Chapter 20 – Two Weeks Later #3
I never thought I’d be one of those girls obsessing over a guy’s muscles, but here I am obsessing. His biceps would do well with their own zip code. How often does he work out?
He chuckles. “I like it when you’re happy, Nicolette.”
I’m only happy with you.
I wish I could say those words out loud, but I lock them in my treasure chest where I keep all these little moments with him, ones he has no idea matter the most to me.
Sadness trips up my nerves, and I try my hardest to hide all of my overwhelming emotions. It’s what I’ve been doing for quite a while when it comes to Raph Marino. How come I’m not used to it? How come it gets harder with each passing day?
Don’t you dare cry, I scold myself when that prickling sensation hits the back of my eyes.
He got me a dress. He ordered a limo. He dressed up.
For me. To make sure I get to go when my own boyfriend couldn’t even bother.
I was only using him to get over my feelings for Raph, but the only thing dating him did was make me realize how rare guys like Raph are and that I’d never find one like him.
“So, what do you say, little one?” He lights my heart on fire with a glorious smirk. “I put on my best tux.” He flips his hands in the air, knowing full well all his tuxes are the best.
Suddenly I’m smiling right back at him.
I grab the dress and grin wider. “Wouldn’t want to make you waste a perfectly good tux. Give me twenty!”
My stomach knots up and I’m jittery and walking on make-believe clouds as I rush to my room and lock the door behind me.
“Take your time,” he calls out. “We can be fashionably late. I hear that’s what the cool kids are doing.”
“Wouldn’t know,” I toss out just as I quickly strip off my clothes and slip into the dress. “I’ve never been cool.”
“Neither have I.” He chuckles.
I rush for the full-length mirror and am stunned speechless. I actually look pretty. Running my hands down the thick, yet soft material, I smile at myself. But when I see my hair… Goodbye smile. A quick brush and a flat iron should fix that.
After I’m done, I throw on some mascara, blush, and bright red lipstick Brenda got me for my birthday. I never had any reason to wear it. Until now.
Thirty minutes later, and I’m slipping into a pair of silver heels Raph bought me when I turned sixteen. They cost more than a pair of shoes should cost, but the price never mattered. It’s the fact that he got them that does.
My hand on the knob, I’m instantly nervous for him to see me. Will he think I look nice?
I drag in a single long breath, closing my eyes for a beat, gathering the courage, before I’m yanking the door open. I hold my breath, and as soon as he sees me, his eyes widen, and they hold mine for a mere moment in time.
And I feel it, the way he looks at me. But just as soon as it appears, it’s gone.
“You look lovely,” he says under his breath. “You ready to go?”
“Yes.” I clear my throat.
Well, lovely is a lot better than nothing.
He was so adamant about me making memories of that night, but in the end, the only memories I made that mattered were of us.
When we first arrived, all the kids were staring and whispering. I felt awkward and wanted to run right back home. But when he squeezed my hand, I put on my brave face and didn’t let them scare me away.
As soon as Brenda saw us, she shrieked and ran over, jumping up and down, thanking Raph for bringing me.
I shared two dances with him, two heart-pounding dances that I also added to my secret collection of all-things Raph. He urged me to go on dancing with my friends, while he watched me the entire time. And every time I caught him, he smiled, and I did what I always do. I smiled right back.
Suddenly, the bathroom door swings open and in he comes, gray towel hung low over his hips while he dries his hair with another, his biceps straining as he eyes me.
I let my gaze run down the length of him, knowing that now I can do it freely.
“I like the way you look at me,” he rasps, lips curving into a sinful smirk.
“Good.” I sit up straighter. “Because I plan to look at you as much as I want.”
“Is that so?” The bed dips as he settles beside me, the towel almost coming undone.
“It is.” My heart races as his knuckles brush down my cheek, his eyes staring with a soul-crushing intensity.
“You’re my favorite person,” he tells me as those eyes continue to captivate and enthrall every beat of my heart that he already owns.
Emotions scrape up the back of my throat.
“You were always my favorite person,” I confess. “I was just remembering that time you took me to the dance. Do you remember?”
“How could I forget?” He pushes me down onto the bed and settles his weight on top of me. “The look on your face when I showed up…”
His eyes grow heavy-lidded as his stiff length pushes in between my thighs. Awareness pools with warmth, and I ache for him desperately.
“You somehow always show up for me, Raph.” I clasp the back of his head, pulling him down so close that with his next breath, his lips touch mine.
“And I always will, tesoro mio.”