He chuckles at my barrage of questions. “Wow. Alright, rapid-fire round. My parents are still married, going on twenty years.”
“Dang. That’s impressive.”
He nods, a thoughtful smile forming. “It is. They put in the work, you know? They communicate, respect each other, and they’re always doing little things for one another. I never once had to question whether they were in love. I could just see it. And if I ever get married, that’s what I want. Nothing less.”
My heart squeezes a little. “That’s really beautiful, Nik. And you absolutely shouldn’t settle. You deserve that kind of love.”
“Thanks,” he says. “Okay… siblings. None. Just me. Probably why I’ve basically adopted Axel and Johnny as my own. They’re the closest thing I’ve got to brothers.”
“How long have you known them?”
“Since middle school. Axel and I were in sixth grade, Johnny was in eighth. We clicked right away, and that was it. Ride or die.”
I hesitate, then ask the thing that’s been swirling in my mind. “And you and Axel…”
His expression shifts, more serious. “You’re wondering about the kiss.”
I nod. “Kind of. I’m just curious. We don’t have to talk about it if it’s weird.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not weird. Not with you.” He takes a breath. “Axel and I are… complicated. We love each other. Always have. But sometimes, it feels like more. We’ve fooled around a few times. Nothing serious, more like experimenting or just blowing off steam.”
He shrugs a little, glancing at his hands. “I don’t think of myself as gay or bi, and I’m pretty sure Axel doesn’t either. I’ve never been attracted to another guy like that. But with him… it’s different. When I think of the future, I always envision a wife. I love women, but I guess I like Axel, too. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah,” I say, honestly. “You love him for him. I get it.”
Nik nods once, grateful I don’t make it into a big deal. A moment of quiet passes between us, comfortable.
“So,” he says after a beat. “Back to our hard-hitting questions. Favorite color?”
“Pink. Yours?”
“Blue.”
“Classic. Full name?”
“Nikolai.”
My mouth drops open dramatically. “Nikolai? Are youkiddingme? That’s such a hot name.”
I fan myself in exaggerated distress, and he bursts into laughter.
“Oh, so I’m hot now?”
“Ugh. Gross. Your ego is out of control.”
He leans back, grinning like he owns the world. “Is Lina short for anything?”
“Carolina.”
“Carolina and Nikolai,” he says thoughtfully. “Sounds like the main characters in a romance novel.”
We go back and forth answering stupid questions until we finish our drinks and decide to head home. Nik carries my shopping bags, and we walk hand in hand through the chaotic holiday parking lot. Cars crawl through the rows like vultures circling for a spot, and people zigzag everywhere with arms full of bags.
We’re almost to the car when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I get hat eerie, unmistakable sensation, like we’re being watched. I look back over my shoulder, and a small scream escapes me before I can stop it.
Nik’s arm snaps around me, shielding me with his body. “What is it?”
But he sees the problem almost immediately.
