Page 91 of Win Some Love Some
“I don’t…I don’t know how to do this. Be with you like this. I’m not really sure what to say or do.”
She had to understand that. I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t settle. All I felt was what might go wrong. And Roy’s fucking Dad-eyes drilling into my back warning me not to break her heart because she might leave again.
She blinked. “Just treat me how you would any other date.”
“But you’re not. Just any other date. I see you in that dress and I have…thoughts.”
“What kind of thoughts?”
“Dirty thoughts,” I admitted.
She bit her lower lip like she was considering my dilemma. “We’ve been so professional at work this past week.”
“Because I have to be, not because I want to be.”
“Hmm. Sounds like my revenge dress is working. Are you going to be a little turned on all night while you watch me have fun with my friends?”
I swallowed. “I think so. Yes.”
She beamed. No fake smile this time. “Excellent!”
“You’re happy that I’m going to suffer?” I grumbled and opened the car door for her.
“I’m happy that you’re going to suffer because of me,” she said, dipping inside. Then she leaned over the bench seat and unlocked the driver’s side door for me. “Now get in. This is going to be an amazing night for us, Nick.”
18
Nora
Julie’s wedding and reception were at The Boat House. It was an old boat factory turned into a popular wedding and party venue. Fairy lights were wrapped around the pillars and strung up along the ceiling and white and pink roses burst from the centerpieces of every table.
It was romantic and magical.
My fingers itched to take my phone and film all of it. To point the camera in my face and remind everyone that weddings were still important. Because sometimes it wasn’t enough to just be in love, you had to show it. You had to announce it. You needed rings and words and first kisses as husband and wife so that everyone you loved could share your joy.
I hadn’t seen Julie in years, but I was so happy to celebrate her love.
We were sitting at our table, about three tables back from the dance floor, watching Julie and her new husband have their firstdance. Nick stretched his arm across the back of my chair so he could whisper in my ear.
“You should take a video,” he said, reading my mind. His breath and the timber of his voice sent shivers across my whole body.
For one brief second, I imagined what would have happened if he hadn’t rejected me six years ago, if he, instead, saw me then as he was beginning to see me now, how different my life would have been.
There wouldn’t have been Rene. But there also wouldn’t have been Paris and a million followers…
“What did you say?” I asked, lost in my thoughts.
“I said you should take a video. This would have been totally something you would have made a video about.”
I turned and he was so close our noses bumped. I expected him to jerk away, look around to make sure no one saw us, but he only smiled and leaned forward to boop my nose with his again.
Who was this man? I wondered, delighted by this side of him.
“Wait? You watched my videos?” I asked. I’d been inside his app every day this week, but I didn’t go digging into his saved videos. That was private, and, I imagined, full of car repair videos.
“You were everywhere, Nora. Hard to miss,” he shrugged and reached for his bottle of beer on the table. He scanned the dance floor like he was looking for someone.
Or like he was hiding from me.
