his nose up
the side of my face. When I felt his breath feather across my ear, I couldn’t
help but shiver. “I hope you don’t tell her everything,” he whispered. He
pulled back and offered a wicked grin as he watched me groan in frustration.
    I leaned toward the door and pushed it open. “I gotta get to my office.
Lots to do today,” I fought to control my voice as it trembled slightly.
    “How’s tomorrow night for our date?” Nick grinned at my flushed and
flustered appearance. He knew exactly what he did to me, and he was proud of
it.
    “Ok, I have to stop by my parents place for a little while. Can you pick
me up after six?”
    “Sure…six will work,” he nodded.
    As I made my way into the gym, I couldn’t help the extra bounce in my
step. Things seemed to be working out in their weird way. I only hoped that
this date was the beginning of something real.

 

 
    Chapter 9

 
    Leah
    I’m not sure why, but the week seemed to crawl by. Other than picking me
up in the mornings, I really didn’t see Nick that much. He seemed to have
vanished during the day.
    Our date was tonight, and to say that my nerves were getting the best of
me would be an understatement. I was excited but not really sure what starting
over truly meant. Did it mean things would be like they were in a new
relationship? One where everything is amplified, and nerves rule every
decision? Or would things be like they were near the end? When we could finish
each other’s sentences and knew what the other was thinking with just a look.
    I continued to pace back and forth in my bedroom wearing only a towel as
I fought to calm myself. Three different ensembles were draped across my bed.
Each one was a different look, and I’d managed to talk myself out of all of
them.
    “Knock, knock,” Avery called from the hallway.
    “Thank god you’re home,” I yanked open the door. “Get in here. I need
your help,” I reached out and grabbed her elbow as I hauled her through the
door.
    “Leah! What the hell? Calm down,” she squealed.
    “Help me!” I pointed to the bed. “I can’t decide.”
    “I thought you just came home from visiting your mom. What was wrong
with what you wore over there?” she shrugged as she moved to sit on the edge of
my bed.
    “This is a date,” I tossed my hands in the air in exasperation.
    “Yeah…one that you already know is going to have a happy ending,” she
giggled as I scowled at her.
    “How do you know that? I mean…we’re starting over,” I wrinkled my nose.
    “Yeah…sure. You may be starting over, but you’re still going to get
laid,” she poked me in the side and smirked. “I hope you made sure everything’s
polished to perfection.”
    “Avery!” I gasped as she began looking at the clothes on my bed.
    “Oh come on. You know he wants to,” she shrugged as she picked up a
floral cotton dress. “This one with the boots,” she pointed to pair of worn
brown cowboy boots that were resting in the bottom of my closet.
    “Are you sure?” I glanced at the boots again.
    “Yes, this is just what you need. Pull the hair up too, but leave a few
pieces hanging down.”
    “Ok,” I mumbled. “Now get out, so I can get ready,” I pointed to the
door. “If Nick gets here tell him I’m almost ready.”
    “Just like old times,” Avery grumbled as she disappeared down the hall.
    As soon as she left, I began digging through my dresser looking for a
cute bra and panty set. If the night was going to go the way Avery thought, I
wanted to be prepared. Nick had seen me at my worst, but this was a first date.
Even if we did already know everything about each other, I still wanted to
impress him, so to speak.
    After dressing quickly in the outfit Avery had suggested, a pale yellow
sundress with small blue flowers on it, I began pulling my hair up into a high
ponytail. I used my curling iron to create a few small curls to