He doesn’t flinch. “Just dweet, man.”
My fingers pinch the edge of the paper and pull. The second I open it, I gasp.
7
Distraction
I unfold the paper slowly, my heart drumming in my ears, and when I see what’s inside, I freeze. A rose goldPatek Philippewatch. my mouth falls open slightly. It’s… beautiful.Expensive. Dainty but bold. Just like something he’d choose. Just like him, honestly, loud in a quiet way.
Of course he got me something like this. I smile. I even let out a soft breath, the kind that sayswow, but also the kind that tries to push back tears. Because this isn’t what I thought it would be. I thought it was a ring. God, I really thought it was going to be a ring. The way he was acting… the way he looked at me. The quiet tension. The build-up. The tone of his voice. He made me believe it was something more, something big, life-changing.
And now I just feel stupid for thinking that.
‘You know how much money that cost? Be grateful’I tell myself, pressing my lips together.
I am. I really am. But… I don’t know, I thought—
You forgot who Nickoi is.
He’s not the type to propose. He’s not the type to fall into someone’s fantasy. And me? I was too busy making a movie in my head to remember that. So, yeah. Let’s just take my mind off it now.
“That’s what you better do,” I whisper to myself, blinking fast.
I hug him tightly. “Thank you so much,” I say, my voice as bright as I can make it.
His arms wrap around me like they always do. Secure, warm, enough to make me forget anything outside this moment. But inside? Inside I feel the sting of disappointment, even as I try to be happy.
“You see how much money him drop on that?” Nature jokes, laughing as Nickoi pulls the watch from the box.
“Mek mi pocket heavy again,” he says with a grin.
Nickoi laughs too. “That pocket never light, man. Stop act like it,” he replies, still smiling, but his eyes find mine again.
His gaze softens, and something about that look makes my throat tighten all over again. “Let me put it on you,” he says.
I nod and hold out my hand, my wrist already trembling. I don’t know why. I’m not upset. I’m not mad at him. I just… I don’t know. Maybe I expected too much.
“This is too expensive,” I murmur as he slides the watch onto my wrist.
“But you deserve it,” he says, not missing a beat.
I smile again. It’s genuine, mostly. Moments later, he’s back to chatting with Nature, and I head into the car. He follows a second after and throws me that classic seatbelt look he always gives when we’re going anywhere. I pull it across my chest and click it into place. He pulls off and that’s when the quiet hits me. The kind that presses into your chest and makes you feel like maybe, just maybe you’re more alone than you thought. Ithought he was going to propose to me. I cried, thinking it was a ring.
God. I’m so ridiculous. I don’t even know his middle name. Or when he was born. I know the basics, a llittle bit of his story, his past, the music he plays when he’s alone, the way he zones out when something’s heavy on his mind. I know how he touches me. How he protects me. But I don’t know… him.
Like, what’s his favorite color? No idea.
Favorite movie? Couldn’t tell you.
Favorite food? Wait… is he even still eating meat?
Oh God. I just remembered he’s pescatarian. How did I forget that? What am I even doing? How can I be carrying a baby for someone I barely know in the most basic ways? Not knowing his birthday? His middle name?
That’s insane. And embarrassing.
I want to ask him things, all the time, but I’m scared. Scared he’ll shut down. Scared he’ll think I’m prying. Scared he’ll pull away. Because that’s what he does, he builds walls. And the more I try to get in, the more I realize I’m still standing outside, hoping the door will magically swing open. But love doesn’t work like that. Relationships don’t work like that. And I don’t want to keep loving him from the outside.
“Nickoi…” I begin, my voice soft, “I’m gonna be honest with you.” He glances at me, eyes flicking off the road for a moment before locking back on it, but I know I have his attention.
