Page 6 of Big Nick Energy

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Say hi. I don’t know.”

“When you see him, you’re not going to just let the opportunity pass you by, Paris.” I moved the car forward as we were next to be served. “We are going to have the weekend we never had on campus. You won’t be the shy girl this time around and I won’t think I can’t have what I want. This is the weekend. This is it. The time is now.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re delusional.”

“Promise me you’ll live in the moment. Promise me that you’ll be out of your shell from the time we get out of this car until we leave Monday morning.”

She groaned, covering her face. “I don’t?—”

“Promise me,” I interrupted, tugging at her arm. “Promise me.”

A smile pulled at her lips. “Asha.”

I pulled up to the valet and then gave her a look. “Paris. You deserve this weekend. Promise me you’ll say yes to everything you want.”

She rolled her eyes just as our doors opened. “Fine. I promise.”

I stuck out my pinky and she interlocked it with hers.

“You’re not going to regret this,” I said as I accepted the valet slip and climbed out the car. “This is going to be a great weekend!”

“Welcome to The Elm,” the valet attendant greeted me with a cheerful smile.

Arm in arm, Paris and I went to the front desk to check into our fifth-floor room. The suite had two full beds, a huge bathroom, and a window view that overlooked the city. We’d only been in the room for a few minutes when our luggage was delivered.

“It’s almost noon. Where do you want to go for lunch?” I wondered as I hoisted my bag into the chair in the corner.

“I need a nap before lunch,” Paris answered.

I nodded in agreement. “I feel you, but I’m too keyed up to nap.” I opened the suitcase and grabbed my outfit for the panel event and possibly, the kickback. “You want to grab something to eat somewhere on the way to campus or do you want to eat at the restaurant downstairs?”

She yawned. “I’ve been thinking about burgers and fries from Al’s Diner all week.”

“Mmm…” My stomach rumbled in agreement. “Nice choice.”

“I’m setting my alarm for three o’clock. The panel is at six, right?”

“Yes. Panel at six and networking mixer at seven thirty.” As she started stripping, I grabbed my crossbody bag and my phone. “I’m going to check out what’s happening downstairs and then I’m going for a walk. Call me if you need anything.”

She mumbled her goodbye as she pulled the covers back on her bed.

I left the room and headed to the elevator. As I headed down to the first floor, my thoughts were racing. I needed to chill out and the best way for me to do that was to go for a walk. I felt like I’d spent the last few months planning how the weekend would go and now that the time was here, I felt a little anxious. Nervous energy rushed through my veins as I realized that no matter how much I planned, schemed, and researched, once I put myself in his line of sight, it was up to him to make the move.

I could control all the factors except him.

He was the variable.

“Oh, my bad,” a deep voice said as I exited the elevator car and collided with something hard. “Are you okay?”

“Barely,” I grumbled, my hand flying to my forehead. Dazed, I backed up and forced my eyes upward. “I uh…”

My heart thumped as my words trailed off into silence. All I could do was stare at the 6’4” melanin-rich mahogany skinned man with warm chocolate brown eyes, and full, kissable lips. His smooth skin made his chiseled jawline stand out and I wasn’t sure if it was aftershave or cologne that was infiltrating my senses. Either way, the scent was intoxicating. His energy was overwhelming in the best way.

“Hey, let me call you back,” he said into the phone he was holding against his ear. Shoving the phone in the pocket of his hoodie, he reached out for me with his free hand but hesitated before touching me. “I’m sorry. May I?”

The elevator started to make a loud noise, so he moved us out of the way. I nodded slowly, still holding the spot that stung.

Nick Williams gently grabbed my wrist and moved my hand out of the way. Touching the spot gingerly, he examined it. “That’s my fault.” He shifted his gaze from my injury to my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

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