Chapter 9

The days went by, Gage and Nicole's meetings became less frequent. With Nicole back at work, her daily routine had changed, and Gage found himself spending more time alone at home. However, one thing remained constant - their evening coffee ritual. Every day, Gage would prepare two cups of coffee, and Nicole would join him after work. It had become a comforting part of their daily routine.

But on this particular evening, Nicole didn't show up. Gage waited patiently, sipping his own coffee, but as the minutes ticked by, he began to feel a pang of concern. He checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time, wondering if Nicole was running late or if something had come up.

As the silence stretched on, Gage decided to take matters into his own hands. He got up from his couch and walked over to Nicole's apartment, ringing the doorbell. The door opened, and Ashley's bright smile greeted him.

"Hi, do you want anything?" Ashley asked, eyeing Gage with a hint of curiosity.

Gage's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "No, I was just wondering if Nicole was around. She usually comes over for coffee around this time."

Ashley's expression turned mischievous. "Oh, Nicole's gone out to hang out with some friends. She might be late tonight."

Gage's face fell slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know, Ashley."

With a brief nod, Gage turned to leave. Ashley watched him go, a sly grin spreading across her face.

"Nicole, you're lucky," Ashley whispered to herself, shaking her head in amusement. She closed the door, wondering what had just transpired between Gage and Nicole. Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a series of events that would change everything.

*** After a long day at the office, Nicole was ready to unwind and let loose. Her friends and coworkers, Olivia, Julie, and Magan, had been pestering her for weeks to join them for a night out at the club. At first, Nicole had been hesitant, but eventually, their persistence had worn her down.

"I'm only coming because I need a break from work," Nicole had joked, but deep down, she was excited to let her hair down and have some fun.

As they arrived at the club, the thumping music and flashing lights immediately lifted Nicole's mood. She was greeted with a warm hug by Olivia, who was already sipping on a cocktail.

"I'm so glad you made it!" Olivia exclaimed, handing Nicole a drink. "We're going to dance the night away!"

Julie, who was standing nearby, grinned at Nicole. "Yeah, and we're going to make sure you have the best time ever!"

Nicole laughed, feeling a sense of freedom wash over her. She had been stuck in a rut lately, and this was exactly what she needed – a night out with friends, good music, and no worries.

As they made their way to the dance floor, Nicole felt her inhibitions melting away. She let the music take over, losing herself in the beat and the laughter of her friends. For the first time in weeks, she felt truly alive.

As the night wore on, Nicole and her friends settled in at a table, sipping their drinks and chatting about their lives. The conversation turned to intimate moments with their boyfriends, and Nicole's friends began to share their stories. Olivia and Julie were giggling and whispering to each other, while Megan was regaling the group with tales of her boyfriend's romantic gestures.

Nicole, on the other hand, was quiet, nursing her drink and listening to her friends' conversations. She didn't have anything to contribute to the discussion, and she felt a little left out.

Olivia noticed Nicole's silence and turned to her with a curious expression. "Hey Nicole, why are you so silent? By the way, you have been in three relationships, tell us about your experience."

Julie chimed in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Yes, tell me, I have dated only one boy, and you have dated three boys. Tell me whose performance was better."

Nicole felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to lie to her friends, but she also didn't want to admit the truth.

"Actually, I never..." Nicole began, her voice trailing off.

Megan's eyes widened in surprise. "Now don't say that you are still a virgin, Nicole."

Nicole took a deep breath and nodded, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash over her. "Yes, I'm still a virgin."

The table fell silent, and Nicole's friends stared at her in shock. Olivia's eyes were wide with surprise, while Julie looked like she was trying not to laugh.

"No, it can't be," Olivia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Really?"

Julie's face scrunched up in confusion. "That's weird, you're still a virgin despite having three boyfriends. That's a shame, don't you like boys? Or were your boyfriends gay?"

Megan chimed in, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Or maybe you're just into girls? You know, we've always wondered..."

The table erupted into laughter, and Nicole felt her face burning with embarrassment. She stood up from the table, feeling angry and humiliated.

"Excuse me," Nicole said, her voice tight with anger. "I need to go."

As she turned to leave, Nicole's eyes landed on the bottles of alcohol on the table. On impulse, she grabbed two bottles and tucked them under her arm.

"I'll just take these with me," Nicole said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks for the drinks, girls. And thanks for the judgment."

With that, Nicole turned and walked away, leaving her friends staring after her in shock.

Nicole stormed out of the club; she could feel her anger boiling over. She was furious with her friends for their thoughtless comments and jokes. How could they be so insensitive and cruel?

She walked quickly, her heels clicking on the sidewalk as she tried to put as much distance between herself and the club as possible. The cool night air did little to calm her down, and she could feel her heart racing with anger.

****