Why…why was it something she’d been longing to hear without being aware of it?
“I…” She cleared her throat. “I’ve never had anyone say that to me before.”
“Feels like your world’s tilted, doesn’t it?” he asked. “I know that feeling. How much it means to hear those words. And if I can be the one to say them, I’d be more than happy to, Emily. I’ll tell you until you don’t need to hear them anymore, since you’d come to already believe them at that point.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. His eyes were far too intense. “I think once is enough…thanks.”
His right hand brushed her cheek.
Her pulse jumped at the feeling. What was happening?
She got her answer when said hand wiped a tear she hadn’t realized had fallen.
He looked struck by it.
So unlike the emotionless man he’d shown his father. The man he’d shown the world.
This Nicolas felt exclusively hers.
The pad of his thumb caressed the side of her face, going down to the side of her jaw, slipping to frame the back of her neck. “Do you now understand the impact of your words on me back then?”
He guided her until her spine met the edge of his dresser. His free hand reached around her waist, opening a drawer. Inside, neatly tucked away, was a piece of cloth. “Might as well get this off my chest,” he murmured, uncharacteristically shaky. “Since the lid’s already been lifted.”
Recognition filled her as he pulled it out.
A white handkerchief embroidered with golden stars.
Herhandkerchief.
From eight years ago.
The one she’d given him to wipe his tears.
“You…” Her voice faltered, eyes locking onto his.
“I kept it,” he confirmed. “I don’t know why. But that doesn’t change the fact that I did. Maybe it was as a souvenir to your words. A physical reminder of the hope you gave me. A star couldn’t have represented you better back then. Even now.” His jaw locked. “I won’t take accountability for this. This is all you, Em. All the compulsion you seem to have on anyone who crosses your path.”
Emily noticed two things.
One: He’d called her ‘Em’ like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Two: She was floored.
More so by the look in his eyes. As if he knew exactly what this was, an admittance. And now, she would too.
“What should I do then?” She was lightheaded at this point. “To take responsibility for this?”
“Pretend you didn’t see it.” Then he stepped back. “That would be best, considering you weren’t supposed to see any of this in the first place.”
“But I have.” She moved forward, reclaiming the space he’d abandoned, warmth reaching her again. “I’ve seen it, and you can’t just tell me to unsee it. Iwon’t.”
His jaw tightened. “Emily…”
She bristled at the nickname being revoked too. “You keep trying to hide the good in you, but hell, I see that too. So, I’m going to keep getting to know you, Nicolas…whether you like it or not.”
His eyes went big before he collected himself with a deep sigh. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
Holy crap!Nicolas Re had a crush on me in the past. He’d watched my movies, series and everything else. He has a damn poster of me on his bedroom wall!
