Chapter 54
FIFTY-FOUR
Wedding planning is surprisingly easy, mainly because I have two incredible people dealing with it while my father oversees it all.
It gives him something to do, and I trust his taste anyway.
In the meantime, I open the lifestyle quarter.
It’s both a happy and sad day, since Faiz should be here, but it’s dedicated to him, and every time I think of how he would react, I know he would be happy.
Nikko also graduated from Pine Valley College with honors.
I gave him a bouquet of flowers so big, it had to be driven out in a truck.
He was embarrassed, even though he loved it.
I’m so proud of how far he has come, and he’s even thinking of continuing to study since he enjoyed it and he wants to prepare for a future after boxing—not that he needs one.
I can be his sugar daddy, but he doesn’t like that idea.
He wants us to be partners, and I love that.
We spend every waking moment together. He gave his apartment to Charlie, who needed it, and moved in with me a while ago, so that makes things easier.
Life is settling down and quiet—well, as quiet as my life will ever be.
I won’t change who I am. I’m a Xander, after all, but Nikko doesn’t mind.
He loves me for me, and now I have a family worth fighting for.
I let Nikko’s old bullies go. I didn’t want to, but he asked so sweetly, I couldn’t refuse. I did, however, leave them with some permanent reminders just in case.
My life is definitely not where I expected it to be. I spend my days between offices and a gym and my weekends between mansions and run-down family restaurants, eating the best food of my life. No, it’s not where I imagined it would go, but it’s so much better.
I wish I could go back in time and tell my old self it’s worth it to take a leap of faith and change everything, and that it isn’t as scary as one would think.
I’ve lost a lot along the way, but I’ve also gained a lot, and for that, I’m thankful.
I’m not proud of everything I’ve done, but loving Nikko is the one thing in my life I’m proud of.
“Well?” Julies calls as he and Chen show off their suits. “We look hot, right?”
“Very. They are perfect.” I nod at my wedding planners, who hurry off to make changes. Yuki is at my side, checking his emails, so I pluck his phone out of his hand and pocket it. “Go on.”
“Sir?” he asks with a frown.
I sigh. “Try your suit on.”
“Oh, I have a suit, sir,” he protests, but I turn to face him.
“Yuki, you’re my friend, one of my best friends, actually, so did you really think you weren’t going to be a groomsman? Get your ass in there and try that suit on,” I demand. “That is an order from your boss and a request from your friend.”
“Yes, sir.” He smiles broadly and heads back to the dressing room as I wait. When I pull my phone out, I see a text from Nikko.
Nikko: Two weeks, then you will legally be all mine.
Smirking, I text back.
Zia: And tonight, you’re all mine anyway, but get back to work before our dad calls me again to make you.
Nikko: Spoilsport. Love you.
Zia: Love you too. See you tonight.
Nikko: Tonight.
NIKKO
Two weeks later . . .
Our wedding has become somewhat of a global sensation—the old-money tycoon and the champion boxer.
The public has been counting down the days.
Magazines and news outlets cover every inch of it.
It made me nervous, but as we stand under the large flower arch outside of Zia’s father’s house and I meet his eyes for the first time today, all those nerves disappear.
My boy looks incredible. His white suit matches mine, but he has a cape that attaches at his shoulder and flares out behind him, the floral fabric inlaid with more diamonds than this world has ever seen.
More jewels drip from his neck and fingers until he outshines everyone.
His heeled boots put him at my height, and I love that he peers into my eyes as we say our vows.
Despite his wealth and our differences, none of it matters as we swear our love before friends, family, and the world.
Hundreds of people are gathered to watch us wed, and their cheers ring out as we kiss and I dip him back.
When we pull away, he’s smiling widely. Keeping our hands linked, we turn and thrust them into the air as cameras flash.
White flowers shine behind and around us, every inch of the area transformed into a sleek, luxury wedding rivalling that of kings and queens, yet despite it all, we both still wear our cheap, handmade bracelets. Neither of us were willing to take them off despite everyone’s objections.
After the ceremony, we move inside, and the music starts up with live performances from some of our favorite bands—Zia’s gift to me. Mine will come later on, and I can’t wait to see his face.
For now, I dance with him, letting everyone drink their fill. For someone who was previously bothered by crowds, it doesn’t upset me today, not with him looking at me like I hung the moon for him.
“You look beautiful.” Zia slides his hands down my suit.
“No, baby, that’s you,” I reply. “You get more beautiful each day I see you. I didn’t even know that was possible, nor did I think it was possible to love someone this much.”
“Me either, husband,” he teases, and the title makes my cock harden.
As we finish our first dance, the music changes and cheers go up as Nexus fighters surge onto the dance floor.
My father and Charlie are in their midst, pulling Zia’s father and Yuki with them.
Julies and Chen are already dancing with partners, and we stand amongst them, our smiles wide and happy.
We dance and interact with everyone who came as the night goes on.
The piles of presents at the entryway intimidates me, so I ignore it, knowing the people Zia invited are likely to gift islands or something equally as crazy.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it, but it comes with loving my boy, and I can get used to that.
While everyone is busy dancing, I sneak away to the glass doors that lead outside.
“Where are we going?” Zia laughs as he lets me pull him along, away from the frivolity of the huge party, but no one will notice for a little while.
I skirt the garden of his father’s mansion and head through the small gate to the lit-up rooftop overlooking the city.
There are two chairs waiting with a bottle and two glasses.
“Is that the one I sent you?” he asks incredulously.
“You told me to save it for something special. I couldn’t think of anything more deserving.” He smiles up at me. “Will you drink it with me?”
“Absolutely, husband.” He laughs as I pop it open and pour us both glasses before handing him one, our rings sparkling in the light as we toast each other and tip it back. Taking his glass from him, I put it to the side, open the music app on my phone, and hit play as I offer him my hand.
“I know we had our first official dance in front of everyone, but I want this one for myself, just like the night we met—a bottle of alcohol, a skyline, and us. So, husband, will you dance with me?” I ask.
His smile is so bright, it outshines the moon as he places his hand in mine and lets me pull him close as we sway to the music, his head on my shoulder as I slide my hand down to the base of his spine and pull him closer.
“I love you so much, Nikko,” he whipsers as he pulls back, our bodies still moving.
“Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me, and on one of the worst days of my life no less. Some might call it fate, but I don’t think I believe that.
I do, however, believe that we always would have found each other. Don’t you?”
“I’d like to think so. Besides, you’re stuck with me now,” I tease as I press my forehead to his. “No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”
“Together,” he agrees as we sway to the music. When the song finishes, both of us are reluctant to break away.
“Come on, lovebirds!” Yuki calls from somewhere near the house. “Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Coming,” Zia calls back, but he turns to me and kisses me softly. “Want to get out of here? Your bike is waiting. Let’s go, just like that night.”
“Where do you want to go?” I frown. “I thought you wanted this—”
“I did, and I do, but I got my wedding and they got their show. Now, I just want us. Take me anywhere, Nikko. I’ll gladly follow. Let’s just drive. For one night, we will be nothing but us.”
My smile grows as I take his hand, putting my phone away. “They will kill us when they catch us.”
“Then let’s not let them catch us.” He chuckles. “Come on, baby, how about one last adventure?”
“My entire life with you will be an adventure,” I flirt as I kiss him, “but let’s go.”
In our matching white suits, we run through his camera-filled mansion to my bike and dive off as fast as we can, leaving the city and the world behind.
Now, it’s just us and whatever our future holds.
Something I can’t wait to find out.