12 | A SWEET AND MESSY REUNION

1 WEEK LATER

"Ms. Nichole, you're the best at making chocolate chip cookies! I wish I could have them every day because they're sooo good!"

Nichole grins at the energetic child, laughing right along with his mother while she searches for her wallet. They make small talk for a bit and Nichole eventually finishes with them at the register. She waves goodbye to one of her favorite little customers before closing things down for the night.  

While doing some last-minute cleaning, Nichole looks up at the clock on the wall and smiles, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering awake. Taehyun will soon arrive to pick her up and take her home. Sure, she could easily use a car service, but when she has two capable boyfriends at her disposal, why spend money on an Uber? Ademar and Taehyun are more than happy to drive her around until she gets her car out of the shop in a few weeks.

Nichole continues to feel absolutely terrible about the deer she hit the other night. Luckily it bounced right back up and ran into the field on the other side of the road, living to see another day. The same can't be said for her poor car, unfortunately. The passenger side door, part of the front bumper, and windshield are either partially damaged or completely trashed. But Nichole made it out unscathed, so the accident wasn't as bad as it could have been.

The bell on the door rings suddenly, signaling that someone has entered.

"I'm sorry, but I'm in the middle of closing down for the night. You'll have to come back tomor..." Nichole turns around and almost drops the broom she'd been using. "Y-You... N-no..." Her eyes widen in terror and her knees feel like they're going to give out at any second.  Fear keeps her grounded, frozen in place and unable to bolt for the back exit as she stares at a man that she never thought she'd see again. "L-Leave! You can't be here. You're not welcomed here."

He looks so much older than what she remembered, no longer looking like the young and handsome blue-collar businessman that she had once fallen for all those years ago, regrettably.

"First and foremost, I'm not a ghost, Nicky. Why are you staring at me as if I am one? Secondly, you're being a bit rude right now, don't you think?" Kade Lowery chuckles. Nichole cringes. She used to love his stupid laugh almost as much as she loved him, but now she hates the sound of it. Hates all memories tied to him. Hates him, the man, with a burning fucking passion. "There are ten minutes left until closing, right? I can technically still be served."

"No, you technically fucking can't. This is my shop, my rules. I don't want you here, so you need to turn around and get the hell out right now!" Nichole finds it difficult to speak much less sound threatening. Her throat feels like it's closing in on her, her mouth having gone as dry as Kade's ragged appearance. He looks like shit compared to how he used to look back in the day, back when he was suave and had more money than he knew what to do with. Guess this is what happens when one is fresh out of jail after being in there for years. Speaking of which... "Shouldn't you be—"

"Locked up?" Kade finishes, taking a couple more steps inside. "Yes, I should be, but I'm not. I was able to get out early on good behavior last week. I'm a changed man, even my parole officer agrees."

"Bullshit." Nichole is holding onto the broom handle for dear life, ready to swing and knock Kade's ugly top off if he so dares to move any closer to her. "I know the real you. You'll never be a changed man. You belong in prison. They should have kept you locked up forever, should've never released you." 

Kade places a hand over his heart, faking a pained expression. "It really hurts to hear you say that to me, Nicky. Honestly. Why the hostility tonight? I just wanted to drop by to see how you and the business is holding up. I did put a little money into all of this..." Kade waves a pale hand around, briefly checking out the inside of the bakery. "I helped turn your dream into a reality, remember? The least you could do is treat me like a normal customer and offer me something good. It's not like I'm here to murder you."

The longer that he stands there running his untrustworthy mouth, the harder it gets for Nichole to breathe.

This man is basically the Devil. He drug Nichole through the darkest parts of hell while they dated, abused her in ways she didn't deserve, and it hurts to have all those painful memories from their past rushing back to her now, memories she'd long buried, from just the sight of him.

After they broke up and she later heard about Kade getting locked up for assaulting an undercover cop that he had tried to sell drugs to, Nichole thought she'd never see or hear from Kade Lowery again. She did everything in her power to cut him out of her life, even went so far as to move in order to keep from accidentally bumping into anyone that he knew, anyone that he could use to spy on her while he was locked up because he's that possessive and controlling. Nichole removed every bit of Kade from her life and out of her heart after they separated.

And eventually, Nichole was blessed with bigger and better. She has Ademar and Taehyun now. She's genuinely happy again, ready to share her heart with two incredible men that she knows won't let her down... so why on earth is her dreadful past showing up to wreak havoc?

"Hey, baby. Sorry I'm late—" Taehyun walks in and immediately scans the scene in front of him. He can feel the tension between Nichole and this stranger. Her expression looks like she's about to break down and cry, and while he has no clue about who this man is, it doesn't take long for Taehyun to go from happy-to-see-his-girlfriend to ready-to-kick-some-ass. He rushes to Nichole's side, holding her gently while cupping her face with one hand, examining her for harm. "Are you okay? Has he hurt you?" She shakes her head, unable to speak or maintain eye contact. "Do you want me to make him leave?" She hastily nods. Taehyun then turns to the man and mutters, "Get the fuck out."

Kade laughs heartily. "Wow. Some knight in shining armor you got here, Nicky. Very intimidating."

"I can either throw you out, or I can call the cops and get them to toss your ass out of here. Which do you prefer, scumbag?" Taehyun gives the man a choice, his cold glare daring Kade to pick the wrong one so that Taehyun can teach him a lesson about respect.

"Calm down, buddy. No need to get the pigs involved, alright? I only stopped by to see an old friend, but if she really wants me gone, I'll go." Kade turns to leave, but not before looking over his shoulder and blowing a kiss at Nichole. "You're still the most beautiful girl that I've ever seen, Nicky. I'll catch you around later."

After the door closes behind him, Nichole bursts into tears.

Taehyun doesn't overwhelm her by bombarding her with questions. Instead, he comforts her, gets her calm enough to where she's no longer shaking, and then he helps her finish closing down the shop.

On the drive home, not wanting her to be alone, Taehyun suggests that Nichole stay at his place for a few days. Of course, Ademar will be around. She agrees without an argument. She knows if Kade was able to track her down after all this time, despite her having changed locations, then he probably already knows where she lives. And if he'd been bold enough to show up at her place of business unannounced, then he'd certainly have no issue doing the same thing at her house.

After Nichole packs up a few things from home, Taehyun drives her over to his place. He gets her comfortably situated inside before calling Ademar over, giving him a brief rundown of what had happened at the bakery. The three of them quietly have dinner before going to bed together.

"Do you want to talk about it now?" Taehyun asks after they've settled in bed; Nichole resting in between him and Ademar. "Only if you're ready."

Nichole sighs, her thoughts scattered all over the place. "His name is Kade. He's my ex-boyfriend. We dated for two years before I broke things off with him. Last I heard, he was in jail and was set to be there for a long time. According to him, he was able to get out early on good behavior. I don't know how the hell that happened. They should have kept him in there to rot."

"So he's a bad man?" Taehyun asks. "Is that why you're so afraid of him?"

"He's more than a bad man. He's a goddamn monster," Nichole whispers, her hands clutching the sheets. "He once tried to kill me... nearly destroyed my entire life."

Taehyun and Ademar make eye contact for a brief second, sending messages to each other without needing to speak. Nichole has already said enough. It doesn't matter who Kade is or what type of connections he has because Taehyun and Ademar will do whatever it takes to keep him away from Nichole.

Whatever it takes and by any means necessary.

. . .

The uncensored chapters can be read on Ream and Tapas for free. Links are in my bio.