Chapter 32
“Which do you think he’d like better?” I hold up two options, one in each hand.
Nik sighs, like he’s been fielding this question all day. “Lina, he’s a guy. He’s not gonna care about the color.”
I pout dramatically, and he rolls his eyes with a smirk.
“Fine,” he concedes, pointing. “The red one.”
A smile breaks over my face. I pop a kiss on his cheek in thanks. “You’re the best!”
Nik’s been a trooper today. I asked him to come Christmas shopping.
Okay, ordered him to drive me to the mall and stick around while I wandered store to store, second-guessing everything.
He’s known the Harringtons a lot longer than I have, and I want their gifts to reflect how grateful I am for their support and hospitality.
It’s wild to think I only met them months ago.
It feels like it’s been years. I care about them.
And somehow, Tennessee already feels more like home than Arizona ever did.
“Let me pay for this, then we’re hitting the food court. I want hot chocolate.”
Ten minutes later, we’re seated at a corner table, steaming cups in front of us. Mine is too hot to drink, so I pass the time going over my gift list again.
For Maryanne, I found an adorable recipe binder covered in strawberries.
At Thanksgiving, I noticed her recipes were stuffed haphazardly in a drawer, scribbled on everything from napkins to receipts.
My plan is to type them up, print them, and organize them neatly.
Just in case the originals are sentimental, I picked up a matching photo box to store them in.
Ben’s getting a phone stand with a built-in Bluetooth speaker. He’s always balancing his phone on whatever’s nearby (books, coffee mugs, the remote) so he can watch sports while multitasking. This one has an adjustable screen angle and better sound. Practical and thoughtful.
Axel was easy. I found a fresh set of fine liner pens at the craft store to replace the worn-out ones he’s always sketching with.
And for a laugh, I ordered him a keychain online.
It’s black and silver with tiny engraved lettering: You know you love me.
XOXO. A nod to all the Gossip Girl reruns we’ve watched together.
The tricky ones are Johnny and Nik.
I still want to throat punch Johnny, so finding a gift that isn’t a flaming bag of coal has been tough.
And Nik… well, I realized I don’t know him as well as I should.
We’ve barely spent real one-on-one time together, which was part of the reason I asked him to come along. The other reason? I like him.
I close out of the list on my phone and find Nik watching me, his deep blue eyes unreadable but soft. Something between us flickers between us, and when I smile, I don’t even try to hide it.
He mirrors me with a slow, genuine grin of his own.
“What?” I ask, blowing across the top of my drink to cool it.
“Nothing. I just love watching you,” Nik says softly. “You’re so beautiful.”
Well, damn. If I wasn’t smiling before, I definitely am now.
“Thanks. Right back at you,” I say, shooting him a wink.
His eyes glint playfully. “You think I’m beautiful?”
Groaning I roll my eyes. “Yes, Nik. You’re beautiful.”
He bats his obscenely long lashes like a Disney princess. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Okay, seriously. Tell me about yourself. We hang out all the time, but I feel like I don’t actually know that much about you.”
He lifts a brow. “What do you want to know?”
“I don’t know… what about your family? Are your parents still together? Any siblings? Favorite color? And is Nik short for something?”
He chuckles at my barrage of questions. “Wow. Alright, rapid-fire round. My parents are still married, going on twenty years.”
“Dang. That’s impressive.”
He nods, a thoughtful smile forming. “It is. They put in the work, you know? They communicate, respect each other, and they’re always doing little things for one another.
I never once had to question whether they were in love.
I could just see it. And if I ever get married, that’s what I want. Nothing less.”
My heart squeezes a little. “That’s really beautiful, Nik. And you absolutely shouldn’t settle. You deserve that kind of love.”
“Thanks,” he says. “Okay… siblings. None. Just me. Probably why I’ve basically adopted Axel and Johnny as my own. They’re the closest thing I’ve got to brothers.”
“How long have you known them?”
“Since middle school. Axel and I were in sixth grade, Johnny was in eighth. We clicked right away, and that was it. Ride or die.”
I hesitate, then ask the thing that’s been swirling in my mind. “And you and Axel…”
His expression shifts, more serious. “You’re wondering about the kiss.”
I nod. “Kind of. I’m just curious. We don’t have to talk about it if it’s weird.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not weird. Not with you.” He takes a breath. “Axel and I are… complicated. We love each other. Always have. But sometimes, it feels like more. We’ve fooled around a few times. Nothing serious, more like experimenting or just blowing off steam.”
He shrugs a little, glancing at his hands.
“I don’t think of myself as gay or bi, and I’m pretty sure Axel doesn’t either.
I’ve never been attracted to another guy like that.
But with him… it’s different. When I think of the future, I always envision a wife.
I love women, but I guess I like Axel, too. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah,” I say, honestly. “You love him for him. I get it.”
Nik nods once, grateful I don’t make it into a big deal. A moment of quiet passes between us, comfortable.
“So,” he says after a beat. “Back to our hard-hitting questions. Favorite color?”
“Pink. Yours?”
“Blue.”
“Classic. Full name?”
“Nikolai.”
My mouth drops open dramatically. “Nikolai? Are you kidding me? That’s such a hot name.”
I fan myself in exaggerated distress, and he bursts into laughter.
“Oh, so I’m hot now?”
“Ugh. Gross. Your ego is out of control.”
He leans back, grinning like he owns the world. “Is Lina short for anything?”
“Carolina.”
“Carolina and Nikolai,” he says thoughtfully. “Sounds like the main characters in a romance novel.”
We go back and forth answering stupid questions until we finish our drinks and decide to head home.
Nik carries my shopping bags, and we walk hand in hand through the chaotic holiday parking lot.
Cars crawl through the rows like vultures circling for a spot, and people zigzag everywhere with arms full of bags.
We’re almost to the car when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I get hat eerie, unmistakable sensation, like we’re being watched. I look back over my shoulder, and a small scream escapes me before I can stop it.
Nik’s arm snaps around me, shielding me with his body. “What is it?”
But he sees the problem almost immediately.
“Luscious Lina. Nik,” Darren greets us, cool as ever.
Nik shifts in front of me, a human wall, voice low and lethal. “You’re violating your restraining order, Darren. Come any closer and I’ll rip you a new asshole and call it self-defense.”
Darren laughs, lifting both hands like he’s harmless. “No need for threats. I’m just out shopping. It’s pure coincidence we parked near each other.”
Everything about his tone sounds rehearsed, like he’s practiced this story just in case. I clutch the back of Nik’s shirt, pressing closer.
Nik doesn’t flinch. “Shopping, huh? Where are your bags?”
“Didn’t find anything worth buying.”
“Where’s your car?”
“Guess I lost it.”
“How convenient.”
I’m tired of this game. I peek around Nik’s shoulder. “What do you want?”
Darren shrugs, smile icy. “Like I said, just shopping. But if I did want something, it’d be to remind you to watch your back, bitch.” His tone sharpens. “You ruined my life. No school’ll touch me with a sexual assault charge pending. My shot at a football scholarship? Gone.”
His fists curl at his sides, his face darkening.
“You did that to yourself,” Nik snaps. “Don’t blame Lina for the consequences of your shitty choices.”
Darren’s smile twists. “That’s up for debate.
Doesn’t matter, though. I don’t have to break my restraining order to get payback.
There are people out there who’ll get their hands dirty for the right price.
” He tilts his head. “Maybe I’ll send someone to grab you at school.
Or follow you home. Or slip into your room at night and remind you of the dirty slut you are. ”
Nik surges forward with a growl, but my grip on the back of his shirt stops him. Not here. Not like this.
Darren’s grin widens. “I guess you’ll never know. Bye, Luscious Lina.”
He strolls away, unhurried. We watch him until he disappears into the crowd, then Nik hurries me to the car, gets me inside, and slams his own door shut. His hands clamp the steering wheel, knuckles white. His jaw’s so tight I think he might crack a tooth.
The ride home is silent.
Once we park in the driveway, neither of us moves. The engine ticks softly as it cools. Then, Nik reaches across the console and offers me his hand, palm up. I slide mine into his without hesitation. He laces our fingers together like it’s second nature.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He gives me a look that says, don’t bullshit me.
I sigh. “Seriously, I’m fine. Darren’s just… pathetic. He’s not stupid enough to actually follow through on anything.”
Nik doesn’t look away. “That’s where we disagree. He’s a dumbass, and now he’s a desperate dumbass. He feels like he has nothing left to lose, and that makes him dangerous. I think we should tell Ben. Let him do his FBI magic and keep tabs.”
I hesitate. “You really think we need to?”
“I do. Better to be safe than sorry.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. You’re right. We’ll tell him.”
His kind, worried eyes find mine.
“Hey, Nikolai?” His eyes darken at the sound of his full name, and a little thrill sparks in my chest. I love knowing I affect him like that.
“Yes, Carolina?” he answers, voice low, teasing.
Ohhh. I really like when he uses my full name. I guess two can play this game.
I lick my lips, pulse racing. “Kiss me?”
He leans across the console and brushes his lips against mine. Once. Twice. It’s slow and sweet until he catches my bottom lip with his teeth and pulls. A quiet moan escapes me, and the bastard laughs.
“Keep it in your pants, trouble.”