Nik shakes his head and replies firmly, “That’s not true. You’re worth a hundred of any woman out there. You would give the shirt off your back to someone who needed it. I’ve never met a woman as honest and selfless as you. I don’t care about children anymore, honestly. As long as I have you, I won’t need a thing. ” He holds my face in his hands and says, “You’re it. The one. The start. The finish. You are how my story ends. ”
Swoon. Damn it, Nik, you fight dirty.
Nik is giving me a toothache. But I won’t give in.
I respond with a shaky, “I need time. ”
He nods and whispers, “Okay, baby. ” Then he pulls my face towards his and kisses me softly.
As soon as his lips touch mine, I sigh. He moves to stand between my knees and I grip the lapels of his silk shirt. I try to pull him closer to me, impossibly close.
Right now, it’s just Nik and Tina. No problems. Just love.
I’m so in love with Nik.
He nips my bottom lip and I gasp. His tongue touches mine and I moan lightly into his mouth.
I’m losing composure. Nik’s kisses are divine.
Suddenly he pulls back and whispers, “I’ll give you time, baby. But do me a favor, will ya?”
I nod and he says, “Remember how you feel when you kiss me. Because if it’s even a small piece of what I feel when I kiss you, there is no question about what you should do. ”
He turns his back, walks out of the store room and closes the door behind him. I touch my fingertips to my still wet lips.
Nik is imprinted on them.
I thought long and hard over the last few days. I tried hard to let Nik go but it’s proving difficult.
Tragedy has a way of making you appreciate every small happiness you experience. The happiest I’ve been in the past five years is with Nik.
I lose myself in thought before I slide off the desk. I want to go home.
So I pack my things, leave my keys with Nat, and catch a cab back to the apartment.
***
As soon as I arrive home, I go back to bed.
Emotions are so exhausting.
When I open my eyes again, it’s dark.
Geez Louise! How long did I sleep?
I look over at the bedside clock and it reads 7:12pm.
Holy moly! I slept for eight hours! That’s just great. Now I won’t get a wink tonight.
Nat has a date tonight. She hasn’t been on a date in an age and I’m so happy for her. She’s been too busy making sure I’m okay. It’s time Nat had something good in her life.
I’m just about to get out of bed and shower when someone starts banging on the front door like a maniac. I pull the covers up to my chin and my eyes widen.
What if it’s a robber?
Yes, sweetie. Because robbers knock before they enter.
I pull back the covers and sneak into the hall. Then I hear it.