Chapter 10 - Jean's wildest dream.

"What about him?"

Cara asked as she avoided eye contact with Jean.

Jean smiled.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you that he came to your engagement party. I noticed you must have been upset about that."

"Upset?"

Cara laughed nervously.

"Why the hell would I be upset?"

"I wasn't upset. I was just surprised. I didn't know he came. That's all."

She smiled widely, trying to hide her anxiety. What the hell did Jean want to talk about? She had no idea but she hoped it wasn't something serious.

Did Nicholas tell Jean something about them? She wondered angrily.

No, he wouldn't dare. But then again, she couldn't be so sure and anything could happen.

"Well, I know you might be surprised that the two of us are together, but Nicholas and I really like each other and you're my friend so I just wanted to be sure that you wouldn't find it weird if we dated or something."

Date?!!

Oh honey! You definitely will not last that long. Cara thought as she chuckled to herself.

"No, absolutely not. Why would I find it weird?"

Jean nodded and smiled.

"Well you didn't seem too happy about seeing me at dinner with him so I just thought you probably didn't want me with him."

Cara shook her head.

Jean was very observant.

Too observant.

If she paid a little more attention she could have even noticed that there was something between Nicholas and Cara with the way they avoided each other's gaze all night.

"No, no, no. That's not what happened. I was just surprised. And if you want to date Nicholas go ahead."

"It doesn't really bother me. If you'll excuse me I have to go."

She said quickly as she walked out of the dressing room.

She suddenly felt very nauseous.

She didn't know if it had to do with whatever it was that Jean was saying or something else but she was mad that Jean even brought it up in the first place.

Cara found it very hard to concentrate after that. She watched the bridesmaids try on different dresses and she got more uninterested every passing second as her mind because occupied with thoughts of Nicholas.

Why did he bring Jean to the dinner?

To spite her?

Was he really going to date her?

She didn't think that was a very good idea.

With Jean being close to her in a way. She hoped he wouldn't tell her anything about what happened between them.

She suddenly felt the insane urge to see Nicholas and she looked around nervously.

This was the perfect time to leave. Really, it was.

The girls were too preoccupied in finding a dress and Malory was helping them, Alex was at work and her parents were most likely home.

If she went out to see Nicholas no one would know.

She slowly stood up and pretended to look at her phone.

"I'm so sorry guys! I have to go."

Everyone turned to look at her.

"Why?! Where are you going?"

Malory asked as she walked towards her. The other ladies and the attendant turned to look at her.

Cara feigned sadness.

"I know. I know. But it's work related and its really important."

"Malory please handle everything here and I'm counting on you to make sure everyone here has a dress before the end of the day. I really have to go."

Malory nodded, she was still surprised.

"Okay. Sure. No problem then. I'll handle everything here."

"Great! Thanks."

She turned to Jean, Lucia and Stephanie.

"Bye girls."

She waved slightly and practically leaped out of the store.

Outside the store she called Nicholas.

He picked up after the first ring.

"Cara? What a wonderful surprise."

He said and Cara rolled her eyes.

"Yea, can we meet up somewhere? I have to talk to you about something."

She said as she walked towards her car.

Nicholas smiled from his end.

"Sure. Where do you have in mind."

Cara shrugged.

She could care less about where they met, she just wanted it to be someplace discreet.

"I don't know. Somewhere where nobody would know and find us. I don't want anyone we know seeing us there."

She said and he nodded.

He gave her an address and Cara put it in her GPS after starting her car.

Moments later, Cara arrived at a rooftop lounge in Manhattan.

She instantly spotted Nicholas at the far end of the room.

It was still in the evening and the lounge didn't have that many people in it. There was only someone at the bar and a few men having drinks.

"This was the best you could come up with?"

She asked as she sat down. She quickly looked around but sighed.

Nicholas smiled.

"Relax! No one here knows us. Besides my friend owns the place and he swore that my brother has never been here."

Cara nodded.

"Okay."

"So, what was so urgent that you couldn't tell me on the phone?"

He asked as he leaned towards Cara, the smell of his cologne was exactly the same as that night.

She could still remember it, it was for some reason still stuck in her head.

"Besides, from our last encounter alone I was of the opinion that you never want to see me again."

"What changed Cara?"

"Nothing changed. I just need to talk to you about something."

"How's the wedding plans going?"

"It's going fine... That's not really what I came to talk about though."

Nicholas smiled. Cara looked so riled up, he knew whatever it was that she wanted to talk to him about must have been very important.

"So I saw Jean today. You know she's one of my bridesmaids so she came with the other girls to find a dress for the wedding..."

Cara started and Nicholas nodded.

"And?"

"Well.. She said something about the two of you being together."

Cara said and Nicholas started laughing.

"And? Is that why we're here Cara?!"

He asked with his eyes widended and Cara shrugged.

"That's not exactly why we're here but Jean is sort of my friend and she's very inquisitive, trust me."

"I just wanted to be really sure that whatever it is you're doing with her won't affect what happened in the past."

"Cara, you know I would never do that to you. I already told you I wasn't going to tell anybody. don't you believe me?"

He asked as he reached out for her hand and held on to it.

He, holding her, touching her, it all felt weird to Cara, it made her remember that night.

She removed her hands quickly and turned to look at him.

"It's not what you think. I do believe you, but I know how Jean can be and this is a very serious issue you know?"

Cara said and Nicholas nodded.

Then he slowly started smirking.

"Or are you jealous?"

He blurted out and Cara scoffed.

The nerve on him!

"What?! Jealous?!! Of course not! How can you even think of something like that?!"

"Why would I be bloody jealous of you and Jean?"

Nicholas shrugged as he pointed to her and the lounge.

"Well, it is because of her we're meeting here. Because you had something really important to discuss right?"

"No, no, no. I am not jealous of you and Jean. As if!"

"It's not like the two of you would last anyways."

She said underneath her breath and Nicholas raised an eyebrow.

"Oh! Oh! You don't think we'll last?"

Cara shrugged as she settled in her seat.

"Let's be honest, your track record with women... It isn't that impressive."

Nicholas started to laugh. He had such a beautiful smile and Cara had to caution herself when she caught herself staring.

"Well. I admit. But you have to know it's not always like that. but I guess you're right."

"It's only because I haven't found the right woman."

Cara picked up her purse, it was getting late. She had to leave.

"Well, I wish you all the best in finding her. I have to go."

"Wait!"

Nicholas said.

He was enjoying her company, this was something he had not enjoyed in quite a while.

He wished she would stay a bit longer.

"Why don't you have a little drink with me?"

"It's late..."

Nicholas nodded.

"I know... But it's just one drink and it wouldn't hurt."

He convinced and Cara looked around.

She settled back in her seat.

He was right, it wasn't like she had much to do after, except for more wedding plans.

She was already tired of those.

"So what do you drink?"

"You look like a wine kind of woman."

Cara cocked her head.

"Wine? What kind of wine?"

Nicholas looked at her for a while then smiled.

"You seem like a girl who would order a Rosé on a night out with the girls."

Cara nodded and smiled.

"I do like a good glass of Rosé but I'm more of a beer kind of girl."

"Sometimes a good old fashioned beer does the trick."

Nicholas eyes widened and he nodded his head.

"That's interesting. Well, I'll keep that in mind."

He said as he called over the waiter to their table.