"Are you seriously preparing me for the possibility of you upsetting, annoying or disappointing me? These are permanent characteristics of our friendship, Nick." I pulled him closer for a hug, and we both burst out laughing for a while.
When he felt I was up for it, Nick explained in great detail what was about to happen. He said I would stand outside the door to my apartment while he would be standing with the men in the lobby of the twentieth floor.
"Will they all be there together? In the same space? I mean… Together?"
"Yeah, of course. I'll make sure they all behave and keep the peace just three stories below you."
"Aren't you afraid that the tension and testosterone can cause some sort of brawl?"
"Afraid? What are you crazy? I hope that's what's going to happen!" He made us both laugh again, and went on, giving me detailed directions for the rest of the evening. "I'll be sending one man at a time up the stairs."
"To where I'll be standing," I said, confirming I got his plan right. "Right outside my door."
"Exactly. You can talk to each man for one minute, but not more. Introduce yourself, let them introduce themselves, experience the initial chemistry between you, and send him in, so I can tell the next guy to come up."
"How will you know when to send the next one up? I wouldn’t want them to interfere with one another."
"Well, that's why I'm only three floors away, dear. I'll hear the door slam behind each man that enters, and only once I do, I'll instruct the next one to make his way up to you."
"Who knew you were so clever? You’ve thought of everything, Nick. You're a fucking genius!" I made sure he knew just how I appreciated him, and we parted with an excited hug.
Nick slammed the door of my apartment behind him and went down the stairs to meet and manage my men while I remained nervously pacing from one corner of the magnificently decorated party hall, which used to be my living room, to the other.
Ian, Tommy, and Gilad, who helped set that whole cocktail party up, were nowhere to be found, and I assumed they were with Nick, being what God probably intended for them as he was designing their massive bodies. Security guards.
Lia and Amber finished arranging all the refreshments in the trays as they placed the serving utensils in their places, making a fuss around me. Meanwhile, Etty sat in the far corner of the room and played with her cellphone without expressing any interest in what was going on.
"Yes, Nick?" Amber answered his call to her cellphone, and my heart began to throb nervously.
"What is he saying? Is everything okay?" I asked her in suspense.
"Yes, sure." She waved her hand at me, dismissingly. "Just relax. He wanted me to tell you that everyone is ready and that it's time for you to step outside."
Oh my God, I was not ready for that.
Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God!!!
Chapter 10
Amber didn't seem surprised when I grabbed the phone from her hands and demanded to speak with Nick. I guess she could see that I needed a few more words of encouragement, to be able to make my feet walk toward my future husband.
"Nick?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Naomi?" He used that upsetting TV host voice he thought would fit the occasion, yet all I could focus on was the rumbling male voices I heard in the background.
"I think I'm going to pass out."
"I see, Naomi. I understand." He said dramatically and, as he promised, annoyed me.
"Which of them are you sending up first?"
"I'm sorry. I can't reveal that information to you, at this moment, Naomi," he kept saying my name in that ridiculous tone, and even though he didn’t mean to, he put a smile on my face.
"Nick, are you as excited about this as me?"
"Why, sure, Naomi. We're all very excited over here!"
"Stop talking like that. You sound like an idiot."
"Well, I am, Naomi. I really, really am!" His constant, serious tone helped me relax a little and even made me laugh slightly.
"I know I say this a lot, but you should know I love you," I confessed to him.
"Naomi?"
"Yes?"
"This is it. Are you ready?"
"Almost."
"Well, since I know you so well, I knew you'd need a little push. Could you please ask Lia to give you the envelope I left and if that isn't sufficient, then..." He stopped talking to me, and I could tell that he’d pulled his phone away from his face as he asked the men to say 'hi' to me.
Deep, fierce male voices widened my smile as they all greeted me in a chorus of hellos, and then the call was disconnected.
I took the envelope Nick had mentioned from Lia and leaned against the kitchen counter, reading the words he left for me.
"My Naomi,
I cannot describe how pleased I am that you chose me to accompany you in the process of finding your future husband. I know how excited you are and if I ever wanted to be a fly on a wall, today, this very second would be the perfect moment for that. Unfortunately, I have to let you meet the men without me.
Just as we discussed, the fame and publicity are a smokescreen that'll mess with our ability to know the men in-depth. I believe that what I have planned for you will give you a clear vision and a real chance of finding your true love.
Baby Girl, take a deep breath, place one foot in front of the other, and set sail with me in this courageous journey with no regrets.
I'm not saying it's going to be easy, nor am I saying it's going to be full of tiring obstacles, difficult moments, and crises, but I can say wholeheartedly that it'll be saturated with excitement, romance, new beginnings, and bright hope for the future.
If all of that wasn’t enough to get you out the door, I'd also remind you that during this journey, you'll get to know some handsome, strong, successful, smart men who all want to make you happy for the rest of your life.
So, with that said, my Naomi, I'm waiting for you downstairs.
Stop submitting to fear, stop letting excitement get the best of you, place one foot in front of the other, get out and slam the door behind you, so I'll know I can send the first man up. Do it, and do it now, or you'll still be hugging Mike on your death bed.
Love ya,
Nick."
Even though the purpose of that letter was to expedite the beginning of the evening with action, it did the opposite.
Amber updated Nick that I needed to return to the makeup position to repair the damage from tears. Honestly? I felt at ease. None of those present around me seemed surprised by my emotional turmoil, and I felt that I had all I needed to step outside.
"Don't forget to slam the door behind you!" Lia and Amber said almost at the same time, and I didn’t forget.
I did exactly what I was asked to do.
I placed one foot in front of the other and walked to the other side of the door. Toward the beginning of my biggest adventure.
Just seconds after the door slammed, I heard clear and determined steps coming from the stairway, and my eyes turned in the direction from which the men were supposed to appear.
I wanted so badly to know who would be the first to come up. Every second passing felt like an eternity, and I hoped that whoever Nick chose to send first would be the one to help me deal with the crazy level of tension I was dealing with.