Sempre (Sempre 1)

She smiled at Nicholas’s nonchalance. “I’m not going to jump.”

“Good,” he said as he stopped beside her, his lip busted, bruises already forming on his skin.

Haven frowned as she peeked at him. “I’m sorry he hit you for talking to me.”

He waved her off. “He’d never apologize, so don’t do it for him.”

She said nothing, staring back out at the water.

Nicholas sighed. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I shouldn’t have come.”

“But you did.”

“I did.” She was quiet for a moment, debating what to say. “It was my birthday.“

“Really? Well, happy birthday.”

She smiled sadly before saying the words she had longed to say for days, ones she swallowed back whenever Carmine was near. “There’s nothing happy about the day I was born.”

miled. “I don’t think Carmine will fit.”

“I don’t think so either,” Carmine said, chuckling. “Not even my dick would fit in that thing.”

* * *

There were more presents to open, and afterward they ate the cake. The three of them watched movies and listened to music all night, the evening feeling more like a regular day than a celebration. Haven felt ridiculous for her anxiety over it all, grateful to be able to relax with friends.

Friends. It was still surreal to her that she had people in her life she could call friends.

“So, have the two of you thought about what you’re doing next year?” Dia asked eventually. “I’m guessing you’re not going to be staying in Durante much longer.”

Haven glanced at Carmine, who just shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me. If she marries me, I’ll follow her to the gates of Hell.”

Dia had been taking a drink but choked, spraying soda all over herself. Coughing, she threw her hands into the air. “Did you say marry you?”

“Yes.”

“You proposed?” Dia jumped up and grabbed Haven’s hand. “Where’s the ring?”

Carmine groaned. “I didn’t have one.”

“Did you at least get down on one knee?” she asked. Carmine shook his head, and she smacked him on the arm. “What kind of freaking proposal is that?”

“Not a real one,” he said. “I asked if she’d marry me someday.”

“That’s even worse!” Dia tried to hit him again, but he was prepared and dodged the blow.

“Shit, stop hitting me. It’s not like I planned it. It just came out.”

She shook her head. “All the planning you put into Valentine’s Day, and you completely blow the proposal.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but Haven chimed in before he could. “I don’t need any of that stuff.”

Carmine smirked. “See, Warhol? I didn’t fuck up.”

“You still could’ve gotten down on one knee.”