Darnell's casual tone caused an anger rising inside of her.

Nikki: „I heard you visited my friends yesterday. I thought I made it clear that I don't want to see you anymore. What the fuck are you doing in Naples, Darnell?"

Darnell: „Have you really thought you can hide from me?"

The woman was losing her patience. She rubbed her temple.

Nikki: „What do you want, Darnell?"

Darnell: „To see you...to talk."

Nikki: „Why?"

Darnell: „Why wouldn't I come to your hotel and tell you in person?"

Nikki paused a little. This was it. If she would agree, there wouldn't be going back.

Nikki: „Do you know where I'm staying?"

Darnell only laughed.

Darnell: „I have my sources. So...what's going to be then?"

Nikki: „I give you an hour. Don't be late."

She didn't wait for Darnell's answer. Instead, she just interrupted the call, leaning her head against Daniel's shoulder. He hugged her.

„So?" Brian asked.

„He'll come to the hotel. I want you two to go with me," she replied.

The tall man got up, paid the bill and then all three of them went to Nikki's hotel. As soon as they arrived, she informed Aline about everything and asked her to bring Darnell to her hotel room.

„I will unless I kill him first," the Latina said.

Nikki just hugged her and told her no to do something stupid. She, Brian and Daniel went up to her room. The blond man was sitting on the sofa, Daniel right next to him, while Nikki was nervously walking all over the room.

Time was passing so slowly. She wanted him to come so she could end up with it. Daniel could no longer look at her so nervous, so he got up and approached her, grabbing both of her shoulders. The woman looked up at him.

„Babe, you're going to fall through the floor. Calm down."

She had to smile at the cute nickname he called her.

„I can't. He should've been here already."

The tall man gave her a long, shooting kiss on the lips and then hugged her. Brian observed them from the sofa, smiling at them.

„I'm so glad about you two," he said.

Both of them looked at him. Nikki smiled back, tightening her grip around Daniel's waist.

Soon, there was a knock on the door. Nikki began to panic even more. Daniel kissed her on the cheek, trying to calm her down.

„Go. Open the door. Everything will be fine."

The woman went to the entrance and did as he told her. There stood Darnell, with a very serious facial expression. He was alone. They were just observing each other for a few moments. The dark-skinned man didn't change much but Nikki immediately noticed a bruise and scratch on his cheekbone. The result of a fight with Brian.

„Nikki!" Darnell spoke. „Will you let me in or we're going to talk at the door?"

She frowned, not wanting Darnell in her private space but she didn't have a choice. This was the best possible solution. Instead of answering him verbally, she only opened the door more widely, letting him get in.

Darnell made a confident step in but as soon as he saw the two men on the sofa, he paused a little. She realized he recognized Brian. The man probably had a great right hook. She knew the other man was a mystery to him and wondered if Darnell knew this was Daniel. However, he was looking at him as if he would jump and punch him in any moment.

Nikki's gaze flew to her friends. Both of them had narrowed eyes but Daniel almost wasn't blinking. She knew he was on the very verge.

„Are you scared of me now?" Darnell asked, interrupting her thinking. „That's why you invited these two...who are they to you?"

The woman stood in front of her former fiancé, crossing her arms over her chest. She observed him well. Darnell was wearing light brown slim pants and a blue shirt. He tried to prove himself in front of everyone, no matter how hot was here in Florida.

„You said you wanted to talk. So...talk," she said.

The man was looking at her, crossing his arms behind his back. The shirt wrapped up on his shoulders as if it would break in any moment.

„Why have you left Seattle, Nikki?"

She gasped in shock not believing his question. Was Darnell really so full of himself?

„You cheated on me. What have you expected?"

His facial expression relaxed a little. Darnell realized it was better to lead this conversation in a calm tone.

„I know," he replied. „But you're acting like a child. We're engaged. Problems should be solved by talking...not running away. We would figure something out. I believe we can still figure it out."

Nikki groaned loudly, while the two men on the sofa gasped, their jaws almost hitting the floor.

„I can't believe how full of yourself you are," she exclaimed. „There's nothing to figure out, Darnell. It's over. I no longer want to be with you. That's why I left...so I wouldn't have to look at you anymore."

The man seemed not to understand the message. He didn't give up.

„So what? You're gonna replace me, a good and educated lawyer who can provide you with everything you want with some madman in flip-flops who doesn't do anything, except sitting on the beach and whining about his dead girlfriend?"

This statement makes Daniel throw fire. The tall man was immediately on his feet, ready for a fight. Brian grabbed him under his arms, holding him in place. However, Daniel wasn't such a problem...Nikki was.

As soon as she registered what Darnell actually said, she slapped him hard. Darnell's head flew to the other side.

„You have no right to say those things!" she shouted, upset. Daniel was trying to snatch from Brian's grip but he was too strong.

„Let go!" he hissed.

During this time, Darnell already faced Nikki again, lightly touching his lip. There was no blood.

„I told the truth. You're Daniel, aren't you?" he gestured to Daniel, looking at him angrily. „What do you think? This fling between you two won't last. Sooner or later, she'll have to return to Seattle."

Then he turned toward her again.

„If you want to hear that I'm sorry, then okay...I'm sorry. Just go back to Seattle with me. We have a wedding you're late on. Everything needs to be re-planed."

Nikki pushed him away and the man shuddered backward.

„I'm not going anywhere with you!" she yelled. She was ready to kill him. „I don't want you in my close proximity. Go away!"

„Nikki...what do you think is going to happen? Are you ready to replace your whole life, people and everything you've built in Seattle for a daily, improper dancing on the beach? What about the book? You promised Alex another sequel. Do you really think he won't call you? They're going to stop working with you. Do you think about the consequences of your decisions?"

Darnell's monologue forced her to pause. Alex had already contacted her. That's another thing she was supposed to talk to Daniel about. But she hadn't realized Darnell already figured it out.

„He already contacted you, didn't he? Alex wants to know what's going to happen? He wants you to come back, right?" he asked question after question, absorbing this new knowledge.

Nikki couldn't utter a word but her silence was a good enough answer. She looked at Daniel, who was already watching her questionably. She knew he had understood what was going on.

„Go to the fucking hell, Darnell! Go away. I don't want to see you. I don't love you anymore."

Darnell raised both eyebrows.

„And who do you love? Him?"

„Yes, him!" Nikki replied. She gestured to the door but Darnell didn't have an intent to leave. He didn't look happy.

Daniel finally snatched out of Brian's grip. He approached Darnell, pushing him toward the exit.

„You've heard her. Let's go!" he hissed, pushing him out of the room. Nikki didn't have a strength to meddle in. „Get out!"

„Let go of me, you fool!" Darnell shouted, but Daniel didn't give up. He grabbed a hand full of his shirt, pulling him out. The door closed behind them. There was a complete silence in the room and Nikki let out a breath she was holding, her hand going through her hair. Brian was immediately by her side.

„Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

She just shook her head.

„This is bad," she replied. The man had to agree with her.

-

In the meantime, Aline was worriedly following Daniel and Darnell who were still pushing each other around. To be more specific, Daniel threw Darnell out of the main entrance of the hotel.

„I don't want to see you anywhere near her. Not if you don't want a good beating," he hissed.

Darnell straightened up, adjusting his clothes. It was wrinkled on his shoulders, making him frown. He hated when that happened.

„She's too good for you!" he yelled at the other man who was still standing at the entrance, staring at him. „She won't leave everything she knows just to be with you. Make her a favor and go back to your dead girlfriend."

„Get lost!" Daniel shouted, ready to jump on him again. He was willing to fight to the blood but Darnell just raised his hands and then walked away. That made Daniel sigh, as he rubbed his face. He was so upset.

The encounter couldn't go worse. Aline approached him.

„Are you okay?!"

Daniel looked down at his friend.

„Yeah...I'm sorry about the incident. I hope you're not going to have problems."

The Latina shook her head, telling him she didn't care what anybody would think about this. Daniel went back to Nikki's room. He found out something she didn't mention him and he wanted to clarify things with her.

As soon as he got back in and saw his girlfriend sitting at the edge of her bed, Brian approached him.

„I'm leaving. Talk to her...but calmly," he whispered, patting his shoulder. As soon as the door closed, he knelt in front of Nikki.

„You're leaving Naples?" he asked.

She swallowed a lump in her throat.

„Not yet."

„When? Since when do you know about this, Nikki? Why haven't you told me anything?" Daniel was asking question after question.

„For a while," she replied. She wanted to be honest. „Addy informed me they'd soon request a date of my return but they contacted me this morning. If I don't appear at the personal meeting with my editor, they'll break up our cooperation."

Daniel was just looking at her. He remained silent.

„I asked Addy to try to buy me some more time...until September, 20th."

„September, 20th? This is for a month."

The tall man was upset. He thought he would have more time with her. Both of them seemed to forget that Nikki's staying in Naples was only temporarily.

„I know...Dan, sooner or later, I'll have to go back."

He got up, his hand going through his hair. Nikki followed him but he went out of her reach.

„Why haven't you told me this before?"

„It happened this morning. Later on, Brian invited us on a breakfast and drop a bomb about Darnell's arrival. I've had to set priorities," she tried to explain but Daniel only shook his head.

„I..." he started, unable to formulate a normal sentence. „I think I'll go. I need time to process this."

She felt a lump getting stuck in her throat. Daniel was pulling back again. It was his, already so familiar reaction.

„Please, don't do this!" she pleaded, putting her hands on his upper arms. „Don't do it again."

„And I won't," he immediately tried to calm her down. „I promise you, babe. It's nothing like that, I swear. I just...I really need time to put things together in my head. All of this was a bit too much for me. As soon as I compose myself, I'll call you. I promise."

Nikki was still not convinced. She was too afraid of Daniel's new steps. He had already hurt her twice. Why couldn't he repeat it again? She was almost desperately searching for his blue eyes.

Daniel sighed, caressing her cheek gently.

„I'm not angry at you, okay? I'm just..."

Instead of speaking, he lowered his head, kissing her lightly. Nikki immediately kissed him back, pulling his face closer. The kiss didn't last long and Daniel soon pulled away, his thumb still stroking her cheek.

„I'll call you later," he said. Nikki threw her arms around his neck.

„I love you!" she replied in a shaky voice. This made Daniel pulling her almost impossibly close. He gave her another kiss on the cheek, hating to see her so upset.

„Try to rest a little for the rest of the day," he said, smiling lightly and then headed to the door. Nikki watched him until he disappeared behind them.

As soon as Daniel left, she just sat on the bed tiredly. She didn't like the development of today's events. She wanted to explain everything to Daniel but in her own way. Not like this. Now, she could only hope this time, Daniel would stay reasonable and cautious enough and that he won't do anything stupid again.

-

Daniel didn't take long to get home. He dragged himself through the door of his house, seeing his mom reading something on the hallway sofa. He greeted her briefly and then headed to his room.

„Where are you going? Lunchtime!" she asked.

„I'm not hungry. I just ate."

Felicia frowned. She knew Daniel was struggling with something again. Lately, both parents noticed a big change in their son's behavior. Daniel was no longer coming home drunk, he was more careful with his belongings. All of Sofia's photos disappeared from his room. It was a very good sign the mourning was over and that he finally started to recover from the loss. That's why Felicia was so jumpy lately...she was always near him, watching over his mood changes. She wanted her son to stay on this good road.

Before Daniel was able to go to his room, his father Emilio pushed his head through the kitchen door.

„Hey...I called a friend in Miami and if you still want to go there, they are ready to squeeze you in. They'll do us a favor and make an exception."

Daniel was just looking at him for a few seconds. Another information to process. He couldn't even think.

„Can we talk later? I need some alone time."

„Has something happened?" Felicia asked worriedly but he shook his head. He convinced his parents everything was fine and then retreated into the silence of his room, wanting some peace and quiet.

He learned to his bed and sighed, shaking his head as he remembered today's events. Just when they solved all of their problems, Nikki's ex-fiancé appeared, bringing trouble. Nikki also had to leave Naples in a month. Would she leave permanently? Would it make any sense to start a relationship if she wasn't going to be in the same city as him?

And above all, his father brought news about the school.

Daniel groaned frustrated. Could he and Nikki have a good relationship if she's going to be in Seattle and he in Miami? It's more than 3000 miles distance. The number was really scary.

As Daniel was almost hibernating in his bed, a thought came to his mind. A completely different thought. It made him jump sharply.

„What about Seattle? They also have schools in Seattle," he said to himself.

The very thought about him leaving Florida and Naples behind once again caused anxiety but he had to admit the feeling about him and Nikki being fo far away from each other wasn't very comfortable. He could look through all the options. There was nothing bad about it.

He immediately grabbed the laptop, turning it on.

„Let's see...management schools in Seattle."

Google dropped out a lot of results and Daniel instantly dug in. He soon found several interesting results. He wrote the school names on the paper, deciding to study them later.

So...Nikki had to go back to Seattle. They hadn't yet talked about what's going to happen next but it was good to be prepared. Now, there were only two questions left. Could Daniel leave Naples? Was it worth to leave Florida?    

-

Author's note:

Another update day! I'm so excited. I have only two chapters left before the epilogue.

So...a light drama before the end. Darnell had to appear. It'll happen sooner or later. How do you guys like the chapter? If you do like it, please don't forget to vote or comment.

Next update: Friday!

As always, stay true to yourself and have a nice day!