Chapter Nineteen #2
“I deserve better than this, Derek. Better than you.” My voice is steady and strong. “Better than this toxic environment where my ideas get credited to other people and my contributions are dismissed. I’m done… I’m so fucking done.”
“You’re making a mistake,” he says, anger creeping in. “You think you’re going to be valued somewhere else? You’ll realize what you had here—”
“I think I’m going to thrive.” I turn toward the door. “I think someday I’ll look back and be grateful I finally found the courage to walk away from you and this place.”
“Is this about that boyfriend? That Uber driver?”
I pause, hand on the doorknob. “This is about me, Derek. It’s always been about me. You just made it easier to see.”
I don’t look back as I walk out.
Me: Done. I’m coming down.
Nitro the Nice Uber Guy: How do you feel?
Me: Like I can finally breathe.
Nitro is leaning against his bike when I emerge, and when he sees my face, his expression softens.
“You okay?”
“I’m perfect.” I walk into his arms. “I’m free.”
“Damn right you are.” He kisses my head. “You just quit your shitty job and got hired at your dream company. That deserves a real celebration.”
“Sage and Beck back at the apartment for dinner and drinks?” I ask him.
“Sounds like a good night to me. Let’s get you home.”
Nitro gets us back to the apartment quickly, and we scramble to set up for Beck and Sage. Barely ten minutes pass before they walk in with champagne bottles and way too much pride plastered across their faces.
“There she is!” Beck sweeps me into a hug. “The woman who finally told Derek to go fuck himself!”
“I didn’t actually say that.”
Beck grabs my hands in his. “But you thought it. And that’s what matters, my darling.”
Sage jumps on the spot as if she’s a small child with a great idea. “Exactly, we should all say a fuck you mantra to that cocksucker—”
“Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with sucking cock,” Beck says, waggling his brows.
“Eww, Beck, I don’t need that visual from you, thanks.” I groan.
“It’s a perfectly natural part of sex, Marley, I am sure Nitro loves it!” Beck chuckles, glancing over his shoulder at Nitro, who emerges with glasses, and Beck eyes him with approval.
A flush crosses my cheeks, and I shove Beck’s shoulder. “I’m sure he does, but I do not need to think about my older brother sucking on anyone’s dick, thank you!”
Sage groans, grabbing the champagne bottle from Nitro’s hand and starts pouring. “Urgh, Marles, you’re such a prude. So, Uber Man, you treating my bestie right?”
Nitro grins. “I’m doing my best to deserve her.”
“Good answer,” Sage says, raising her glass. “To Marley! For being brave enough to choose herself, talented enough to land her dream job, and smart enough to date a man who actually appreciates her.”
“To Marley,” Beck and Nitro echo.
The champagne is sweet and perfect.
The evening unfolds with laughter and stories. Beck’s photography horror story about a drunk mother-of-the-bride. Sage’s coffee shop tales. And I soak it all in, this apartment filled with people I love, celebrating something I accomplished.
Nitro’s arm settles around my shoulders, and Beck nudges Sage knowingly.
“What?” I ask.
“Just observing how domestic you two are.”
“We are a couple, you know?” I point out.
“A real couple now,” Sage adds. “Not fake dating anymore?”
Nitro’s hand tightens on my shoulder. “Never was fake on my end.”
“Mine either,” I admit softly.
Beck suddenly stands, phone in hand. “Okay, I need a photo of this moment. You two look disgustingly happy.”
Nitro pulls me closer, and Beck starts snapping pictures like a professional.
“You two are ridiculously photogenic,” he mutters. “Look at this chemistry.”
“Let me see,” Sage demands, then her eyes go wide. “Oh my God, Marley, you need to frame these.”
“They’re just photos—”
“They’re not just photos,” Beck interrupts, showing me. “Look.”
So, I do. And my breath catches. In the image, Nitro and I are on the sofa, his arm around me, my head tilted toward his. We’re smiling at each other. The way he’s looking at me, as though I am the only good thing in his life, makes my chest tight.
We look happy, real, and completely in love.
“See?” Beck says softly. “This is what everyone sees. You’re not faking anything. This is real, Marley.”
I meet Nitro’s eyes, and something passes between us. Recognition. Acknowledgment of what we’ve both been too scared to say.
This is real.
This is love.
“All right,” Sage announces. “Who’s hungry? I saw a pizza place down the street.”
Nitro’s hand stays on my lower back as we move toward the door. Beck keeps snapping candids, us grabbing jackets, laughing, Nitro holding the door with pure adoration on his face.
“You’re going to have an entire album by the end of the night,” I tell him.
“Good. You’ll thank me later. The day you chose yourself. The day you started your new life.”
He’s right.
This is the beginning of something.
As we spill onto the street, laughing and talking, I feel it settling into my bones.
Hope, joy, and the belief that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
With people who love me.
With a job that values me.
With a man who sees me, really sees me, and doesn’t look away.
Nitro’s hand finds mine, our fingers lacing naturally, and when I squeeze his hand, he squeezes back.
He’s older than me.
He’s a biker.
And I am a curvy girl who he shouldn’t want.
Yet here we are, invested in each other.
And I’m not running from it anymore.