46. Nicole #2
“He’s in the shower. Coach wouldn’t let him leave until we had our usual debrief.
And then he ran to the shower. Did you like my dancing, Shark?
” Jaxson asks and I peek my head around Grayson to see into the locker room.
“Hey, Nicole. I’m so glad you said yes. I mean I don’t know what he would’ve done if you’d said no. He—”
A gasp falls out of my mouth as Owen, dressed only in a towel, growls as he pulls Brady back by the neck of his shirt. Brady just laughs at his caveman antics.
As soon as my eyes lock with his, everything else fades away. The only thing that matters is him. “Owen I’m so—”
He steps forward, nudging me back and away from the locker room and prying eyes, silencing my words with his finger against my lips.
His hair, still damp from the shower, drips down his forehead, and I reach up and swipe the droplets of water away.
He closes his eyes at my touch and takes a deep breath.
“Don’t apologise, Whiskey Girl. I love you, Nico. I always will.” He brushes my tears away with his free hand and cups my cheek.
I nuzzle into his palm, placing my hand on his chest. His heart is beating rapidly, and I smile against his finger still pressed against my lips. His eyes bore into me, and he moves his finger away and whispers, “My Whiskey Girl,” before placing his lips on mine.
A flash of heat runs through me as I forget where I am, everything that's happened for the past month or so fades away, and I just let this kiss consume me.
I relish in the familiar taste of his lips.
The way my body fits against his. When he kisses me, everything stops.
All I can do is be in the moment and enjoy every breath and moan he takes from me.
But before I can really start to enjoy it, it’s over, and I’m mewling out a little gasp at the loss of his lips against mine.
“I don’t want to stop, Nico, but I’m outside the locker room in my towel and everyone can see just how happy I am to see you.” I look down at the tented fabric and giggle when I meet his eyes again. “It’s what you do to me. Let me throw some sweats on, give me a few minutes.”
He turns to walk back inside, but the door opens and a hand sticks out with the green ring box in it. He chuckles and shouts, “Thanks Brady.” The hand sticks a thumb up in response before the owner pokes his head through the door.
“Just so you know, that’s what a real best man does for you. Lucky wouldn't have done that. I’m just saying…”
Owen laughs softly and turns to face his best friend. “If I let you be my best man, as well as Lucky, will you disappear?” Jaxson nods his head energetically and Owen rolls his eyes through a grin. “Fine. You’re in.”
A whoop hollers out of Jaxson as he runs out of the locker room in the smallest towel I’ve ever seen, hugs Owen from behind, winks at me and turns to head back into the dressing room.
Owen’s head shakes a little, but a smile’s on his face. He brings his head up, and as his eyes lock with mine, I hold my breath. “I would get down on one knee again but this towel will expose everything if I do. Nico, will you marry me?”
He opens the ring box for me and I gasp at the beautiful princess cut engagement ring with pavé-set diamond band. I nod my head, emotion clogging my throat.
“I need the words, Nico,” adoration shines through his eyes and I smile wider than ever before.
I swallow the emotion away and shout, “Yes! Of course I’ll marry you, Owen.
I love you. I’ve always loved you.” I slam myself into his arms, not caring if the towel he’s wearing falls off or not.
He laughs in my ear, the hand holding the ring box wrapping around my waist as his other hand holds his towel up.
“I’m glad you said that. Now put the ring on so I can put some clothes on and take you home. I’ve missed you.”
It's my turn to put my finger to his lips to silence him. “I missed you too.”
He places a kiss on my lips, the ring on my finger, and disappears through the door.
I take a deep breath and look down at my hand. As the diamond twinkles in the overhead light, I shake my head and whisper, “Is this real life?”
“Yep. And once you get married, everything gets better.” Emilia strides out of the locker room with Grayson’s hand covering her eyes.
“You can let go now. And it was only Luis that I saw.” She smirks, winks, and motions with her hands about the size of something.
Grayson slaps her ass and she lets out a little whoop as she hustles down the hallway with him hot on her heels.
The door opens again and Owen steps out in a pair of grey sweats and a white t-shirt. I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow at him. “You think that look is acceptable for an engaged man?” I run my eyes over his body.
“Okay, duly noted. No more grey sweats in public.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and starts to lead us toward the car park.
“What, just like that? You’re not going to argue with me or anything?” I ask, slightly perplexed by him giving in so easily.
“Nope,” he states with a smug grin on his face. “You know what they say, happy wife, happy life.”
He kisses the side of my head and I melt into him. This is it. Our happily ever after starts now. And I’m definitely going to be a very happy wife.