Page 134 of Spring Break Fling

His eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that I had felt only in moments of deep vulnerability between us. His hand squeezed mine lightly, assurance seeping through his touch.

“Let’s talk,” Nikko said, his voice softer now,

“I flew a thousand miles just to do that,” I said.

“I hope you were planning to do a lot more than talk,” he said with a wink.

Before I could respond, Diego’s voice cut through the moment. “Ugh. Gross. Take it outside, lovebirds.”

I glanced over to see him leaning against the counter, making exaggerated gagging noises. Jessie, beside him, rolled her eyes but smirked. “Yeah, seriously. This is a tattoo shop, not an hourly motel.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Diego muttered.

Nikko chuckled, his eyes never leaving mine. “Ignore them,” he said softly.

“Already doing it,” I replied, and then, before I could overthink it, I kissed him.

It wasn’t the most graceful kiss—my nose bumped his, and I was pretty sure I still tasted like the stale coffee I’d been chugging on the plane—but it was real. It was us. And for the first time in weeks, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

When we finally pulled apart, Diego clapped sarcastically. “Wow, truly inspiring. Can we get back to work now?”

“Not until we seal this deal with a cheesy line,” Nikko said, his eyes sparkling.

“Oh, God,” I groaned. “Don’t you dare.”

He grinned. “Hannah, you had me at ‘I screwed everything up.’”

Jessie tossed a wad of paper towels at him, but he caught it mid-air without breaking eye contact with me. And just like that, everything felt right again.

“Now, let’s talk about what comes next,” Nikko said, taking my hand and leading me to the private room at the back of the shop.

“I have a confession,” he began, his eyes searching mine for a reaction.

“What is it?” I asked, a knot forming in my stomach.

“I never stopped hoping you would come back. I wasn’t hoping you would fail, but I hoped like hell you would come back to me.”

The honesty in his words struck a chord deep within me, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him. It felt like it had been forever since I had seen his face. He looked different. More handsome and less edgy. Whatever it was, I loved it. I loved him even more.

“I guess failure is a matter of perspective,” I murmured, the knot in my stomach loosening slightly. “Because coming back feels like the best decision I’ve made in a long time. Walking away from everything I’ve known. My safety net. All of it. I’m taking a real leap of faith here and I’m not afraid. I’m trusting you, Nikko.”

Nikko’s smile widened, and he pulled me closer into an embrace that felt like home. “I think it’s the best decision too,” he whispered against my hair.

Settled in the cocoon of his arms, I couldn’t help but think about all the turns my life had taken to lead me to this moment. The long hours, the endless projects, the recognition that never really filled the void I had tried so hard to ignore—it all seemed trivial now compared to the simple truth that resonated through Nikko’s embrace.

“So, what comes next for us?” I asked, pulling back slightly to look at him.

“I think I’d like to take you for a ride.”

“On your bike?”

“Scared?”

I smiled. “No, but I have my suitcase.”

“I’ll have Diego drop it off at my house.”

I smiled. “Works for me.”