Page 112 of My Sweetest Obsession

“Love is messy,” Tabi said. “But what you and Nico have? Whoo.” She fanned herself with a dramatic flair. “It’s darker than Romeo and Juliet.”

Mya and I both laughed but stopped when there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Mya shouted.

“It’s Miguel. Nico is requesting Gigi’s presence.”

“Tell Nico you can’t rush perfection!” Mya said.

Miguel chuckled. “Alright.”

His footsteps retreated, and Tabi pulled me into a quick hug. “Make him grovel.” When she pulled back, she said with a beaming smile, “Call us if he pisses you off. We’ll have a getaway car ready just in case,” Mya added with a wink.

After putting on the final touches, I grabbed my purse, feeling a rush of excitement, and walked to the door right when there was another knock.

I swung the door open and smiled brightly at seeing Valarie looking better than the last time I’d seen her.

“What are you doing here?” I asked excitedly, pulling her in for a hug that felt like home.

“I wanted to see you off before your big date,” she said, stepping back and rubbing her hands up and down my arms, a gesture of comfort that Mom used to do.

“How did you—” I started to ask, but she cut me off with a playful grin.

“Mya called me.”

Of course she had.

She spread my arms wide, her eyes sparkling as they roamed over my dress. “Gigi, you look absolutely stunning. Like an avenging angel.”

“Thank you,” I replied as she released my arms.

“I just came by to send you off with some auntly wisdom,” she said.

“Come in,” I urged, stepping aside as she entered the room.

We both settled on the edge of my bed. “You look so much like your mother,” she said softly.

There was a pause before she continued. “Don’t tell your father this, but Nico reminds me so much of him.”

“Really? How so?”

“He was very protective of your mother to the point of obsession. But unlike Nico, he managed to keep that obsession under control. Yet I can’t help but notice how Nico looks at you.”

“Like he wants to kill me,” I said with a laugh.

Valarie shook her head. “No. Like he would set this world on fire for you. To protect you from the things in this world that will threaten your mere existence and happiness.”

Her words hung in the air, settling around us as I took in their meaning.

There had always been an undeniable connection between Nico and me, stirring up feelings I didn’t even realize I could ever feel. It felt as if fate had woven our paths together for a reason, a bond written in the stars. Maybe Tabi was right when she said Nico and I were destined for each other.

“Kind of like it’s written in the stars, right?” I said.

She chuckled softly. “Yes, just like that. Now come on,” she said, rising to her feet and taking my hand. “Your man is waiting for you downstairs.”

As we stepped out of the room and into the hall, I glanced over my shoulder to see Tabi and Mya were practically beaming with happiness like kids who’d just been handed a bag of candy.

“Have fun, sweetheart. Please call me afterward; I want to hear all about it,” Valarie said, kissing my cheek.