CHAPTER 43
NOW
DAPHNE
I exit the elevator onto the eleventh floor before making my way toward the service stairwell at the end of the hall. I’m careful to not draw attention to myself, though I’m not sure how inconspicuous one can be wearing a wedding dress and carrying a porcelain unicorn statue. I’m not sure why he wants it, but it was the one thing Nicky asked I bring today when he told me to meet him on the roof.
It wasn’t easy to get away. My mother was furious when I exited the bridal suite, having previously forbidden me to engage in any form of a First Lookwith my future husband. In all fairness, she didn’t say anything about current husbands.
Clearing the last few stairs, I reach the top of the landing, shoving my weight against the heavy exterior door giving access to the hotel roof. I step out into the sunshine, glancing around the ground for something to prop the door open so I won’t get locked out.
“You can let it close.” Nicky’s voice draws my attention to the left where he stands. “It won’t lock.”
Thank goodness it won’t, because it slipped free of my hands the moment I caught sight of him. Nicky stands at the far end of the roof, his typically tousled hair slicked back, giving me an unobstructed view of those beautiful baby blues. They seem to shine brighter than ever as they’re complemented by the rich navy color of his tuxedo jacket which—as I draw closer, I can see—has a faint silver paisley pattern printed throughout fabric.
I smile at the sight of his unique style, loving the way he offers glimpses of his true self. Glancing down at his black slacks as I come to stand before him, I gesture toward his dress shoes with my chin.
“No Doc Martins today?” I ask with a smile before lifting my gaze to his.
Nicky doesn’t respond. He simply stares at me, his face bearing a look of complete and utter awe as his mouth hangs agape. His eyes travel down the length of my body, taking in the sight of the delicate ivory lace that clings to my form, before returning to settle on my face.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, his fingers stroking the length of my jaw. “How am I supposed to watch you walk down an aisle to someone who isn’t me?”
I swallow against the lump in my throat, determined not to cry. “It will all be over soon. You and Rico figured out the room location. Kellerman’s ready to go. All we need is Elliot and this Yuri asshole to be a couple of Chatty Cathys and boom—you’re in the clear.”
Nicky continues to stroke my face, his chin dipping into a slow nod. “You still gonna feel the same about me when I’m no longer king, demon?”
Shifting the unicorn into one hand, I use the other to straighten the length of his lapels. “Your crown has never defined you, Nicky. Neither should my opinion of you.”
“Your opinion is the only one that matters.” He lowers his hands to the flare of my hips, his gaze never breaking my own. “Ask me again how much you mean to me.”
My lungs draw in a deep breath as the question that singlehandedly shattered my heart threatens to do so again. My lips part, my body beginning to tremble as I force the question from my mouth.
“Scale of one to ten, Nicky… how much do I mean to you?”
The air stills around us, my breathing suspended as Nicky’s hands slip back into my hair, tilting my head up to his. “I need to tell you a story, baby.”
***
THEN
NICKY – Age 16
“Jones!” I call for her as her phone continues to vibrate with text notifications on the kitchen island in front of me. “Your phone’s going berserk!”
I’m sifting through my bowl of Lucky Charms in search for the last of the marshmallows when she enters, hopping up onto the stool beside me. Reaching over for her cell, she swipes into her messages where she begins scrolling through the plethora of texts Daph’s managed to send in the fifteen minutes J’s been upstairs.
Girls, man. How could they possibly have that much to talk about all the time?
I continue to eat my breakfast, periodically glancing over to skim my sister’s conversation because, let’s face it, to say I’m an overprotective brother would be an understatement.
It’s mostly random bullshit. Typical eighth grade gossip. Nothing really stands out, until my eyes snag on one text in particular that has my brow furrowing in confusion.
“Why does Daph less than three you?”
My sister glances over at me like I’m batshit crazy. “What?”
I motion at the screen with my spoon, drawing her attention to the specific text.
DAPH: I 3 U.
Jonsie barks out a laugh at my expense, shaking her head like I’m an idiot.
“That’s a heart, idiot. Look, see?” She tilts the phone toward me, pointing out how the less than sign and the number three when placed next to one another form a sideways heart.
“That’s stupid. Why wouldn’t she just use the heart emoji?”
“Her phone updated the other day and now her emojis and GIFs won’t work. Mom said we could take her to the store tomorrow to see if they can fix it since you know Mrs. Burke won’t do it.” J returns her attention to her conversation, her fingers flying across the screen as they continue to exchange texts with lightning speed.
I rise from my seat, draining the last of the milk from my bowl before depositing the dish in the sink. “She knows she can spell the word out, right? I know Daph’s a little slow on the uptake, but I’m sure she can manage the word love.”
“Stop being a dick.”
“Language,” I warn, earning me a roll of her eyes. Making my way back to the counter, I swipe my phone and keys before stuffing them in my pockets. “I gotta go scoop Rico. You good here?”
“Yeah,” she nods, waving me off. “Mom will be back from the store in a few. I’m gonna run errands with her today.”
“Sounds good.” I extend my hand out to meet hers, her fingers wiggling against my own.
“Woogity woogity,” we chant in unison.
“I’ll let you get back to texting Daph. It’s been almost forty seconds since your last message. Don’t want the two of you to go through withdrawal.”
“You’re not funny!” she shouts after me as I make my way toward the foyer.
“Make sure you tell Daph how much you less than three her!” I call out over my shoulder, laughing when I hear her talking shit as I exit the front door.
***
NOW
DAPHNE
“I love you, Daphne,” Nicky proclaims, pulling me flush with him. “Your mind, your heart, your drive, your soul… Everything you are captivates me. You’re the driving force behind all that I do. All I’ve ever wanted in this world was to keep you safe. I’m sorry I spent so long running from us, demon. But I promise, if you give me a shot, I will stand and fight for us each and every day for the rest of our lives. You once told me you ran to me when you felt lost because I was able to remind you of who you are. Daph, you’re the only one who’s ever seen the real me. Take a chance on me, baby, and neither one of us will ever lose our way again.”
Nicky’s mouth fuses with mine in a soul-searing kiss that I feel all the way through the tips of my toes.
He loves me. Nicky loves me. His declaration pounds against the wall of insecurities the years have constructed around my heart, fighting to weaken their hold on me. I’ve spent years dreaming of this day. He’s the only man I’ve ever wanted. The only man I’ve ever loved. I want to be strong enough to take this leap with him. Though, now that I know what those words sound like on his lips, I’m terrified of a world where I offer myself up completely, only to have him change his mind once again.
I won’t survive it this time. I know it.
“Talk to me, demon,” Nicky whispers against my lips, stroking the hair that’s slipped free from my updo back from my face.
“I love you.” My words cause him to lean into me, his body practically sagging in relief. “I’ve always loved you, Nicky. That’s never been the issue.”
“Then tell me what the problem is, and we’ll fix it.”
“The problem is you struggle to commit. What if I jump into this with you and a month from now… a year from now… ten years from now, you decide this isn’t for you?” Planting my hand against his chest, I take a step back. “I believe you love me. I do. I just also believe you’re not entirely sure what you want in life, and that’s a big gamble to take when my heart’s been broken one too many times.”
“Have you added any wishes to that unicorn?”
I glance down at the statue I’m still clinging to, a bit thrown by his question.
“No, there’s just the one you put in there.”
“Two.”
“Hmm?”
“There’s two of my wishes in there. The first I added before I gave it to you.” Gripping hold of the porcelain head, Nicky pulls it from my grasp before smashing it at our feet. The thick white shards scatter about the rooftop as Nicky’s quick to trap the two slips of white paper under his shoe, preventing them from blowing away.
He bends forward to pick them up, briefly glancing at each of them before discarding one and folding up the other. He holds it up for me to see before slipping it into my palm, my fist coming to close around it.
“I hope that answers some of your questions, demon.” He moves to pass me, pausing briefly to press a kiss to the top of my head as he goes. “I less than three you.”
He continues on across the rooftop, his departure marked by the slamming of steel when the door swings shut behind him.
Inhaling a shaky breath, my fist loosens, allowing my trembling fingers to unfold the fragile slip revealing his handwritten words. A sob breaks free as I stare down at his wish—the one he placed inside the unicorn before he ever even gifted it to me at graduation—unable to stop the tears as they fall.
One wish comprised of three words.
Daphne Guinevere Conners