It must be love

Chapter 13

Nigel

I whistled the Dora the Explorer theme song as I entered the office a little after one in the afternoon. The damn song was stuck in my head all day since Kayla kept singing it over and over as I got her ready for school earlier.

"You're late" My assistant, Oliver stated as I walked passed his desk and into my office, he followed me in and narrowed his eyes at me.

“I had out of office meetings and as my assistant you’re supposed to know this.” I replied setting my briefcase on my desk and then taking a seat in the plush office chair.

“You were smiling and whistling Dora the Explorer." He looked me over "You either got some or ..." he trailed off waiting for me to answer him but I just opened my briefcase and pulled out a few files I had to go through.

"You're just going to ignore me?" He asked but I barely glanced over at him, knowing he won't give up until I answer him but I refused to crack.

"Well okay" he sighed, "I'll just stand here then" I'm sure by now he had folded his arms and was staring at me, waiting for me to fold.

"When your legs don't work like the used to before... and I can't sweep you off of your feet..." he started singing in that horrible singing voice of his.

He started doing that when Jen made the mistake of telling him that he looked like that British singer, Ed Sheeran. Of course this just served to give him a big head and start singing Ed Sheeran songs all the damn time but he wasn’t particularly good at it, unlike the original Ed Sheeran who was absolutely wonderful. Many may wonder why I put up with Oliver as my assistant and how this was a weird employer-employee relationship, he was an annoying little s**t but he got the job done. In fact he was good at his job, fantastic even.

A few years ago the company had decided to hand out bursaries to kids interested in studying anything to do with business whose parents couldn't pay for College, out of 100 students, Nick and I had picked Oliver because we were impressed with him.

He was from a small town in Texas, I remember how grateful his parents had been after he received the bursary. He graduated last year and I immediately hired him as my assistant, teaching him the ropes and mentoring him. Despite him being annoying at times, I had a soft spot for him, he's a good kid.

"...people fall in love in mysterious ways…" he continued singing and I gritted my teeth, not willing to let his 'torture' get to me. Of course because my luck sucked because shortly, Nick popped into my office grinning. "What's going on in here?" He asked glancing at Oliver and me.

The two of them together was not the best combination, they were fifty shades of annoying. Oliver was like the little brother Nick never had and together acted like a tag team of annoying little brothers to me, Jen found it amusing, I did not. Oliver was at every family event we had and fit in well with the Hamiltons, he was not at Jen and Nick's celebratory dinner as he was on vacation but he was back and as annoying as ever.

"He looked happy walking in right now and won't tell me why. I refused to leave till he tells me." Oliver mumbled to Nick and I ignore them both as they have their conversation about me as if I'm not here.

"He was on a date!?" Oliver gasps dramatically after Nick informs him of my date last night, "What happened?"

"He wouldn't tell Jen and I anything last night." Nick answered and it was true. When I went over yesterday to fetch Kayla, I had refused to tell him and Jen about the date, much to their dismay.

All night I had thought about bumping into Shelby again after so many years. It had brought back all those feelings of guilt that I had felt. The feeling of it all being my fault, they all came flooding back which resulted in me barely sleeping but instead of being in a sour mood, I felt kind of happy thinking about Ava and looking at Kayla laughing and playing before getting ready for school.

I had surprised myself by opening up to Ava about Shelby, I hadn't talked about that story in years. Instead I had buried it deep in my head not wanting to feel the guilt anymore. It was something a sore topic for me.

"...BABY WE FOUND LOVE RIGHT WHERE WE AAAAARE!!!!..." The loud screeching brought me out of my thoughts and I glared at the two imbeciles in front of me.

"Okay fine!" I shouted finally cracking, "You're both so damn irritating."

They smirked and I sighed, "I took her to the ice rink and we had a good time, that's it. Now please, leave my damn office."

"No I-" Nick began to say but was cut off by a knock on the door. Oliver being closer to the door opened it and in walked Ava smiling nervously at me.

"Heeey Ava." Nick winked at her and I scowled.

"So this is her? Well, if you're done with Grumpy over there, I'm available, I will-"

"Okay get out." I said interrupting Oliver, he and Nick both smirked looking smug as hell as they let my office. Twits.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Not that I don't like this surprise." I asked, getting up and snaking my arm around her waist and bringing her closer.

"I actually have someone here to see you." She murmured softly and I arched an eyebrow questioningly.

The door opened suddenly and a wide eyed Nick came in, "Uhh... dude-" he started to say but then Shelby walked in and I froze suddenly bombarded with all the images of her from seven years ago.