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Nick
God bless Maia. She texted me a few minutes ago to tell me she was bringing Leigh over.
I watch as my girl walks up to the porch, head held high in determination. She looks like herself again.
She knocks on the door, but I wait a moment before walking over and swinging it open. “Hola, Señorita.”
Her eyes narrow slightly and she tries to look around me into the apartment, but I step onto the porch and close the door behind me.
“You rented an apartment? When? Why?”
My lips pull into a charming smile. “Officially, I rented it this week. And I did it for us. I told you I wasn’t giving up.”
Her eyes widen. “Can I see it?”
“No.”
“Why?” Her arms cross over her chest. “Is there something going on with you and Rae?”
Hold up. What? I wasnotexpecting that.
“What? Why—why would you—”
“I saw the picture of you two together.” Her body shifts as she says it. So full of sass. I just want to kiss the hell out of her. But I need her to be sure first. I held on through her stomping on my heart this time. I’m not sure I’d be able to do it again. “And then Maia made it seem like you two were getting closer and—”
I can’t help it. I start laughing at that.
“What’s so funny?” she demands, stomping her foot.
“Do you really think I would’ve rented this apartment, called you every morning, texted you every night if there were something happening with someone else? Do you really think I could quit you that easily?” I look over Leigh’s shoulder and give Maia a wave. She smiles from the driver’s seat and waves back. “I have a feeling Maia saw how upset you were and gave you a little push…”
Realization dawns on her and she turns back to look at Maia, who wiggles her fingers at Leigh. Leigh sticks her middle finger up and yells over her shoulder, “Ay! Get out of here!”
Laughing, Maia looks at me for confirmation. I give a quick nod, and she pulls away.
Turning to face me again, Leigh has dropped her playfulness and her sass. “Why can’t I come in?”
“Because I rented this place for us. It’s where our future begins. But it doesn’t have a revolving door, Leigh. You can’t just come in when you want and then leave again. If you want to come inside, you better be damn sure this is what you want. Me. Us. The whole package. Once you set foot inside, it’s going to become your home. You don’t get to come in until you’re sure you’re ready for that.”
I swallow down my emotions. I love her with all my heart, but she has to take this seriously.
She drops her bags onto the porch and steps in toward me. “Your faith in me kept me going. I didn’t show it, but it meant everything. I listened to every voicemail. Over and over again. You are—” She stops, pushing out a breath and trying not to cry. “You’re the most important person in my life. There aren’t enough words for what you mean to me. And that scares me sometimes. I know you understand why. I’m sorry I took my anger and my pain out on you. You didn’t deserve it. I don’t ever want to do that again, so I’m going to put in the work to make sure I heal from all my shit. I don’t want it to destroy us.” Her last few words are a whisper as tears stream down her cheeks.
She sniffs back her tears and shakes her head, determination filling those perfect maple eyes. “I fucking love you, Nicholas Ardito.” Then she grabs my shirt and pulls me to her, pressing her body into me as much as she can, and forcing her tongue into my mouth. I wrap my arms around her back and deepen the kiss. A kiss laced with so much passion, it hits deep in my soul.
One of her hands slides up to the back of my neck, keeping me from pulling away.
I slide one hand under the back of her shirt, desperate to feel her skin.
When she lets out a soft moan, I pull back as much as she’ll let me, reach behind me, and swing the door open.
“Welcome home, Señorita.”
Her big eyes fill with happiness, and my heart softens in relief. It’s been too long since I’ve seen that look in her eyes.
As we untangle, I take her hand and lead her into the apartment.
She stops a few steps into the living room—which is open to a small kitchen—and looks around. “Nick,” she gasps, “it all looks so beautiful.”
