I think my heart just stopped beating.Shit! What was Blaze planning? These people already didn’t like me just for the fact that I showed up in Nick’s arm when all of them had high hopes that he and Margot would get back together. Now, Blaze wanted me to get up on stage. For what?I shook my head, glaring at Blaze, though I doubted he could see me from the stage. I looked at Nick. He didn’t look happy. He, too, was looking murderously at his brother.“Come on, bro. My surprise performance will only work if you let go of your girl for just fifteen minutes. I promise I will return her to you, unspoiled and unscathed,” Blaze said.The people were quiet now, and they were all staring at us, wondering what Blaze was planning to do.“Vince, please escort our lovely Mackenzie to the stage, please.”A tall blond guy was beside me in an instant, holding his hand out. Nick stood up and started pushing the guy away.“Take a step back or I swear I will punch all your teeth down your throat right
As I played the song, I looked over at Nick’s direction. He was staring at me with a grin on his face. I bit my lips because I couldn’t help but smile back at him. Then I had to turn away from him so I could play properly. By the second chorus, the people were already singing with us. We were bringing the house down.Blaze took a short breather after the song. People were still on their feet, cheering for us to play more.Blaze went back to the microphone and said, “This is our last song for tonight.”There were boos from the audience.“Come on, now, guys. It’s my brother’s birthday. I gotta party with you, too, okay?” He took a breather and then he said, “This is the first time I will sing this next song and I hope I do pull it off. But it’s a significant song because it reminds me of something important about Nick that not many of you knew about him—maybe not even you, Tyler.“Two years ago, my father’s company sponsored an event to make us aware of a pressing problem in our countr
He gently pulled me by the elbow and shoved me behind his back.Simon looked at him for a moment and then he smiled. “Nice to see you, too, bro.”“You have no right calling me that,” Nick said. “And you don’t get to talk to my girl.” He took a step toward him and in a low, murderous voice, he said, “Not this girl. I swear to God, I will kill you this time.”Simon looked shocked for a moment and then he took a step back. “Now, you just made me want her even more,” he said in a mischievous voice.Nick narrowed his eyes and then without warning, he took a swing and his fist landed solidly on Simon’s jaw.Commotion erupted and suddenly, people were around us. Some were holding Simon back, some were holding Nick back. Nick wanted to come at him for another punch but Blaze was suddenly in his way, pushing him back.“Nick, he’s not worth it,” Blaze said. “Not worth going to jail for, at least.”“Right, go ahead! Let your little brother do the dirty work for you again!” Simon spat.Nick looke
I found the strength to step forward and slowly approach him.“Nick…” I whispered.He turned his head slightly, acknowledging my presence. After a few seconds, I heard him take a deep breath before turning around to face me. He looked at me from head to toe, taking in my appearance and suddenly, I felt self-conscious wearing the nightie.He took in another deep breath and said, “They cheated on me.”I took a moment to decipher what he was saying.“Margot and Simon,” he continued. “We were best friends even before Margot and I started dating. And even when she and I were together, we were still the best of friends. They were two people I completely trusted. I loved them both. Simon was like a brother to me. I think I even valued him more than I did Blaze at that time. I loved Margot as a friend before we decided to try being more than that. Nothing changed much except that Margot and I were a couple. And then I found them in bed together, naked and completely going at it. They couldn’t
I kissed him back, wound my arms around his neck, and tried to show him the same passion that he was showing me. I didn’t know if we were going too fast and honestly, I didn’t give a fuck anymore. I love Nick. I wanted him with every fiber of my soul.I may be new to being in a serious relationship but it didn’t matter. I love him. He loves me. And I knew that I no longer feared the ghosts of his past, because honestly, I created them, made them bigger and scarier than they actually were. And I almost lost him because of my own insecurity, my own paranoia. I would not do that again. I wouldn’t hold anything back anymore.Suddenly, light exploded above us, interrupting our kisses. I pulled away from him and stared up at the glass ceiling. I saw fireworks erupting in the skies, mirroring the exploding emotions and love that I have for this man.“Wow,” I said in amazement.“You like it?” he asked.I blinked back at him. “You didn’t do that, did you?”He shrugged. “What if I did? A guy co
We were in tangled sheets the next morning when we woke up. Nick didn’t waste another second. As soon as he opened his eyes, he was on top of me. He showered me with passionate kisses and we started the whole passionate ride all over again.It was crazy. I have never felt like this in the past. I guessed it was different when you love the person you are with. It just magnifies every sensation, every thrill, and every emotion.By eleven o’clock, I forced Nick out of bed. “We need to have lunch with your family,” I reminded him.He groaned. “Oh yeah, that.”“Come on, Nick,” I said, raising a brow at him. “It’s your birthday. It’s only right that you spend it with your family.”“I want to spend it only with you.”“You did. Last night. And you will tonight. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”He gave me a mischievous grin. “Really? Tonight?” He pulled me toward him and gave me a kiss on the lips. “Is the wishing line open?”“Wishing line?” I echoed. He winked at me naughtily, I coul
Nicholas shook his head and then he pulled me to him, giving me a hug.I pulled away and stared back at him. “Why?”“Mom’s cooking skills didn’t improve. She just had a visit from a kitchen angel,” he whispered in my ear. I had to laugh at that. “Now you tell me you weren’t born to do this. I have at least five dishes on my plate. None of them disappointed me so far and you know I’m a very picky eater.”“I just helped your mother.”“I have a very good taste recognition skills and my mother never cooked like this. You didn’t just help her.”I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Your mother wanted to make you happy today. She went through a great deal of effort. I was just at the right place at the right time. So this is still all her.”He proceeded with eating his food and visibly enjoying it. “You know, I thought you went shopping all morning with Beatrice yesterday. How did you find time to cook with my mother?”Uh-oh! Do I tell on Beatrice? She deserved it! But then again, I didn’
When we got back to the States, Nick had a surprise waiting for me at home. I shrieked as I entered the kitchen.Oh my god!The kitchen looked entirely different. Before, there was a small countertop and some shelves beside the fridge. Now, the kitchen had been renovated to add a huge countertop with built-in cookers, ovens, and a black shelving unit to mask the newly installed exhaust. There were open shelves full of different spices and condiments in matching jars. The entire kitchen was complete with knives, pans, chopping boards, and every kitchen gadget I could think of.I picked up the note that sat on the countertop.Welcome home, kitten.I hope you agree that this kitchen fits a future chef like yourself.I love you.Forever yours,NickMy knees were shaking and my legs turned to jelly. I was fighting for breath when I turned around and found Nick standing by the entrance, grinning at me.“Do you like it?”“Oh my god, Nick. Why?”He shrugged and then he walked toward me. He sp