Chapter Twenty-Five
Nick adjusted his laptop screen early on Saturday morning, so the others could see him.
He waited as Michael, Emily, Eli and Bernie all took their seats, huddling around Eli’s computer.
As they loudly sorted themselves out, jockeying for their positions, he got an unwelcome view up Michael’s nostrils and almost had a glimpse of Bernie’s cleavage.
“Geez, guys. Couldn’t you sort out the seating before you clicked the link?”
“Nick,” they all shouted, and waved.
Bernie planted herself on Eli’s lap and Michael crouched in front of Emily, who was just starting to show.
Michael rubbed her belly. “Say hello to Uncle Nick, Peanut.”
“Is that the official name, bro?” he replied, laughing.
“No, it is not,” clarified Emily. “That’s just what your brother calls him.”
“Wait…him?”
Emily beamed. “Cat’s out of the bag, I guess. Michael and I were planning on telling you all tonight anyway. We’re expecting a boy!”
“Yeah!” The group in Toronto all hugged and cheered.
Nick got a little choked up too, wishing he could be there to join in the fun. “That’s awesome, guys. I can’t wait to meet him.”
They talked some more about Emily’s pregnancy and Michael’s strained nerves. Nick was glad to hear that Emily and the baby were both healthy.
Michael would manage, too.
“How’s the new show going, Nick?” asked Eli.
“It’s good. So much work, but I expected that. It’s, uh, good.”
Bernie leaned into the screen. “Em and I went out with Claire last week.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that. I appreciate you looking out for her.”
Bernie turned to Eli, a sly look on her face.
“Excuse me, Hurricane Bernie,” said Nick, using the nickname they’d first christened her with upon meeting her. “What is that look for?”
Bernie shrugged. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“She’s trouble, Eli,” teased Nick. “I did try to warn you.”
“Yeah, you did, but I didn’t listen.” Eli planted a kiss on Bernie’s mouth.
“Careful,” warned Michael, pointing at Emily’s belly. “That’s how we got in this mess.”
Emily swatted him.
For a few moments, Nick missed being their fifth wheel.
They talked for a few more minutes, getting caught up on each other’s lives again.
Michael and Eli had settled into a new routine at Zorn Contracting, and were happy not having cameras in front of their faces every five minutes.
Nick understood their relief, but it didn’t mean he enjoyed his own career developments any less.
All at once, a knock sounded on his hotel room door.
“Oh, hey, guys,” he said. “I’ve got to run. Someone’s at the door. Housekeeping must be early.”
“Right,” said Bernie. “Housekeeping. You’d better open the door, Nick.”
Eli gave her a look and mumbled something about her being “an instigator.”
As the knocking continued, a very strange feeling settled in Nick’s stomach. A sort of weird anticipation.
“I’ll call you soon, guys.”
They all waved and shouted goodbye, and he disconnected their video chat.
Nick made his way to the door, stepping over the dirty clothes he’d dumped in the hallway yesterday. He opened it.
Teagan stood there. “Hey, Nick.”
“Teagan, hi. It is Saturday, right? Did I get my dates confused?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to let you know a package for you was sent to my room. I thought I should bring it right over.” Teagan stepped aside, a curious grin on her face.
Claire appeared before him. “Hey.”
Nick couldn’t believe his eyes. She was wearing her Small, but mighty T-shirt, and was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his entire life. Lost for words, he pulled her into his arms, and into his room.
From somewhere down the hallway, Teagan laughed and wished them a good weekend.
Torn between kissing her silly and weeping like a baby, he ended up doing a bit of both. But it was okay, because she pretty much did the same.
When they could finally drag themselves away from each other, he gazed into her gorgeous face. “What are you doing here?”
“I was wondering if it was too late to take you up on your offer.”
“You mean…?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot. Did I ever tell you about my last vacation?”
He shook his head.
“It was my honeymoon. It’s been years since I’ve done anything impetuous. I can’t remember the last time I woke up with a spirit of adventure. I want that feeling again, and I want it with you.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids and her soft, soft lips. “But the sanctuary?”
“You mean, David and Gary’s sanctuary? It’s theirs now. I was holding on to it for Arthur’s sake, and as much as I was happy to continue his work, I hadn’t realized that I’d completely abandoned my dreams in the process.”
“I want you to have your dreams, Claire. I don’t want to hold you back.”
“I know, and this will be the first step. I realize you have work to do, which means I’ll have plenty of time to work on my portfolio.
I’ve already started some research on artist co-ops back home, and I’ve got some ideas on how I can sell my work online as well.
For the first time in a long time, I’m excited and I want to be able to share that excitement with you, each and every day.
And not by video chat. I want to wake up with you and I want to curl up with you at night. ”
“I want that too. And we can travel home as often as you need. I’ve been talking to Teagan about ways to adjust our filming schedule even more so that we can cut down on some away time.”
“We’ll make it work,” she said.
“We’ll make it work,” he repeated. Nick was so happy, he could barely process his own words. He decided to just keep kissing her.
It was so much easier, and it conveyed everything he felt.
“I’m ready for my adventure, Mr. Zorn,” she said, undoing the buttons on his shirt.
“Hell, yeah. It’s going to be an amazing adventure, now that you’re here.” He traced his finger over the Small, but mighty font on her shirt. “I missed you, Claire.”
“I missed you too. I’d convinced myself I was doing the right thing, but it just wasn’t the same without you.”
He lifted her shirt over her head, shivering as her hair fell over his arms. “I can’t wait to hear more about your plans.”
“I can’t wait to tell you.”
Nick had a few plans of his own. On one of his rare days off, he’d hit up a local jewelry store and had bought an engagement ring.
The diamond solitaire had caught his eye almost immediately because it reminded him of Claire, of her strength and her uniqueness.
It now sat in the hotel room safe. He’d planned on proposing on his first trip back to Ontario, but the proposal might happen sooner now.
Like, tonight. He’d take her to Victoria Harbour and propose in view of the skyline.
Hell, yeah.
“Maybe,” said Claire between kisses, “we could talk about plans later? I’d really like to have sex with you right now.”
Nick laughed. “I told you once before, I could never deny you. You’re mine, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make you unbelievably happy. You’re my life, sweetheart.”
As they tumbled onto his unmade bed, in a satisfying tangle of arms and legs, Nick stopped drifting on his imaginary sea. The anchor he’d been searching for finally hit ground and settled under the waves. The water was calm and the sun shone.
He would make a new life for him and for Claire.
And it was going to be incredible.