Chapter 9 #2
“It’s puff pastry filled with steak, potatoes, carrots, onions, and all kinds of seasonings.
I make it a few different ways depending on how I’m feeling.
Works good with any vegetables, so it’s an easy way to get Amira to eat some vegetables.
I made a kid friendly version for little mama, but you can set it up for her. I want you to be comfortable.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine. She eats pretty well. I’ll take a look at it though.”
“Here, baby. Let me grab our drinks,” Nicholas said, passing me my plate before heading back to the kitchen.
The deviled eggs were delicious. I only ate boiled eggs, so thinking they were delicious was huge.
Apparently, Bella thought so, too, because she was tearing up the one Nicholas cut up for her.
When he returned to the living room, Nicholas was carrying a black serving tray holding two mugs and two champagne flutes.
“I made butter beer for the little ones and golden snitch champagne for me and mommy.”
“You went all out.”
“Nah, I just wanted to make sure everybody had a good time. It’s not often that I get to take a day to just enjoy myself without worrying about where I have to be.”
“I’m glad me and Bella get to enjoy it with you.”
“Me and my little princess are glad to have you, mi reina.”
“If I’m going to be around you, you’re going to have to teach me Spanish. I need to know what you’re saying.”
“I love to teach, so I definitely won’t mind teaching you and baby Bella Spanish. Amira’s grandparents are from the Dominican Republic. Her mother doesn’t think she can teach her Spanish, so I’ve taken up the task.”
“If you’re serious, I would love to learn.”
“Of course, I’m serious, Jameela. On another note, how was the appetizer? You ain’t said nothing about my dragon eggs.”
“No you did not just get offended about your cooking!” I laughed.
It was hilarious how serious Nicholas looked. He picked up his champagne glass from the table and sat next to me before taking a sip.
“How’s your drink? I wasn’t sure if you liked champagne.”
“I love it, actually. This is a really good one. The deviled eggs are good too. I don’t usually like eggs.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“It’s fine. They were delicious. You have great taste.”
“I picked you, didn’t I?”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling as I made a failed attempt to suppress a growing smile. It was gut-wrenching to feel myself falling uncontrollably, knowing that, in the near future, this man might be going away for a long time.
“That you did. I want to take you seriously, but I just—”
“Wait, I’m pretty sure I’ve proven how serious I am about you, Jameela. I know we haven’t known each other for that long, but I want to know you. About a year ago, I decided that I was ready to settle down for good. I want a family. I want my forever, Jameela. I want you to be part of that.”
“I hear you,” I said, nodding slowly as I took another sip of my champagne.
This was too much. Nicholas was too much. I could already feel my heart breaking once things finally fell apart, and I didn’t like it one bit. I couldn’t voice my apprehension completely, because Nicholas had no idea what gave me so much pause.
“I know you hear me, but I want you to also listen. I’m not asking you to marry me or anything right now. I’m asking you to be here with me and here for me while I do the same for you. Let me take care of you, and you take care of me.”
“Why me though?”
“Why not you, habibti?” he asked, inching closer to me on the couch.
“I’m sure you could have anyone you wanted.”
“I want you, so that’s still up for debate.”
“For how long though?”
“For however long, Jameela.”
“Humph. That’s reassuring.” I rolled my eyes as I took a sip of the champagne. It was really as good as I’d said it was.
“All I need is a chance.”
“What’s your middle name?” I asked him.
His crooked smile showed that I had caught him off guard. “Toriano. I’m pretty sure you’ve never told me yours either.”
“Why does that sound Italian?” I teased.
“Whatever, Jameela. What’s your middle name? You know I can find out.”
“Marie,” I said, hoping that he didn’t see how anxious mentioning prying into my life made me.
“Jameela Marie Rice, I’m Nicholas Toriano King, and I would love to date you for the rest of my life.”
“The rest of your life?”
“Till death do us part and all that, but let’s just take it one day at a time. Can we do that?”
I nodded my head, then turned my attention back to the TV. Things were starting to feel too intense. There was too much in the balance. I hated the idea of hurting Nicholas when he found out the truth, but if he was the criminal they thought he was, then there was nothing I could do.
“Daddy, play the movie!” Amira demanded from her seat.
“OK. I wanted to make sure the food was ready first,” he said, picking up the remote and pressing play.
Nicholas started the movie, but I could barely pay attention for admiring his interaction with the girls. He was so good with them—even Bella, who didn’t take kindly to strangers since we spent so much time at home.
The food was delicious. I loved how much thought he put into making the night special for us. I liked that he wanted to bring me into that part of his life. It was just corny enough to be cute.
This felt like the perfect night. It was crazy that such perfection came in the form of a man who I would have to take down at some point. I was devastated at the very thought of how things would end.
It wasn’t hard to tell that he and Amira loved the movie from the start. I was so busy pigging out on the pastry dish that I didn’t even notice that Nicholas went to get dessert until I looked up and saw him coming in with them.
“Hey, Daddy!” Amira shouted in her best British accent.
I howled with laughter after hearing her little accent.
“Hey, baby.” His smile made my stomach flutter.
“Daddy, show Miss Jameela that you can talk like Harry.”
“Baby, that’s a special thing just for you.”
I held my hand up to stop his protest. “No, this is good. Show me your accent.”
“Jameela, don’t encourage the child. Are y’all ready for dessert?”
“Yes!” Amira cheered, throwing both of her arms in the air.
“I would say that I’m stuffed, but I’m afraid to miss this.”
“And I won’t let you. I worked hard on these snack carts.”
“Like from the train?” I asked, smiling harder than I expected to at the possibility.
He chuckled then settled into a smile before answering. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. I’m glad to see that you’ve been paying attention.”
Nicholas put the tray down before removing the kids’ snacks. “I made an age friendly one for baby Bella.”
I was in awe as I watched Nicholas help the girls with their treats.
He was so good with them that I didn’t feel like I needed to step in and take over, and that was saying a lot.
I’d expected Bella to crawl out of her chair and come over to me within a few minutes, but so far, she had been happily snacking and babbling with Amira.
By the time we got to the snacks, Bella’s greedy self was in heaven with her cheese puffs.
“I’ll help her, Daddy. She likes for me to help her.” Amira insisted.
“I just want to make sure everything is all set because we’re getting to the best part of the movie.”
Watching Nicholas with his daughter brought a whole new light to the man I was already growing more and more enamored with by the day. The care and attention he paid to his daughter made me less apprehensive about bringing him into Bella’s life.
Now there was an entirely new obstacle. There was no way my luck was this bad. There had to be some outside force throwing the wrong man in my path and making me think he was Mr. Right until it was too late.
It felt useless to fight my attraction to Nicholas and even more foolish to continue to fall. The only thing I could do was enjoy the ride until it was over. By the time he carried a sleeping Bella to my car and kissed me good night, I was anticipating the next playdate.