Page 20 of Promise Yule Be Mine
"He's cute," Nikita said as we walked behind everyone. "Do we know his relationship status?"
A huff escaped me before I could control it and I shook my head when Niki frowned at me.
"What's up with y?—?"
"Nothing?"
Niki raised an eyebrow and then shrugged me off.
"Why do you ask? Do you like him?"
Niki rolled his eyes. "Uhm…who wouldn't? He's cute and sexy. The perfect amount. Who knows. Maybe there's another wedding in our future."
I chuckled. "You've barely even met the guy and you're planning your wedding?"
"When you know, you know, big bro." He patted my shoulder and excused himself. "I gotta get to know my future husband."
I bit back a groan and watched my little brother saunter up to Jenna and Nova and loop his arm around Nova's. The butterflies in my stomach took another tumble.
I didn't know why I was feeling this way. It wasn't as if Nova was mine. It wasn't as if I even had a chance with him. And even if I did, I was kind of engaged to be married. There was nothing in the cards for him and me.
Nah, I was just being silly.
I needed to get my head screwed on and stop this. The problem was I didn't know how.
And as if that wasn't enough, Niki's words kept ringing in my head over and over again for the rest of the night.
When you know, you know.
I knew there was no substance to it, at least where he was concerned. He didn't even know Nova. Barely had said a word tohim and was dreaming of a house with a white picket fence with the guy.
But then again wasn't that what had happened with me? Hadn't I been as taken by him before uttering a word to him when I first met him?
Maybe foolishness ran in the family, but only one of us could entertain it and it wasn't me.
So when Jenna found a good spot to watch the parade I found my way to her and put my arm around her. I needed to remind myself who I was. What I was doing. Why I was doing it.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey back." She looked at me.
Somewhere along the way, her, Nova and Nikita had gained glow-up necklaces and bracelets. How distracted had I been? Sheesh.
"You okay?" she asked.
I looked at Nova helping Nikita with the glow-sticks around his neck and giggling for God knew what reason. I let out a long sigh and I nodded, turning my attention back to my fiancée.
"I'm golden," I said, barely believing myself. But I had to. I had to find a way to believe it.
Jenna studied me for a few moments, only turning away when the music started and the first float passed by and the dizzying blur of lights intensified.
I hardly paid attention to this year's grand marshal’s float or the Santa sleigh behind it. I just stared at Nova and Niki, talking to each other, completely oblivious to me and my leering.
But then, he turned and caught my gaze and I blinked.
Jenna was no longer next to me and without that obstruction, Nova stepped closer.
"Want some?" he asked, offering me a glow stick from the collection in his hand.
