Page 23 of Face-Off with my Childhood Best Friend

I shake my head, feeling the weight of his words bearing down on me. “I understand that, Oscar. But I need more than secrecy and hidden moments. I need someone who is proud to stand by my side, not someone who wants to keep me in the shadows. I had that with…”

“Don’t say his name, Nadia. Don’t compare how I’m treating you to the way he is.”

I swallow as Oscar’s eyes search mine, a mix of emotions swirling within them. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I thought I was protecting you, and yes, I was a fool for what I said to you when we were younger, but please don’t hold it against me.”

Taking a deep breath, I gather my thoughts before speaking again. “I care about you, Oscar. I truly do. You’re the only man I’ve loved, but I deserve to be with someone who doesn’t hide me until it’s too late.”

A heavy silence settles between us once more as we both come to terms with the inevitable end of our relationship.

“I don’t want to hide you. I like my life to be private too. Because of my father’s sex club, my family has faced a lot of criticism. I hated it,” Oscar replies, his voice laced with sadness.

I take a deep breath, trying to process his words. The city lights blur outside the car window as we drive in silence for a few moments.

Finally, I turn to face him. “Oscar, I need to feel you’re proud to be with me, and of what I do. And that you want the world to know we’re together.”

He meets my gaze, his eyes searching mine. “You think I’m not fucking proud of you? Of what you became. I’ve stalked you for five years, your career, and I was so fucking happy you made it, despite what I said to you.” He hesitates for a moment. “Never think I’m not proud of you.”

A flicker of hope stirs in my heart at his frankness. Maybe we can overcome this hurdle. Maybe we can work through the pain and find a way back to each other.

My teeth dig into my lip as I chew nervously. “You are?” I breathe.

"Yes. I want to tell the world that you're mine. I want to be yours."

"I want that too," I whisper.

He quickly pulls the car into a free space at the side of the road. Turning off the engine, he turns to me and says, “Are you saying what I think you are?”

I nod. “Until I have children, I’ll be traveling the world. Can you handle that?”

“But you’ll live here? With me?”

“Do you want that?”

“I’ve wanted you forever, Nadia. I keep asking you to marry me because now you’re in my life, I can’t stand the thought of you not being in it forever.”

He checks his side mirror before he opens the door and gets of the car. Rushing to my side, he opens the door and takes my hand.

“Where are we going?”

“Dinner.”

I glance around. There are no restaurants in sight.

“We’re starting again and doing things differently this time.”

I consider his words as he takes my hand, and we walk. “Where are we going?”

He shrugs his shoulder. “No idea. But I won’t hide you away. You’re mine, Nadia, and I want everyone to know it.”

Tears coat my eyes as we stroll down the busy street, his grip on my hand grounding. As we turn a corner, I catch a glimpse of a small, cozy café nestled between two shops, its warm lights inviting us in.

“Let’s go there,” I suggest, pointing at the café. My body freezes when I hear a car screech to a halt and two paps jump out of the car, cameras flashing.

“So it’s true, Nadia,” one of the paparazzo starts, “You’re having an affair with Oscar Bridge behind Dominic Logan’s back.”

Oscar grunts. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll give you one quote and one picture, and then you can leave us to have dinner in peace, or…”

---