Page 65 of Until Now

“Please, Nin? Just so Nick has a partner for tonight. So, he knows exactly what to do tomorrow.” If looks could kill, Elizabeth would be missing her wedding tomorrow. “Pleaseeeee!”

You have no idea how badly I want to throttle her, but it’s hard to stay annoyed when she gives her best puppy dog eyes from across the fountain. “Excuse me, Jenny,” I sigh.

“Oh, no. You’re perfectly fine, sweetie.” Jenny tries but fails to hide a smirk.

“Qualsiasi cosa per te. Sappi solo che ti prenderò calci in culo,” I say, joining them at the end of the aisle. Hopefully, the smile on my face tells Elizabeth what I said was anything but nice.

“Do I even want to know?” Elizabeth asks.

“Ti amo.” I know she understands that.

The wedding planner pushes me towards Nick, but neither of us makes a move to stand closer. “Come on, you two. Act like you like each other.”

“Yeah, act like you like each other!” Michaela yells from the altar earning a glare from both of us.

C’mon, just do it,Elizabeth says with her eyes urging me closer.

I’m about to take the first step when Nick holds his arm out to me. I hesitate, but take it and that familiar spark spreads the moment we touch. I know he feels it too, how could he not? The space disappears, his hand resting on top of mine over his arm. He leads me down the aisle. The walk feels longer than a few seconds, it feels like an eternity. The universe giving us a chance to talk for the first time in months, yet neither of us does.

“You dyed your hair,” he finally whispers.

“Observant.” I stopped coloring my hair and let my stylist dye it back to my natural dark chocolate color and added extensions giving it the length I have missed since I cut it off in college.

I see the corner of his lips tug upwards and I can’t stop my own from doing the same. “It’s good to see you, Dee.”

“Is it?”

Our eyes meet for the first time when we reach the end of the aisle, but we don’t say anymore. A brief smile before he turns to take his place at the altar. No dimple.

“Not a word, Michaela,” I whisper when I meet her smirk.

“I didn’t say anything.”

§

Elijah leads me out of the restaurant by the arm. I’m exhausted and have another long day ahead of me. “It’s only 7:48, anyone up for another round?” I hear my brother ask when he and Eileen reach the sidewalk where the others wait. Is it really only a quarter ’til eight? It feels like it should be closer to ten o’clock.

“You should meet up with us this year, it’s a lot of fun,” Elijah says, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.

“I don’t know, Eli. You guys are there on Christmas, I don’t think I can do that.”

“You can bring Nick if you want.”

“Elijah!” I smack his chest playfully.

“I’m just saying, you guys aren’t very good at hiding it.”

“Nothing is going on.”

Elijah leans in close and whispers in my ear, “You might wanna tell him that.” He motions down the steps where Nick glares at us. He quickly averts his gaze.

“Nina, finally!” Elizabeth tears me away from Elijah and pulls me down the stairs. “We’re going to Savoy for drinks.”

“You guys go have fun. I’m going to bed.”

“Nonsense! You have to come.”

I don’t want to go out, especially if Nick is going. But, it’s no use arguing against Elizabeth. She won’t take no for an answer. “Fine, but only because it’s your wedding. I need to freshen up first, I’ll meet you there.” Elizabeth is wary, she’s worried if she lets me go upstairs I may not come back down. “I’m right behind you, leave Elijah here if you don’t believe me.” I don't miss the way my words catch Nick’s attention nor the glare he shoots at the dirty blonde. The way he’s trying to replay the night’s events to see if there is something he missed. Something between me and Elijah.

---