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I wanted to say he was right, but it seemed so obvious to mention it might cause the universe to implode.
“Stop making up excuses, and just fucking admit that Nina loves you. Be brave, give love a chance.”
With those last words of Hallmark wisdom, my best friend and moral compass took his leave to return to planning his wedding to his beautiful wife.
It was a strange urge, to be sure, but that didn’t mean I felt it any less. As John left, I was overcome with the need to turn and look. Just to make sure he was actually there in the first place instead of being some sort of spirit gone.
John had indeed disappeared by the time I turned around, adding credence to my alcohol and chili inspired spirit theory. In his place stood my sweet little Nina, in an instance of coincidence that was quite nearly enough to make me believe in divine intervention. The only real question was which deity in particular. My money was on Aphrodite.Chapter Twenty-Seven - NinaMy heart felt like it was beating in my ears. I didn’t like conflict at the best of times, but Auntie Blair was right. I had to fight for what I loved. Even if the battle pitted me against Chad. Or at least my shyness against his insecurities. Locking eyes with the man who should be my love, I walked over to the table where he sat. Each thump of my boots on hardwood conjured another way to broach the subject. Chad turning away from me halfway through my cross room sojourn did little to boost my confidence.
“How long are you planning to keep up this act?”
“What act is that?” he asked, only half turning.
“Pretending you don’t love me or want to be with me.”
“Who said it was an act?”
“I did, just now,” I said, not quite sure where that had come from.
“You left with that asshole.”
“Who is my dad. I also came back and turned my back on my family. My dad wanted me to go back with him to Terrell Hills. Be his little doll to dress up and moving me about according to his own whims. You know what I did?”
“No, do tell.”
“I refused. I told him I loved my life here and told him to stay out of it. When he told me he would be cut me off, and I told him to go eat his hat.”
It was the first time I’d seen it in real life. Chad’s jaw actually dropping open in sheer shock.
“You didn’t.”
“I did. I screamed it, actually, right before I stormed back to my room at my aunt’s house to unpack. I thought he was going to have a heart attack.”
Silence stretched between us. Chad just stared at me, his eyes full of deep thoughts. Finally, he did something odd. He pulled a box out of his pocket and set it on the table. I recognized it immediately. Small and covered with black velvet. The lid on hinges, so it opened like a clamshell. There was only one thing that came in a box like that.
“I bought this a few days ago,” he said, gesturing to the box on the table, “I was going to propose, but then I didn’t because your dad had other plans for you. I really didn’t think you were going to choose me.”
I laughed. “Got that wrong, didn’t you?”
“Apparently so.”
“Maybe you should get down on what knee and see what happens,” I suggested sweetly.
After a moment’s consideration, the scratch of wood on wood sounded through the restaurant as Chad pushed back from the table and got down on one knee — still managing to be about my height.
“Nina Dunn, will you be my wife?”
“Of course, silly,” I laughed, wiping away tears of joy.
He pulled me into his arms and stood up, taking me with him, so we would be at the right height for smooching.
Everyone in the place cheered and applauded.
“I have another surprise for you,” I said when Chad returned me to my feet.
He laughed. “Oh, no, I’m not sure I can take any more surprises.”
“This is a good surprise, trust me.”
“Okay,” he said, though it didn’t sound too confident.
“I’m having our baby,” I said, the tears of joy already beginning to roll down my cheeks.
He sat down quickly, so pale it looked like he might faint. “H-how long?”
“I wouldn’t think too long under the circumstances,” I laughed.
Chad laughed, too, realizing how silly the question was. I was a little more than a week along. Auntie Blair had gotten me to a doctor to be sure and started making me all kinds of weird and exciting food that was supposed to be good for pregnancy.
He lay a gentle hand on my belly, and I covered it with both of mine. I didn’t have the heart to tell him there wasn’t much there yet, as I had recently found out. The crash course I’d gotten in reproduction was vigorous but also quite informative.
