Page 42 of My Trainer Neighbor
He laughed."I like her.She's honest."
"She's terrified you're going to hate her," Shawn said.
"Shawn," I hissed.
"What?It's true.She's been panicking about meeting you for days."
Justin looked at me with something like sympathy."Let me guess.Worried I'd think you're the reason he's uprooting his life?"
"Something like that."
"Here's the thing about my brother," Justin said."He's spent the last five years bouncing around like he's scared to land anywhere.Never staying long enough to build anything real.Never letting anyone get close enough to matter."He leaned back."So if he's getting his own apartment and taking a real job and introducing me to a woman he's clearly crazy about?That's not you ruining his life.That's you saving it."
The words hit me harder than I expected."I don't know about saving."
"I do."Justin's expression was serious now."Sarah destroyed him.Took years for him to even pretend to be okay.And now he's here, looking happier than I've seen him since before we deployed.That's because of you."
"Justin," Shawn said, his voice carrying a warning.
"What?It's true."Justin stood up."Look, I'm going to grab a shower and pass out for about twelve hours.But Nicole?Thank you.For making him want to stay somewhere.For making him want to build something.He needed that."
After he disappeared into the bathroom, I turned to Shawn."He's not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"I don't know.Someone more intense?More judgmental?"
"Justin's the least judgmental person I know.Comes from seeing actual shit overseas."Shawn pulled me closer."Told you he'd like you."
"He likes what I've done for you.That's different."
"No, he likes you.I could see it."He kissed my forehead."Everyone likes you once they get past that ice queen thing you do."
"I don't do an ice queen thing."
"Baby, you absolutely do.It's hot as hell, but it's also intimidating."
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed.I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach flip.
"It's Lauren," I said."The bakery client."
"The one you've been pitching the holiday campaign to?"
"Yeah."I opened the email, scanning quickly."She wants to move forward.Full package.Social media, email marketing, the website redesign."
"Nicole, that's incredible."
"It's one client.That's not—"
"It's your first client.That's huge."He grabbed my face and kissed me."I'm so proud of you."
The words made my eyes sting."I haven't even done anything yet."
"You took the leap.That's everything."He was grinning now, that beautiful, reckless grin that had first made me fall for him."We should celebrate."
"Your brother just got home."
"He's sleeping for twelve hours, remember?"Shawn was already pulling me toward the door."Come on.Dinner.Wine.Then I'm taking you back to my place and showing you exactly how proud I am."
