Chasing Di'Maggio: a BWWM romance (12 page)

"Isn't someone way too happy today at work? Hmm, I wonder why?"

Nicolette couldn't help but laugh at Roxy and how she had the audacity to ask her that the minute she walked in. She just waved at her and walked straight into her office to get ready for her clients.

Nicolette was too busy to pay attention to her whole day; she had upcoming events and deadlines and wasn't sure what time she was going to be done. Nicolette was so into her planning that she didn't realize how late it was and that the office was empty.

Matty walked into Nicolette's office to find it empty and decided to roam around to find her. He finally saw her in another office. Nicolette had her hair up in a bun, and was sitting on the floor with her heels off, in jeans and a tank top. Nicolette always kept comfortable clothes to change into after work hours so that she could get things done. She didn’t like the idea of sitting on the floor in her suit. Matty couldn't help but smile at how hard working Nicolette was. He could finally see that she worked hard to get where she wanted to be in her career. He just stood there leaning in the doorway while he watched her work. Nicolette was too involved into her work to realize he was there. She was standing up, putting up folders and making sure everything fit into her plans. By the time she was done, she was so tired that she started stretching and that’s when she heard someone clear their throat. Nicolette was so scared that she turned around too fast and slipped on a piece of paper. She hit the floor hard on her butt.

"Dammit, Matty! You scared the living daylights out of me!"

Matty couldn't say anything because he was too busy laughing at her for falling. Nicolette looked around for something to throw at Matty’s head, but she couldn't find anything. Nicolette just got up and walked past him. She left him in the office still cracking up at her, and decided to just get her stuff ready to go back home.

Matty knew that Nicolette was upset at him after he laughed at her. It was just funny for him because it had been such a long time since he'd seen Nicolette in that situation. When they were younger it happened a lot. She was easy to fool and easy for him and his brothers to prank her. He didn't think that she would still be this clumsy, but she proved him wrong today and boy was he in for it! Matty walked back to her office and saw Nicolette getting all her stuff ready, cursing him out under her breath.

He stood there just watching her, the way she bent over to fix everything and put things back in place. Matty shook his head because she had no idea what she was doing to him right now. She wasn't facing him so she couldn't see the affect she had on him.

Nicolette was still pissed at Matty for laughing at her so she didn't want to face him, especially as she knew his dimples would be showing while he was laughing. She debated on whether to let Matty know that she needed to change, but Nicolette decided to let him get a peep of what he would be missing out on tonight. She took off her tank, then her jeans. She walked over to her office closet and slipped back on her suit pants. She heard a little shuffle in the background, but she refused to turn around. She knew the look that Matty would be giving her right now and she wanted him to beg for it.

She slipped on her shoes slowly, trying to make Matty want her, but for some reason, it seemed Matty was seducing her without trying. What the hell was she going to do if he walked over there and touched her? She would melt right then and there in his hands. He really had no idea what he did to her, so she hurried put on the rest of her clothes.

"Okay, Matty, I'm ready to go."

As soon as Nicolette turned around to face him, she regretted it. He looked like he was going to make her regret what she did, which made her smile inside. She saw the smirk on his face. Nicolette tried to ignore it and to keep walking, but he stepped right in her way. She tried to go left or right, but Matty was right there in front of her; he was too quick for her.

"Now, baby, you think you could do that and get away from me that easily?"

"Matty, I was joking."

"Not so funny, is it now, Nico?"

"No...."

Before Nicolette could do anything else, Matty started to walk closer and Nicolette started backing up. She felt like he was concentrating on catching his prey. It reminded her of the documentaries on the National Geographic channel and the way the damn animals would try and lure in their prey. Nicolette ended up near a wall and she had nowhere to escape. As soon as Matty was about to kiss her, his phone went off. Nicolette relaxed for a second and was disappointed at the same time.

The whole drive home, Nicolette was getting impatient as Matty took his sweet time on the phone. She knew he was talking to a woman by the tone of his voice, and he didn't seem to want Nicolette to speak. As soon as they pulled up to the driveway, she figured out why. There was a woman waiting for Matty at the door. She’d never seen Matty rush out the car so fast, and watched in amazement as he pulled the woman close and hugged her hard, lifting her off the ground. She was very pretty, Caucasian woman who was tall with long black hair that stopped right at her butt. She looked like a model with her long legs and slim body. She wasn’t even dressed up, but the jeans and tee shirt with the heels combo looked flawless. Nicolette felt some type of way. She had a gut feeling that Matty had strong feelings for this woman, but she tried to ignore them to make herself feel better.

It was now five months into their marriage and the minute Taylor entered it, it became a big problem. Taylor was a friend and ex of Matty’s from New York. She had come down to Florida to work on a project with Matty. Nicolette understood the long hours at work with their project, but what she didn’t understand was why she and Matty seemed to talk less and see each other less. Matty tried to always be home in time for dinner, and he tried to spend as much time with Nicolette as he could, but for Nicolette it didn’t seem like that. She was jealous of Taylor because she was an ex of Matty’s. Obviously she knew Matty had exes, but she didn’t want to meet each and every one of them. Nicolette was getting sick and tired of being around Matty and his ex, Taylor. She didn’t want to attend the company dinners with them and look like the extra, nor did she want to keep seeing her in her house. So she spent most of her time working long hours. Nicolette knew that her attitude towards Matty was changing, but she didn’t care. They seemed to argue more about pointless things that could be solved in a matter of seconds. She should’ve listened to her gut feeling when she sensed this was going to be hard the minute she saw Taylor and Matty hug each other as though they were lovers that night. Nicolette felt like she was being stupid, holding on to something that wasn't going anywhere. She felt like Matty didn't care about her as he said he did. Yes, they shared intimate moments that she would never forget about and that she would never regret, but it felt like maybe she needed to take time to herself to think this through.

Tonight was finally it! Nicolette had had enough of staying inside, waiting for Matty like she was his pet. There was no point in denying that she missed him; she missed everything about him and it wasn't being reciprocated. Matty was attracted to her physically but at the end of the day, Taylor was obviously the one he wanted to be with.

Nicolette texted Roxy and all her girls saying that she wanted to have a good night and forget everything. She lied and made them think it was because they’d all had a rough couple of months.

When Nicolette finally managed to get out the house, she didn't bother leaving Matty a note or taking her phone. She wanted to have the best time of her life and was determined to forget about everything else going on. She knew that alcohol wouldn't fix everything, but it would help for a few and that was good enough for her. She had on a skintight black leather dress that stopped right at her thighs. She had on her black Louboutins, and a black simple clutch. She wore her hair curled.

All the girls were having a good time. Nicolette was definitely relying on the drinks to boost her spirits and was having a great time with her friends until she turned and saw Gabriel. She decided to jet straight outside of the club. She didn't know how to explain to him why she hasn't really talked to anyone much lately. Why she was burying herself in her work. Plus, he reminded her of Matty. The drinks must have been hitting her hard because she could’ve sworn she saw Matty coming toward her looking pissed off. She laughed it off and decided to walk back inside the bar.

"Feeling guilty, Nico?"

"Guilty about what?"

Gabriel was sure Nicolette knew what he was referring to, but he saw the state that she was in and decided he would save this talk for later.

"Where have you been, Nico? Matt's been looking for you."

"Right. Like he cares where I am! Don't tell him where I am."

"Nico, what's wrong?"

"Nothing! I'm going home."

"Running away from your problems again?"

"No!"

Nicolette walked out the exit again. When the breezy night air hit her, she somehow felt like she was suffocating. She knew she was going to explode soon, but at the moment she didn't want to talk; she just wanted to sleep.

"Nico..."

"Gabriel, go away, I'm tired.” Nicolette texted her girlfriends and told them she was taking a cab home.

"Stop running away."

"Shut up."

"No. You know I'm right about you running away. Just admit it."

"Ugh, fine! I admit it, I'm hurt, and I’m running away from my problems. They’re my own and I can't even face them. I feel like a freaking loser waiting around for someone who doesn't love me as much I love him. I hate this feeling. I love Matty so much I feel like I'm going nuts. Gabe, it hurts too much to see him around Taylor. They are always freaking around each other! I get it; I have a business too, and they are working together, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s his ex. To be honest, I hate it so much, even though I know they aren’t together like that… but still, I can't even say anything because he doesn't… Just forget it."

"Nico."

"No, Gabriel, I don't want to hear it right now. I don't need you to make me feel better. I'll be okay. I know what to do. I need to let Matty be with Taylor. I can't stand in the way, and it's hard for me not to do that."

"Nic." Before Gabriel could say anything more or grab Nicolette, she jumped into a taxi that pulled up and told the driver to step on it.

Gabriel was left behind with Matty—who’d been behind Nicolette the whole time. He couldn't believe what he’d just heard Nicolette say: that she loved him. All this time, he knew that she was attracted to him, and that she had married him for his grandmother, but he never thought that she
loved
him. He felt bad for treating her the way he had. He shouldn’t have made her feel like that, even though f he didn’t do it on purpose. He and Taylor were strictly working with each other, and he felt that when he brought Nicolette around for the company dinners that she and Taylor would get along, but he was wrong and he felt like the biggest idiot ever.

"Gabriel, you knew? This whole time?"

"Duh! Everyone on the planet knew except for your ignorant behind, now look what you did!"

"I didn't know… I didn't mean to. It's just, well, Taylor came back and I got distracted."

"Distracted, Matt? For five months now? Jeez bro, I gave you hints and all of that. Now she’s really hurt."

"I'm sorry."

"It’s not my place to accept your apology and to be honest, I doubt you'll catch her. She won't go back to your place now, knowing her, and honestly I have no idea where she’s going to be. I'm sorry, bro." Gabriel turned and walked away.

Matty stood there feeling lost and confused. He felt so stupid for hurting Nicolette; that was the last thing he intended.

Nicolette woke up with a throbbing headache. The first thing she did was look at her surroundings and she relaxed a bit because she recognized her and Matty’s bedroom in the penthouse. The problem was, she had no idea what had happened the day before. She remembered seeing Gabriel and yelling at him so the first thing she did was call him to apologize.

"I accept your apology."

"How did you know I was calling to apologize?"

"’Cause I just know you and I have something to tell you. Please don't freak out."

"What?! What is it, Gabriel?"

"Promise you won't freak out."

"I won't."

"Say you won't freak out or you owe me ice cream."

"Gabriel!" she yelled.

"Okay, okay. Here’s what happened: Matty was behind you at the bar when you were yelling at me last night. He heard everything."

Nicolette had nothing else to say after that; she just started to scream and Gabriel couldn't help but laugh. Matty rushed in the room with just his pajama pants on, which made things even worse for Nicolette.

"Are you okay, Nico?"

Great. Now she had to ask Matty exactly what she’d said. Lord Jesus, if only she could rewind the last 24 hours…

"Hello? Nico, you still here?" she heard Gabe say on the phone.

"Yeah, yeah. Listen, I'll call your ugly behind back. You owe me, butthole."

"Ha. I love you too, sis-in-law. Bye."

Nicolette didn’t know what to say to Matty, so she just stared at him. She tried to smile but from Matty's face, she knew an awkward grin wasn't going to solve everything.

"Nico? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"So why'd you scream?"

"Oh, nothing. I like your ponytail, it's nice."

Nicolette wasn't actually lying. Matty now wore his hair in a ponytail with some strands falling in his face. The style reminded Nicolette how much hotter Matty looked with one… Although right now even his hairstyle wasn't really working for her, not one bit.

"Can we talk for a bit, Nic?"

"Right now?"

"Yes."

"Well, can I put some clothes on, Matty?" Matty walked to the dresser and handed her a t-shirt.

"Sure, here’s a T-shirt.... Ready?"

She through it on reluctantly. "Yes, yes. Go ahead."

"Okay… Well, before we start, Nic, don't ever do what you did to me yesterday ever again!"

"Wait, what did I do?” Nico cringed. She was so drunk last night that she didn’t remember a thing. “I'm sorry in advance. I didn't mean whatever I said. Please don't be mad."

"Baby, I'm not mad at all, it's just—you were so wasted and you fought me! Like,
really
fought me. By the time I got home from the bar, you had all your stuff packed up and you were loading everything into your car when I took your car keys from you. For someone with so little alcohol tolerance, you had some strength there! I bet you remember what happened after I got you some water… You calmed down a bit but what—"

"Matty, wait. Before you say any more… I'm so sorry for all that. But I heard that you were there for my little tantrum with Gabriel and uh, whatever I said, please do me a favor and pretend you didn't hear it at all. Please?"

"Baby..."

"No, Matty, please. I'm already embarrassed as it is, and I thought about it over and over again. I don't think this'll work. I know you want to be with Taylor and I'm not ready to get in the way of that, so just let me down easy, okay? Don't say anything or I’ll feel like crap... Please, let me say this. I'll even give you time to think about my proposition."

"Which is?"

Nicolette thought about how she should say this. She wasn’t sure if what she was about to say was the right thing, but before she knew it, she’d said it. "That I let you and Taylor be together. I can sense that you want to be with her and it's probably the one that you were mentioning before when you said you had someone you wanted to be with but couldn’t. So to make it easier on all of us, I'll leave...” She knew she was rambling but couldn’t stop. “I have to go anyway. I have a business trip coming up out of the country. It's something that I've wanted to do for a while and this is the perfect opportunity. Roxy already booked it and everything. I was going to tell you but—"

Matty finally broke in. "Wait. When did you book it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes it does, Nic."

"I booked it last month. Now let me fin—"

"Are you serious? You’re leaving the country ‘till God knows when and you’re only telling me now? You had a whole month!"

"Are you for real? When was I going to talk to you? While you were at Taylor's house? Oh my God!"

"Why are you yelling at me?"

"Nothing, Matty… Forget it! You guys are just—”

"Just what, Nicolette?"

"Nothing, Matthew."

“What about last night Nicolette?”

Nico crunched her face in confusion, asking, “Last night?”

Matty looked at Nicolette as if she was crazy or something. He understood that she was drunk last night, but was she
that
drunk? Was she really still drunk when he told her that he loved her? Did she really have no memory of the night they’d had? Matty knew that he shouldn’t get so angry, but he was and that drove him to walk out on her. She called after him, but he ignored her. Matty got into the elevator and went straight to the garage. He was fuming throughout the whole ride down. He told her how he felt just a few hours ago, but she acted as though she didn’t hear him. He wanted to explain to her that he heard her when she was telling Gabriel about how much everything bothered her and how much she loved him. He wanted to let her know how much he loved her too but why was she being difficult? He was also really upset that Nicolette was leaving.
If she loves me so much, why is she leaving me?
he thought.

He finally got to the garage, walked to his car, got in and drove off, not knowing what to even say or do to get her to listen to him.