Until Nico (Until 4)

“Yep. Seems your man has made a name for himself.”

“I knew he was good, but wow,” I breathe, my heart filling with pride.

I look over at Nico and Devon again, seeing that they both have their heads turned towards Maggie and me. Nico’s eyes travel from my head to my toes, and I can see the hunger in his eyes. I have the urge to pull him into the bathroom.

“So how does it feel to be married?” I ask, turning back to Maggie.

“No different, I guess.” She shrugs her bare shoulder. “You know, we’ve been living together so long we may as well have been husband and wife already. This is just a piece of paper that says we’re married.”

“I can’t wait to have that piece of paper,” I mumble under my breath.

Yes, I’m living with Nico, and yes, I’m pregnant with his child, but I want his last name. I want his ring on my finger, and I want mine on his. I really wanted it after the one night I was looking at all his tattoos and he told me why he didn’t have one on his left ring finger when he has them on all the others.

“When we get married, I’m gonna tattoo your name there,” he said, and I felt my heartbeat double-time at his words. I want my name on him. I love that idea, but I want him to wear a wedding band as well.

“Do you know the history of the wedding ring?” I asked him, tracing the empty space between his knuckles.

“No. Tell me.”

“In ancient times, the circle was the symbol of eternity, no beg

inning or end. The hole in the center of the ring also had significance. It wasn’t just considered a space, but rather a door leading to things and events for the couple. When an Egyptian man gave his woman a ring, it signified his never-ending love. Later, when the tradition was adopted by the Romans, the ring symbolized ownership. They also believed the ring should be worn on the left ring finger because they thought there was a vein in that finger, referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris,’ or the ‘Vein of Love,’ that was said to be directly connected to the heart.”

“How do you know that?” he whispered.

My eyes met his, which were warm and soft. “I read it somewhere.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. I had been fascinated by that little piece of gold on my mom’s finger since I was a little girl.

“Now tell me the truth about how you knew that,” he said, running his hand over my hair.

I sighed, loving and hating how he could read me so easily. “When I was little, I used to play with my mom’s wedding band on her finger. I remember always being curious about what it meant. I knew it meant forever. I just wanted to know why. So one day, my mom took me to the library, and we found this old book about the history of the wedding band. The first ones were made out of grass then later out of ivory or wood, depending on your wealth. But no matter what they were made from, the meaning was always the same.”

“Jesus,” he growled, flipping me onto my back, and before I had a second to think about what was going on, he was inside me.

“Sophie? Sophie?”

“Wh…what?” I ask, snapping out of the memory.

“Wow, that man must have it going on if you can stand in a room full of people and still be with him somewhere else.”

“It wasn’t that.” I blush, lowering my eyes.

“Uh-hummm. Whatever you say, girl, but I know that look anywhere. Hell, I plan on wearing that look later tonight.”

“What are you to talkin’ about?” Devon asks, walking up and putting his arm around Maggie’s waist as Nico does the same around mine.

“Girl talk, and you know we can’t tell you.”

“You and Sophie’s girl talks always mean trouble,” Devon says with a smirk. “Man, you gotta watch out for these two. They’ve always been nothing but trouble.”

“That’s a lie.” I laugh. “You were always trying to get us in trouble.”

“I’m a cop. I take offense to that.”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and shake my head.

Devon was always trying to talk us into doing things we weren’t supposed to. Job Corps was very strict; we weren’t allowed to leave the grounds unless you had earned it. We had a curfew and other rules as well, and he was always breaking them and dragging us along with him.

“Sophie loved the drama.” Maggie smiles.

“Anyways, are you excited to go to the Bahamas?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Yes! Two weeks of beautiful beaches and sun. I love Seattle, but I hate that it rains all the time. It will be nice to get out of town,” Maggie says, leaning deeper into Devon’s side, smiling up at him. It used to make me jealous watching them, but now I have that kind of love for myself.

‘That’s one thing I don’t miss. I love Tennessee,” I tell them, feeling Nico’s fingers flex on my hip.

“We’ll come visit after you have the baby,” Maggie states, and Devon looks at me, his eyes getting big. Crap.

“You pregnant, Sophie?”

“Yes,” I say quietly.

“How did this happen?”

“Well, you see, when a man and—” I start flippantly.

“Cut the crap. You gonna marry our girl?” Devon asks, glaring at Nico. Nico—being Nico—glares back at him, putting his arm around my shoulders.

“You really want to ask about that at your wedding?” Nico asks.

“Hell yes. Everyone in this room loves Sophie, and no one here will be happy to know she’s pregnant with no ring on her finger.”

“That so?” Nico asks, looking around at the people in the room, who have all started to watch us.

I can feel my cheeks heating up. I know Devon thinks of me as family, but this is crazy.

“Devon, please sto—” I start, but suddenly Nico gets down on one knee in front of me. “What are you doing?” I whisper, watching as he pulls a small, turquoise box from inside his suit jacket.