Nicole couldn't decide what was worse: the churning of her stomach or the pounding behind her eyes. This hangover was the worst hangover of her life. To be completely honest this was the first hangover of her life. Nicole Andrews was not known for her partying ways. In college, she was the designated driver and the girl who held your purse while you danced.
As an adult, she sipped a glass of wine while out to dinner or nursed a beer during a cookout. The closest she came to hard liquor was her Aunt Martha's rum balls. Until last night. The bartender assured her Gimlets were harmless. He called them an "old lady cocktail." And maybe that was true for one or two but not five.
Nicole did not want to open her eyes and face the morning. Or more accurately the morning light. The one thing she loved most about her bedroom was the early morning light streaming in. Even on the weekends, she never slept past 7. She rolled out of bed each morning determined to get as much done as possible. And that required an early start.
"Are you awake?" Nicole froze. Oh God! That wasn't a vodka induced exquisite erotic dream she had. He kissed her on her cheek. "You have a hangover, don't you? I told you to stop at 4!" Nicole felt him get out of the bed. "I am going downstairs to get you a glass of water and a cup of coffee. The water will rehydrate you, and the coffee will get your blood moving. My suggestion is you get out of bed and into a hot shower."
Nicole waited until she heard him head down the stairs of her townhome before she opened her eyes and sat up in bed. Was this happening? Did she invite a stranger into her home for lewd sex? Nicole flashed back to that kiss on her neck. Her mind then flashed to his hands on her breast and the feeling of him between her legs.
A slow smile crept across her face. No one would believe hard-working, church-going, mousy Nicole had a one-night. Especially with one as hot as him. Nicole should send Nadine a big bouquet of flowers as a thank you.
A week before Thanksgiving
Nicole tried to work, but her attention kept getting drawn back the beautifully embossed invitation on her desk. It requested her presence for a shower honoring Dr. Catherine Miller hosted by of all people Alicia. Nicole felt a pang of jealousy; she should be throwing a shower for Cat. They were college roommate and best friends, not Catherine and Alicia.
Nicole sighed. Had it been six years since she'd seen them both at Alicia's baby shower? Promises were made to get together, but they somehow fell through due to the demands of work or family issues. Nicole stood up and smoothed her navy pencil skirt. She walked over to her conference table and picked up her favorite photo. The four of them in caps and gowns holding daisies.
Nicole closed her eyes and transported herself back to the campus of Salem College. There was a time that Nicole, Catherine, Alicia, and Tiffiny talked daily. Their friendship freshman year formed from the mere fact they were the only four girls of color in their dorm. Alicia and Tiffiny were roommates on the first floor, Catherine lived on third and Nicole on second. Being together brought them a sense of familiarity and security.
Despite that bond, the friendships were not straightforward. Tiffiny and Alicia were the life of the party while Nicole spent hours practicing and Catherine was in her books. Alicia scoffed at Catherine's prim and proper "good Catholic girl" routine. Catherine thought Alicia was a whore. They all thought Nicole was boring. And Tiffiny was annoying at times. She'd grown up affluent with no concept of how privileged her life was.
However, by junior year, they'd settled into a comfortable relationship with one another. Catherine and Nicole roomed together their junior and senior year. They'd grown incredibly close. She'd helped Catherine through her heartbreak with Matt and Catherine supported her dream when her family didn't.
Nicole opened her eyes not realizing the memories brought tears. She sat the picture down. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked back to her desk. But somehow over the last five years, those friendships got away from her.
There was a light knock on the door and her assistant, Danielle, popped in. "Nicole, Mr. Freeman is here to meet with you." Nicole looked, and her agenda and frowned. She did not have an appointment scheduled and worse she couldn't place the name. "He doesn't have an appointment. He stopped by on the off chance you were in the office. He just got traded to the Falcons earlier this year and needed to find a home. He stated he was told to start here first. He has a $4-5 million budget."
Nicole stood up smoothing imaginary wrinkles out of her skirt. She gathered her leatherbound notebook "Don't keep the man waiting, Danielle, show him in."
******************
The meeting with Alan Freeman went well. He signed with Atlanta after being released by the Eagles. A shoulder injury sidelined him the year before and they no longer needed him. He debated retiring before receiving several offers. He'd chosen Atlanta because it was closer to his parents in South Carolina and his alma mater Clemson.
Mrs. Freeman was not happy with the decision. She'd grown up in Pennsylvania and wanted to stay close to her family. They'd compromised, Mrs. Freeman would keep the house outside Philadelphia, and he would get a condo in Atlanta. After several months, she decided to sell the Philadelphia house and move to Atlanta herself. She was bringing their three children, four dogs, a hamster and her mother.
Danielle peeked in the door. "Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are on your calendar Tuesday morning to look at homes. Andrews is pulling recent listings, and Maria is calling some clients who may be thinking of listing their homes. They should have a list together for you by Monday morning."
Nicole looked up from her laptop. "I would prefer it tomorrow. I want to look at the houses myself before I show them. My calendar is free Sunday so you can arrange with the seller's agent for me to look around."
"Also, call Harvey Mills. He represents the rapper indicted on gun charges. I can't remember his name, but I heard he was thinking of selling. The home is in a family neighborhood with a small guest house in the back he used for a recording studio."
Danielle sat down in the chair across from Nicole's desk. "Nicole, your sister called six times. You need to RSVP for Thanksgiving dinner. She stated you are avoiding her text messages and calls to your cell."
