Besides, she still hasn’t answered…
“You never told me if you want to be my girlfriend,” I say, keeping my voice as nonchalant as possible. I don’t want her to know that I’m basically shaking in my shoes right now.
“Oh, right.” Nicole peers up at me, a sheepish smile on her face. “Of course, I want to be your girlfriend.”
“Great. It’s official, then.”
She beams. “It’s official.”
“I’m about to drag you to absolutely every single NBA event with a plus one there is to go to.” I smirk. “You must suffer with me.”
She nods, giving me a salute. “I promise I will suffer through every single NBA event there is to attend—and I will also do my best to not remind you that my reputation is a dumpster fire.”
I chuckle, leaning down and planting a kiss on her forehead. “No such thing as you and dumpster fire in the same sentence, unless it’s to say that you’renotone. You’re about to be a big-time luxury apartment complex owner … or whatever it is that your title will be. I don’t understand how all that works,” I admit.
“You know…” Nicole pauses as we stop at the crosswalk. “I don’t understand all of it yet, either. But for the first time, that doesn’t scare me. I trust myself now.”
The weight of her words settles somewhere deep in my chest.
I look at her—not the version the internet decided she was, not the girl second-guessing every move—but the woman standing beside me now, steady and sure in a way that feels earned.
“Yeah,” I say softly, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “I can see that.”
She smiles. “I just know that it’s probably going to be the second-best thing that’s ever happened to me. I feel it in my gut.”
“Yeah?” I tilt my head at her as we wait for the light to turn green. “Why is it the second best?”
“Because,obviously”—she pauses for effect—”youare the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Well, you and Cocoa. I think I love you guys the same… Just don’t tell Cocoa that, otherwise he might get his feelings hurt.”
She loves me.
I don’t think she realizes her slip-up, because nothing fazes her as the light turns green and we head out across the street. Cocoa is still prancing around in front of us, his little eyes already focused on the beach, where other dogs are running and playing in the sand.
“I brought a frisbee.” Nicole gestures to the basket I’m carrying. “I’m just not sure if I trust that I can let Cocoa off the leash to go and get it. Plus, I’m not sure how well it’ll fly, either.”
“I saw it.” I chuckle, thinking of the partially destroyed frisbee I caught sight of while we were picking up the basket. “I think we can probably make it work.” The words are genuine, though I have to admit that my mind just keeps running back to what Nicole said before we crossed the street.
I love you guys.
I know it may have been meant as casual, but it doesn’tfeelcasual, and it makes it way less intimidating to tell her what I’ve been planning to say all day.
When we make it to the sand, we both strip off our shoes and then find a new spot for the picnic. I take the leash from Nicole, and together, while managing Cocoa, we set up the picnic spot again. Nicole plops down and digs into the basket, this time pulling out a sandwich.
“Now you’re hungry?” I tease her, taking a seat as my heart pounds in my ears.
“Yeah.” She tilts her head at me, her cheeks blushing. “I was just so nervous to tell you about me staying, and I thought you were going—and I had no idea that everything would work out like this.”
I nod, pulling out a bottle of water and unscrewing the lid. “I do have one more thing I need to say.”
She pauses, her sandwich half unwrapped. “What is it?”
“Well…” I take a deep breath, gathering the courage. “I love you, Nicole. I think I might’ve started to fall in love with you right after Cocoa peed on my shoes, I’m not sure… But I’m head over heels in love with you.”
She holds my gaze for a few beats, and I wonder if she’s shocked enough she might just take off and run away. But instead, she tosses her sandwich back into the basket and lunges at me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I love you, too, Dom,” she says against my skin, pressing her lips to my jaw. “I’m so head over heels for you, too. This is seriously the best day ever.”
She leans back and I kiss her, closing my eyes and savoring it.
