There's a split second when Nikki opens the door that I think she might cry and my heart clenches at the thought. Then falls into my arms and I wrap her tightly in a hug, trying to remember that despite the fact the closeness feels so right, I am here as nothing more than comfort for her. Still holding her I move inside and kick the door closed with my foot.

"How are you doing?" She asks after a moment, tilting her head to look up at me.

I shrug, "I should be the one asking you that. You're the one not used to all this. I'm so sorry."

She shakes her head, "Not your fault. The real issue is a creep standing in bushes in a carpark to get the pictures, and the fact my ex has somehow got involved with it too."

"What?"

She sighs before recounting the tale of the messages he's sending her and how the article sounds like he has had a hand in its making. There's something about the way she carefully words things that gives me the impression she is holding back.

Fury is burning through me and the thought of anyone hurting her, but I temper it with the reminder that she doesn't need that right now. She needs someone to hear her and hold her and that's all I'll be tonight.

"I'm sorry your ex is a dick. I can get Jarred to put out a statement or something to put the record straight if you want?" I offer instead.

"I feel like that would just make him worse. Makes it look like we are engaging with his drama. Plus, what would it even say?"

She has a point. Denying that we knew each other prior to that kiss will just add fuel to the fire. Jarred would probably advise not to say anything too.

I rub her back in circles. "No statement then. The people who know and love us, know the truth and that's all that really matters, anyway."

Before she can reply, the shrill sound of a ringing phone fills the hallway and I feel her tense before she pulls away to check it.

A glance at the phone has her swiping away the caller and I frown at her.

"I'm sorry you came all the way back here. Did you want a drink or something?" She offers, leading me down towards a small farmhouse style kitchen.

It's cute and quirky, much like her, and I can see her stamp and style on every inch of the place.

"I really hadn't gone that far, but a water or coffee would be great."

"Coffee, at this time of night?" She asks, flicking the kettle on.

I laugh, "Pretty sure I drink so much caffeine from that and energy drinks, I'm basically immune now."

The phone rings again and she fumbles to reject the call quickly before retrieving two mugs from the cupboard.

When it starts to ring again before the kettle has even finished boiling, I shake my head. "I can handle the coffees if you want to get that, or block whoever it is?"

She looked torn for a moment and then resigned. "I'll make it quick."

I give her an easy smile. "No problem at all, how do you take yours?"

"Milk, one sugar, thank you. I'm really sorry about all this."

Then she slips back out into the hallway and the ringing stops. I don't plan to listen in as I casually begin making out coffees. But despite her hushed tones, the conversation carries.

"We aren't even together anymore, so why does it matter who I spend time with?"

So here ex then. I already hate the guy and it seems the feeling is mutual. The pause as she listens for the response is frustrating and I wish I knew what he was saying.

"It's none of your business. For your information I had a lovely time, and it had nothing to do with how much money he has. He's sweet, listens to me, and actually gives as damn about things that interest me."

I feel a smug smile grow on my face as I imagine how much that pissed him off.

When she speaks again, there's a hurt in her voice that makes my fists clench. "He didn't care how much I ate, or make a single comment about how I looked other than to say I looked beautiful."

There's another pause and she sigh. "Believe what you want to believe. I'm done. As soon as I hang up I'm blocking your number. Goodbye Drew."

I try to back up so it's not obvious I was listening, but she catches me and I raise my hands as if to say 'my bad'.

Her face is pale, and she looks as though the last minute sucked all the life out of her. "It's fine. I'm just sorry to had to hear that."

"I'm glad you're not with that dick anymore. No one should speak to you like he was."

Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "He's the only man who wanted me at a time where there wasn't anyone with friendship roses ready to swoop in. I don't think I ever loved him, not really, but he was the man I spent years with."

"Just because he's male doesn't make him a man, especially not if he speaks to you like that."

She looks lost in thought, and I hand her the coffee, watching as she wraps her fingers round the mug, but doesn't take a sip.

Then she forced a smile, and despite the exhaustion on her face, she looked stunning. "Well, I don't think I'm going to get any sleep for a bit, did you want to watch a movie?"

I tried to hide my look of disbelief as I agreed and we made our way through to a snug living area.

Before I had even finished scrolling Netflix, her head lolled against my shoulder and she was out for the count. Carefully removing the coffee from her hands, I leaned to put it on the coffee table and sat back.

Selecting a random movie I was pretty sure I had seen before. I relaxed back, angling my body to make sure she was comfortable as we settled in for the night.