Chapter 22 Nicolas
nicolas
Portland was back to dreary fall weather already, making me wish Zo and I had taken a honeymoon instead of coming straight back from Vegas.
Somewhere tropical sounded amazing—and not just because it meant I could see my wife in a bikini.
Maybe I could plan one for her as a surprise.
I pondered the thought, tucking it away for later.
Our celebration dinner turned into multiple celebrations—because Matthew and Noelle had gotten engaged over the weekend.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” Noelle murmured, turning to her fiancé, Matthew.
He was a professor at the same university we’d graduated from.
The two had met while she was finishing her grad degree there and working as a hall director, and they’d fallen in love.
While they’d initially had to keep their relationship a secret, two years later, they were stronger than ever.
“Me too, sunshine,” Matthew said, pressing a kiss to the top of her red hair. She beamed in response.
It was hard not to miss the way it felt like everyone was coupling up—I even wondered about Charlotte and Daniel, who seemed like they’d been dancing around each other for weeks.
If he didn’t make a move soon, she was going to end up with someone else.
And I’d never seen either Angelina or Gabbi as happy as they seemed around the Sullivan brothers.
I saw how Daniel was glancing at Charlotte, and I wondered if something was going on there that we’d missed. They’d been best friends since her freshman year, and I’d seen them together in the dining hall more times than I could count before Daniel and I both graduated.
Maybe now he was actually going to make a move. It was obvious he was in love with her, even if he was lying to himself about it.
Was I doing the same, lying to myself about my feelings for Zofia, which had grown so big I didn’t know what to do with them anymore?
Promise me this won’t get complicated. Promise this won’t ruin us.
Didn’t she know how much it ate me alive to hear those words?
It was complicated. And that was the problem.
“Still can’t believe you guys got married,” Benjamin said, looking at my ring.
I sipped my beer, watching Zo laugh with the other girls, wishing I was the one she was laughing for. “You know what they say. When you know, you know.” Or when you make a contract. Semantics.
“Amen to that,” Benjamin said. The other guys murmured their agreement.
“I knew the second I saw her across the room that first day,” Matthew admitted. “Stole my heart right then and there.”
Hunter gave a noise of agreement. “I never thought I’d find my person, but she’s my other half.” He rubbed at the new tattoo on his forearm—a dragon, one that I knew matched Gabbi’s.
The girls were currently gossiping, piled onto a couch in the living room, snuggling Angelina and Benjamin’s new kittens.
They’d adopted the two black kittens this last week, naming them after Batman and Catwoman—Bruce and Selina, respectively.
It was a callback to their Halloween costumes last year.
“Not sure how we’re going to top those,” Benjamin admitted.
“Those were sick costumes,” Daniel agreed.
I looked at my wife. Zofia was wedged between Angelina and Gabbi, who both looked like they were trying to soak up as much time with her as possible. I knew they’d spent a lot more time together when she worked in HR, back before I’d practically kidnapped her and convinced her to be my assistant.
I didn’t regret the decision, though. Never had.
Was this it? Was this what life was all about?
Surrounded by the people who made me feel more at home than I’d ever been, I thought maybe it was.
Catching her eye, I raised an eyebrow as she bit her lip. I knew she still wasn’t feeling one hundred percent, which was why I’d gone outside to check on her.
I’d told her we didn’t have to come, but she insisted. She didn’t want to miss out on time with the girls, and I loved how much they’d brought her into the fold. How well she fit in here.
These people were more than just friends—they were family.
One day, we’d all be gathered around the same table, our kids running around the house, playing with each other, growing up surrounded by love.
It was the startling realization that I could see it. Our future, so vividly. And I… wanted it.
It didn’t scare me anymore, the idea of having a family. Maybe because it was her.
Maybe because she’d changed everything for me.
My girl. My gorgeous girl.
“Zo and I were talking about being Herc and Meg,” I said, drinking from my beer.
“Last year, Noelle somehow talked me into Anna and Kristoff from Frozen,” Matthew said.
I laughed. “Admit it—that’s the perfect costume for you both. It fits so damn well, dude.” Especially when you added Noelle’s love of chocolate and Matthew’s grumpy contenance.
Maybe Zofia and I were a little more like Hercules and Megara than I wanted to admit, too. She was a strong, independent, beautiful woman, and I was hopelessly obsessed with her. Even when I knew she’d never feel the same way.
It was getting harder to deny the truth to myself. That I cared about Zofia as more than just a friend or my assistant. That I had feelings for her beyond being my fake wife.
Did I love her?
Was I in love with my wife?
The idea made me sweat. I knew what we’d agreed to. She’d married me to help me with the board, and I’d married her to help get her parents off her back. They’d forgiven me for eloping with their daughter, which was great, because I really enjoyed spending time with her family.
It was clear her mom could be a little overbearing—as many parents were—but she still had a deep, meaningful relationship with her daughter.
Sahana Narayan wanted what was best for her daughter, and I wanted them to know that was me.
There was no way I’d watch anyone else take my place at her side, not now—not ever.
Two weeks had passed since Zofia had moved in with me, and we’d quickly adjusted to the new routine. I loved driving into work with my wife. We stopped to get coffee together, and our relationship felt like it was moving forward. Could I even call it that, though?
There was always that nagging feeling in the back of my mind that she was pulling away from me.
Sometimes I caught her staring at me throughout the day, and it made me wonder what she was thinking.
Part of me wished I could read her mind, to know how she was feeling about all of this.
I wanted her to confide in me, to share all of her worries and problems with me.
Still, work was better than ever. Our projects were coming along great, and the board seemed happier knowing I was doting on my wife.
It was easy to, because Zofia appreciated the little things more than any woman I’d ever met.
She liked pretty lingerie and flowers, yes, but she also lit up when I brought her lunch or made her dinner after a long day.
And who wouldn’t want to spoil someone like her?
For better or for worse, Zofia was mine.
I just needed to prove that to her. If my plan worked out, I was hoping to surprise her with it soon. Being CEO meant I had some pull over how the company was run, and I knew it would be a smart move.
“I need your help with something,” I told Benjamin, briefly explaining my idea. “Do you think Angelina would be willing to help?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’m sure Gabbi would too,” Hunter piped in. “The girls all love her, you know.”
I’d never imagined that befriending Angelina in college—the stubborn yet focused girl she’d been—would have given me an entire friend group that felt more like family.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate you.”
“As an honorary member of the Best Friends Book Club Boyfriends and Husbands squad, we’re happy to help in any way we can. Especially for Zo,” Benjamin said.
“I thought we agreed that was a stupid name,” Matthew grumbled, taking a long pull from his beer.
Ben raised an eyebrow. “You have a better idea?”
“Zo deserves the world,” I told them. “And I know she agreed to be my assistant because I needed help last year, but I see how happy she is planning events and running around the office. When she gets bogged down in paperwork and scheduling, I feel bad. She’s great at organization, but it’s not where she thrives.
” She’d been great at her job in HR, but even that wasn’t the spark for her. I could see it.
And I’d be damned if I didn’t do everything I could to make my wife feel fulfilled—personally and professionally.
Our conversation with the guys turned into conversations about the new academic year for Matthew, a new project Daniel was working on at his job as an engineer, and Hunter’s job as a pediatric doctor up on hospital hill. I finished my beer when the girls came back over, sliding in between us.
Filling the empty spaces perfectly, like they all knew exactly where they were meant to be.
Zofia at my side. In my heart.
I kissed the top of her forehead, pulling her into me.
“We need a hockey team here,” Noelle pouted.
Matthew laughed. “We can always drive up to Seattle.”
“I agree,” Gabbi said. “Growing up in Boston, I loved watching hockey. And now, reading all these hockey romance novels…” She let out a dreamy sigh as Hunter let his hands settle on her hips. “I’d love to go to a game again.”
“Maybe when we visit your parents for Christmas, sweetheart.”
“My cousin in Minnesota has a son who plays hockey. He’s only six, but he’s pretty good, from what she’s told me.”
“I didn’t know you had a cousin in Minnesota,” Zofia said, looking up at me.
I shrugged. “She’s my dad’s sister’s daughter. We’re not super close, so I don’t even know the last time I saw her.”
“That’s sad.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “I love visiting my cousins and family in India.”
“One day, maybe I can go with you.”
Her eyes lit up. “You’d really want to?”
I nodded. “I’d do anything for you, Zofia.”
She shut her eyes, and I pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Maybe we can go visit your cousin and see her son play, too. Who knows, maybe one day he’ll be a pro hockey player, and we can go see his games.”
I laughed. “You might be onto something. I’m sure if you said that to Rhodes, he’d probably be ecstatic.”
“It’s a plan, then,” she said, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
I just had to hope that we’d be together long enough for both of those things tho happen.
It was getting late when Zofia leaned her head on my shoulder, her eyes sliding shut for a moment.
“Hey, baby.” I wrapped an arm around her waist, noticing the ashy tone to her skin. “You don’t look so good.” I pressed my hand to her forehead, but she wasn’t hot to the touch. “You feel okay?”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, taking another small sip of the ginger ale she’d been nursing all night.
I crossed my arms over my chest. She’d barely had anything to eat at dinner—I’d watched her pick at her food. “You’re not fine.” I frowned as she let out another yawn. “I think you should go home and get some rest.”
She gave me a small pout. “I just need something in my stomach, and then the nausea normally passes after that.”
“Will you just let me take care of you, gorgeous?” I begged. “Please.” I hated that she felt sick. Hated that I couldn’t make her feel better.
She buried her face in my shoulder, nodding into my shirt.
“I’m gonna take Zo home,” I announced to the room as I stood up. “She’s not feeling great.”
“Oh, no.” Angelina frowned. “Let me know if you need anything, babe?”
Zo gave her a forced smile. “I’ll be okay once I get over this bug.”
I picked her up, cradling her in my arms. “Nicolas,” she started, giving a weak protest, “you don’t need to carry me. I can walk.”
“Let me,” was all I said.
“Okay,” she murmured against my neck.
Heading outside to the car, I opened the passenger door, sliding her onto the seat before buckling her in.
She closed her eyes, leaning back against the seat as I drove towards our house, pulling over when I noticed a Walgreens.
“Why are you stopping?” Zo frowned as I pressed a kiss to her forehead, unbuckling my seatbelt.
“Just going to run in and grab a few things. You okay here?” Her head dipped in agreement before her eyes fluttered shut again. “Text me if you need anything,” I told her.
Wandering through the aisles, I found some anti-nausea medication, an electrolyte drink, and some crackers, hoping I could get some food in her.
She’d barely had anything tonight except the ginger ale. Which… I grabbed a case of that, too.
After I paid, I dropped the bags in the backseat, offering her the bottle of Tums and a bottle of Pepto-Bismol. “Here,” I said, keeping my voice soft.
“Nic.” Her eyes filled with tears.
I reached over, rubbing my thumb over her cheek. “No crying, baby. I told you I want to take care of you. I know you don’t feel good. You’re not alone.”
Zo’s hand closed around the bottle of Tums. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me this week. I’ve been so tired, and now the nausea on top of it? Ugh. I don’t even know why I’m crying.”
“I’ll run you a bath when we get home,” I told her. “You can relax and read your new book.” She always had a new one to read after hanging out with the girls. “And this weekend, we’ll take it easy. I’ll call your parents and tell them we won’t make it to family dinner.”
“Are you sure?” She still looked like she might cry. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You exist,” I said. “And that’s enough.” I kissed her forehead softly. “Let’s go home.”
It occurred to me I’d gotten so caught up in the fantasy that I’d failed to remember that this was all an act. That we were just pretending to be together—to be in love.
Too bad I’d actually fallen in love with her.