[chapter eighteen]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of
them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please.
;-)
**
Jimmie opened the hotel room door cautiously, admitting a very sheepish looking Kick into his room.
She stepped only a few feet into the room before stopping, her eyes searching for his. The both stood uncomfortably for a moment, watching each other.
"Hi." She said quietly, not daring to close the distance between them any further.
"Hi." He echoed, standing in front of her, dropping his eyes to look at the ground.
"How are you?" She asked, taking in the angry looking black eye he was sporting and his obviously forlorn expression.
"Sore." He confessed. "You?"
"Hung over." Kick smiled a little and Jimmie looked up, joining her with a small smile. "This is really awkward." She said after a few moments.
Jimmie nodded, thrusting his hands into his pockets and rocking on his heels slightly.
"Listen, Jimmie…I owe you the mothership of all apologies. I'm so, so sorry about…well, everything." Kick began, waving her hand vaguely in the air. "When Junior and I…after we got together, he…he told me that his girlfriend cheated on him. With you. He lied about everything and then some. And I believed him. I'm sorry."
"It was actually the other way around." Jimmie said quietly and Kick nodded.
"I know. Chad straightened me out this morning. After he plied me with caffeine so I could see straight." She said softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for all the things I've said to you, the way I've treated you. You really are a nice guy, and I treated you like the enemy after Junior and I got together. I'm sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I wanted to apologize in person."
"Why do you think I wouldn't forgive you?" Jimmie asked with genuine interest.
Kick shrugged. "Most people wouldn't."
"I'm not most people." Jimmie said, his voice shy.
Kick smiled at him. "So I'm quickly discovering. Anyhow, I wanted to apologize. I'll get out of here, let you nurse that eye of yours."
She turned to open the door again when Jimmie gently laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look up at him, her eyes full of questioning and confusion.
"Did you…did you go back to him?" Jimmie asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his hand dropping to his side.
"I threw him out last night, right after you left. Before I knew anything that Chad told me this morning." Kick said honestly. "We're done."
Jimmie heaved a sigh of relief. "I know it's none of my business, but I had to know."
Kick smiled and nodded. "I know."
"Kick…" Jimmie began again as she pulled open the door.
"Yeah?"
"Even though you certainly don't need it, I forgive you. As long as you'll forgive me." Jimmie said, daring to reach out again and squeeze her shoulder lightly.
"It's done." Kick smiled, skimming out of the door and shutting it softly behind her.
Jimmie finally allowed himself
to smile, despite the throbbing in his eye.