Page 24 of Face-Off with my Childhood Best Friend

Chapter 9

Nadia

“Deal!” the red-haired one of the two retrieves his cell and activates his microphone.

My heart is racing, its rapid beats echoing in my ears.

“Despite what was in the article that is making the rounds, I never cheated on Dominic Logan. My relationship with him was over months ago. And in truth, we barely saw each other in the time we were together, and no, I never agreed to marry him. I have, however…” I squeeze Oscar’s hand. “Accepted Oscar’s proposal.”

He pulls me close, his arm wraps around me, and his hand presses into my shoulder with a gentle squeeze. Anxiety ebbs from me like never before. I feel safe and loved in his arms and never want to lose it.

“Now if Oscar agrees, you can take the one picture of my fiancé and me, and then you need to leave us alone so we can have dinner and celebrate.”

The two guys glance at each other and nod. They know they need to get back to the office with the details and get the article printed to make their money.

When I look at Oscar, his smile reaches his eyes, and there’s so much love there that my heart aches.

“You have ten seconds to take the photo,” Oscar says, as the paps look on in awe. “We’re hungry.”

“For each other,” the red-head says. “I mean, look at the two of you. You’re both gorgeous.”

“But it’s love that brought us back together,” I say, glancing at the man who is checking the photo he took. “I trust you’ll tell the story correctly.”

“I can see that … I mean, I can see how much love you have for each other,” the blond-haired guys replies. “Don’t worry. This story is going to blast Dominic’s lies out of the water.”

“Yeah. Enjoy your meal guys, and thanks,” the red-haired one taps him on the shoulder and tilts his head to one side, urging him to move.

Oscar takes my hand and leads me to the cafe as the paps rush back to the car and, in a flash, they’ve set off and are out of sight.

The smell of fresh herbs and garlic envelop the air as we step inside the bistro. We’re led to a corner table where we sit across from each other, the silence between us comfortable yet charged.

Oscar smiles. “We’re getting married?” he checks.

“Providing you get romantic as you get older.”

He laughs. “I never got down on one knee.”

“Your mom will be disappointed in you,” I tease, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, a feeling I never want to fade.

I pick up the menu and peruse the choices.

“She will.”

I laugh as our eyes meet. “She’ll get over it … eventually.”

“Were you okay with me doing what I just did?” I check. I now know Oscar likes his privacy off the ice, where part of me wanted someone to shout from the rooftop that they loved me.

“I want the world to know about us.” Oscar’s gaze grows tender as he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out, keeping it hidden in his hand. “And, if a proper proposal is what you want...”

“I’m fine. I don’t need you to get down on one knee. I know you need to keep your joints healthy,” I say with a smirk.

He grunts, then, with a crooked grin, he slides out of his chair and down onto one knee in front of me.

The other diners in the bistro notice what’s happening and a murmur of excitement fills the cozy space.

“I don’t have a ring at the moment, but I promise to get you the most beautiful one as soon as possible. You're the girl I have loved since we were little. The girl I know I will never stop loving. Nadia Simmons, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you let me be your husband?” he asks, pulling out a dollar bill that he’s made into a ring and looks at me shyly. “I knew I should’ve gotten you the one I was looking at.”

I can’t help but laugh through my happy tears. “You’ve been looking at rings?” I ask, surprised.

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