Page 128 of Nikola

Nikola tilted his head as if thinking about it. “But you could change your mind. Right?”

I sighed. This was not how I envisioned this afternoon going.

“I guess,” I answered vaguely, both of us still in the car while a potential new home waited for us. “Is this because you want kids? I just think we’re way too young to even think about kids.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose while shadows danced in his eyes. “You’re right. We aren’t even married yet.”

I smiled, slightly relieved. “Exactly. Let’s not rush things. Unlike our friends, let’s try to enjoy the process of planning a wedding and getting married.”

He chuckled.

“Thank God, then all my prior plans tanked. We’re breaking the tradition, you know.”

“How so?”

“The past several weddings occurred with a groom forcing the bride to say ‘I do’ or even holding a gun to her. We’re setting a high standard,” he stated, then winced, smiling sheepishly. “Well, aside from the sex tape.”

“Force of circumstance,” I offered up a reason.

He opened the car door and I did the same, then rushed around to help him. He used his arms to shift over to the wheelchair, his veins and muscles bulging, and I found my mouth part at the view. I swallowed, my pulse throbbing between my legs.

I ignored it, letting my gaze stray, and locked on the beautiful home while I waited, wondering where all this was going.

I’d been so caught up in my thoughts that I was startled when a hand tugged on mine. My eyes lowered to Nikola’s inked fingers intertwined with mine, my name on his ring finger.

My gaze met his.

“Are you ready to see our home?” I nodded. “Let me give you a tour and you can tell me whatever you want changed.”

Then, without a warning, he lifted me up and set me on his lap. A squeal escaped me and we laughed for the next few hours as I got a detailed tour of what would be the beginning of our future.

53

NIKOLA

Skye hadn’t said much about the house. We ate dinner in silence and then she excused herself, but instead of going to the master bedroom, she went to the guest room.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Well, disappointed and somewhat relieved, because my legs were still a sore subject and a big part of me rebelled against Skye seeing too much of what was holding me back.

She’d always looked at me like I was her hero and there was no sense in lying to myself, I didn't feel like one anymore.

Our new house had a top-of-the-line gym connected to the master bedroom suite, equipped with machines that had been recommended by my physical therapist. I’d been working on the exercises diligently every morning and every night, and tonight was no exception.

Yet, my heart wasn’t in it right now.

Instead, it kept thinking about the lips and body of the girl I’d sworn to protect since I was that little boy who accidentally kissed her on the lips. Things were certainly more simple back then.

I wheeled myself back into the empty master bedroom, showered—which took longer these days—before I found myself sprawled on my back, letting my mind wander.

I wondered if Skye ever thought about that kiss and our childhood.

The day was warm and the breeze swept through her long, dark pigtails, tempting me every time they swung.

She was small, too small for her age. My dad said I was too big for mine, but he was wrong. Skye was definitely fragile, although when she glared at me, it didn’t seem so.

Skye jumped up in the air, almost as if she believed she’d fly away, and I finally gave in to temptation and tugged on her pigtail. Hard.

She winced, then put her hands on her hips and glared at me.