Nikki smiled up at him. “Thank you. It was nice to meet you finally, Chase raves about you quite a bit.”
Brayden shot me a quick smirk. “I have to say, we’re lucky to have your guy on the team. We needed someone like him.”
Hearing my idol drunkenly rave about me being an asset to the team was one of the most incredible moments of my life. Even if it was the booze talking, I didn’t care. Brayden Cox thought I was important and a good player—I was on fucking cloud nine.
Nikki was quiet and fidgety during the entire cab ride back to our apartment.
“Everything okay, darlin’?” I finally asked, helping her out of the car.
She eyes snapped to mine. “Yes, of course. Why?”
I shrugged. “You just seem a little mellow. Did you have a good time?”
She pulled me closer to her side. “The best,” she answered.
“Good.” We made our way up the flights of stairs. “Maybe we need to find a building with an elevator.” I was trying for any type of small talk, and Nikki wasn’t biting.
What is up?Most of the time, I had the darnedest time trying to get a word in edgewise while she chattered away.
Sinking down into the couch, I patted the cushion next to me. “One episode ofThe Blacklistbefore we call it a night?”
Nikki shoved her hands into her dress pockets. “Sure, but one thing first. Stay here.” She scurried off into the bedroom then hurried back with a wrapped package hiding behind her back. “I got you a little something while you were gone.”
She handed me the gift, which was wrapped in simple red paper. “Babe, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
She plopped down next to me. “You’ll see why. Just open it.”
I could feel her excitement as I tore at the wrapping. I opened it to find a copy of my favorite book with the gold seal of it being the 75thanniversary edition. “Wow. Nikki, this is incredible.”
“Open it up.” She bounced in her seat.
There was a handwritten note on the first page.
Chase, I love you.
XOXO, Nicolette
P.S. And then there were three…
Istared at her note, trying to put the pieces together. Slowly it all came together, and I froze. After a moment, I cleared my throat as a huge knot formed. “You’re…? We’re…?” is all I could stutter out as I pulled her into my arms and my eyes stung with welling tears.
“Please tell me those are happy tears,” she whispered as she kissed my neck.
I nodded. “We’re going to be parents.”
I was in sheer shock and awe. I wasn’t nervous or scared; rather, an overwhelming wave of excitement consumed me. I started rapidly kissing Nikki’s cheeks and neck.
“I am so thrilled you’re excited. I was so nervous,” she confessed.
“How could I not be over the damn moon? We’re going to have a baby!”
Nikki pulled away from me. “We need to tell my mom.”
“Let’s do it right now.” I was way too excited to not share the news with everyone.
“I don’t know.” Her eyes started darting around the room. “I haven’t even told her I moved in yet.”
I pulled Nikki tighter into my arms. “There’s no time like the present, and the sooner we tell her, the easier it will be. It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid.”