Chapter 24 #2
I watch him as he focuses, and I swear my heart melts, a strange feeling building in my chest. He’s in a rickety chair, looking far too big for this little shop, but he focuses on the bracelet like it’s the championship.
All it took was me mentioning I wanted it, and he’s here, with me, without complaint.
He’s an amazing man, and it terrifies me.
It would be far too easy to fall in love with someone like him.
My heart is still scarred and healing, though, so I don’t know if I have it in me to give it away again, and he deserves that kind of obsessed first love. He deserves someone who can wholly devote themselves to him, whose body isn’t full of scars from their ex’s weapons.
I can’t be the one he needs, and I hate it, but I’m selfish and can’t give him up either. I’ll use him until there’s nothing left, and he’ll let me.
It doesn’t make me a good man, but I never said I was.
Focusing on my bracelet, I find a little boxing glove at the very bottom, and I add it discreetly so he doesn’t see it.
I don’t think I have it in me to explain why I need my mark on him somewhere or that I want to see him wear it.
My ex never would have done this. Gifts are one of my love languages.
I adore spoiling people, but Faiz never appreciated it, so I don’t get my expectations up here.
After all, Nikko isn’t my boyfriend, so he doesn’t need to make me happy that way.
That doesn’t mean I don’t put my all into making the bracelet.
I ensure the weaves are tight so it doesn’t unravel since he’s always moving.
I keep the charm locked between the weaves so it doesn’t annoy him, then I wrap my hand around his wrist. He looks up in confusion as I pull back and measure it against my hand, ignoring the question in his eyes.
I make it a bit bigger. She was right. He has big hands.
I shudder as I remember how they felt last night when he held me while I rode him, and I swear I turn ten different shades of red when I meet the lady’s eyes to find her grinning knowingly.
We talk as we work, just small talk, but it’s nice, and when I’m done, I sit back and watch him.
He’s working so hard on the bracelet, forcing his big fingers into intricate patterns.
He has better things to do, but he doesn’t show it.
He acts like this is the most important thing in the world to him right now.
I don’t know how someone isn’t already in love with this man, but I’m glad they aren’t. I’m glad I get to have him, even for a little while.
Suddenly, he sits back.
He triumphantly shows it to me, his smile so wide I can’t help but grin.
It’s a beautiful gray and blue. The weave is clumsy and large in places, but I love it.
“For you,” he says with a wide grin before it fades as he looks from it to me.
“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. It probably isn’t your style—”
I put it on and give him my wrist. “Can you tighten it?”
He blushes as he does, stroking his fingers across my skin. “Perfect,” he murmurs as he lifts my arm and kisses my wrist.
It’s my turn to blush, and I practically throw my bracelet at him. Luckily, he has good reflexes and catches it. “I don’t know if you can wear it while boxing, but it’s for you.”
His smile is so wide, I swear it must hurt as he rushes to put it on his wrist and holds it up. “It’s so pretty! I love it. I’m never taking it off.”
“You don’t have to wear it,” I mutter as I clean up.
“Like hell I don’t,” he retorts. “I want to wear it. You made it for me. That’s important.” He turns to the lady. “Look what he made me.”
“Oh, very nice.” She checks it out. “You’re one lucky man.”
“Aren’t I?” He grins as he winks at me. “It’s almost as pretty as he is.”
“Hmm, almost. You’re right. He’s very pretty.” They both eye me, and with an embarrassed sputter, I stand, needing to escape their scrutiny. I’m used to people lusting after me, calling me beautiful, but the soft look in Nikko’s eyes puts me on edge like nothing else.
“How much do we owe you?” I ask her sharply, probably sounding ruder than I mean to.
She doesn’t care, grinning at me. “Nothing. Seeing you both enjoy your time together and being this adorable is enough for an old lady like me.”
My brows furrow. “I need to pay you.”
“No.” She puts her hands on her hips.
“Yes,” I snap.
“Son, I am seventy years old, and I have five ex-husbands, one of which was a spy, so you don’t scare me.”
I gawk, and she grins as she pats my side. “Don’t worry, no man has ever won against me. Tell you what, to make you feel better, let me take a picture and hang it on the wall.” I glance at where she gestures to see friends, siblings, and lovers framed there with dates, all holding bracelets.
How is this crazy woman still in business?
“Deal,” Nikko agrees, and he tugs me under his arm as she hurries to the counter and grabs an old Polaroid camera, not a remake.
It’s retro as hell, and I love it. She grins as she lifts it.
“Get closer.” We do as we’re told, and she snaps the pic.
We are blinded for a second, and I lean over, watching as she shakes it. When the image becomes clear, I grin.
Nikko has his arm up, showing off his bracelet and me.
“God, you two are so fucking cute. If I wasn’t such a cold bitch, I might even believe in love.” She covers her chest with her hand.
I can’t help but laugh as I shake my head. “One day, I’d like to hear about those ex-husbands,” I tell her.
“Come by whenever you want and bring your handsome man with you. I like to look at pretty things.”
“Me too,” I reply, and when I look up, Nikko is blushing wildly. My favorite color used to be black, but it might be red now.
“Gah, you two! Don’t forget to send me a wedding invitation,” she says as he moves to the board.
“Oh, we aren’t together,” I correct.
She glances at us and scoffs. “Sure, kid, sure, keep telling yourself that.”
“We are just friends,” I protest.
“Boy, friends do not touch or look at each other the way you two do, but keep lying if it makes you feel better.” She starts to whistle as she hangs up our picture.
Shaking my head, I sneak some bills on the counter and walk to the door with Nikko at my side.
When I glance up, he’s staring at his bracelet.
That gives me some relief, knowing he isn’t upset about what I said, even if it’s true.
I think on her words as Nikko opens the door for me, and when he takes my hand, I glance at his bracelet. I wonder if she’s right.
Am I lying to myself?