I can feel Nico’s eyes on me before I even see him. When I lookup, he’s standing there in front of a limo. God, he can be so ostentatious sometimes. I think he enjoys spoiling my parents, though.
His eyes never leave mine, to the point that my mom turns around to look at me, as if she were verifying that is where his attention lies. Her brows furrow for a moment before she smiles and turns to face him.
“So good to see you, future son!” she laughs.
My parents were shocked when Carly called them and told them that they were getting married. Though my mom hinted at it when they were both in Seattle, none of us actually thought it would happen. Most of all me.
They don’t know that Carly is basically trapping him into this, and Nico asked me to keep it to myself. At first, I didn’t like the idea of that, and that negative voice inside of me convinced myself it’s because she wasn’t trapping him. When he explained that he needs to operate as normally as possible until he can develop a safe exit strategy, it made sense. Still pissed me off, though.
Nico smiles, hugging my mom before shaking my dad’s hand.
“Thanks for the flight, that was something,” dad says with a shake of his head.
I watch as Nico nods and smiles.
“My pleasure, I hope they treated you well.”
“Psh, we were like royalty,” my mom smiles.
Nico smiles like he’s pleased with that before his gaze returns to me.
“Good to see you, Cassi.”
“You too,” I say, unable to stop my heart from flip flopping in my chest.
It takes everything in me not to run into his arms. To let him catch me and never let go. I didn’t realize just how much I missed him until…well, now. Though we texted and facetimed every day since he came to Seattle, it’s not enough. It’s not like the real thing. Now that he’s in front of me all of my fears and hesitations…it’s like they are melting away by the second, until all that remains is…him.
Nico hesitates for a moment before taking a step forward, pulling me into a hug that is far too brief. When he releases me, I can feel myself practically aching, and the look in his eyes tells me he feels it too. Clearing his throat, he gestures for the limo behind him.
“Shall we?”
My mom and dad hurry into the limo, not able to contain their excitement. It makes a small smile touch my face as I watch them and I look up at Nico, speaking softly so it’s just the two of us.
“Thank you, this is all very sweet.”
He shakes his head as the back of his hand brushes against mine.
“It’s literally nothing, Cass.”
Just that small touch has my stomach slipping and my pulse racing as I nod and slip into the car. Nico is quick to follow behind me, shutting the door as he slips inside. My parents cozy up in the back and I sit on the side as Nico takes a seat across from me before the driver takes off. We all make idle chit chat as Nico’s foot slowly moves into the middle of the car, brushing against mine. It’s an innocent move, barely even noticeable. But I see it for what it is. A touch, a desperation to be near, a silent message of ‘I can’t wait to hold you’.
Once we get to the Brownstone, a wave of comfort washes over me. Like coming home. I felt stupid when I told Nico that this place felt like home, but god it’s true. I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere so much as when I’m here.
Nico shows my parents around, giving them a short guide before he throws a look to me and opens up the back patio. I look at him confused for a moment before I step through the threshold and my mouth hits the ground.
Lights are strung like a canopy above the space, a beautiful firepit is sitting in the middle of the patio with seating around it. Brand new furniture and plants are perfectly scattered around and the brick flooring looks like it’s been stained with a warm brownish red color. It’s…
“Perfect,” I whisper under my breath.
My parents are looking around with smiles, admiring the space but it means so much more to me. My eyes move to Nico’s who is watching me with a careful look.
“Do you like it?” he asks me.
I nod. “It’s beautiful.”
He smiles at that. “It used to be kinda run down. I got some amazing tips on how to revamp it and it was a no brainer.”
My heart squeezes inside my chest as I look at him. I’d give anything to be alone right now. I want nothing more than to jump in his arms and never let go, but unfortunately, all I can offer is a smile and a nod. There was a certain allure to the forbidden nature of our relationship before, but is it silly to say that I’m over that? That I’m craving more, I’m craving something real. Where Nico and I can walk out in public hand in hand and not try to explain ourselves or worry that someone who shouldn’t see, will? Is it so wrong that I don’t want to be the hidden away sister forever. That I want people to one day hear about my wedding to Nico and fly all the way across the country just to celebrate?
