I saved her for last, working on the faces of her small bridal party first. The three bridesmaids cluster behind me, smiling with anticipation at her.
I hold up a mirror so she can see my work.
She grips it, her eyes wide as she turns her face this way and that. “Wow, Casey! I look…like me.”
“You want more drama?” I ask, concerned and worried I misunderstood her request. “We can easily make you—”
“No, no,” she breathes. “This is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to look like me on my wedding day, the same woman my fiancé fell in love with. Just…radiant.”
I grin. “Well, you’re certainly that. You’re easily one of the most beautiful brides I’ve ever seen.”
She gets out of her chair and hugs me. “Thank you!”
I hug her back. “Thank you. For hiring me. For helping me rekindle my passion.”
I meet Nicholas in the church sanctuary, where he waits for me. The bride and her family graciously insisted I attend the wedding if I liked, and that I could bring a date. Who else would I bring but my boyfriend?
“You seem happy,” he murmurs in my ear as we settle ourselves in the pew. He stretches one arm along the back of it behind me, allowing me to nestle in close.
I beam at him. “I am happy.”
“Then I’m happy, too.” He traces a finger down my cheek. “You deserve all the happiness.”
I bite my lip, glancing up at him. “I got an inquiry. To do a photoshoot for a magazine in LA.”
He smiles. “That’s amazing.”
I lift my brows. “You think I should do it?”
“I think you should do exactly what you want to do, and if going to LA to work on that photoshoot will make you happy, then I want you to do it.”
“It would be good money.”
He leans close, taking my chin between his fingers. “Will it be fulfilling?”
I nod slowly. “I think…I’m ready to give LA a shot again.”
His eyes grow a little sad, but he kisses me. “Then you have to do it. I’ll miss you, but people make long-distance relationships work all the time. We’ll be no different.”
I reach up to touch his cheek. “Nicholas…I’m not moving there. I have it built into my contracts if I’m hired—airfare and lodgings have to be included. I live here. I have a reason to stay here.”
He quirks a brow. “Family. Alex needs you. Don’t let him fool you.”
I huff. “He sure does. He needs me to help him get back to Devin, and I’m going to do just that. But… It’s more than him. You’re here, Nicholas, and I don’t want to leave you. I can work and still have a home here…with you.”
He grins, taking my hand and kissing my palm. “I kinda really like you, you know that?”
I pretend to pout. “That’s all?”
Nicholas glances down, and for a second I’m afraid I’ve pushed too much. I was just kidding…kinda.
“No,” he says finally, lifting his eyes to mine. “No, that’s not all. I know it sounds crazy, but, Casey…”
“Yes?” I hold my breath.
“I’m falling in love with you.”
I let out an exhale of breath so loud, it makes the people sitting in front of us turn around. But I don’t care. I don’t care about anything except what Nicholas Diego just said to me.
I tug his face down to mine and kiss him. “That’s so funny you say that. Because I’m falling in love with you, too.”
Epilogue
Diego
One year later
I wait anxiously in the airport, keeping my eyes peeled for my beautiful girl. It’s almost midnight at Dulles International, but this was the only flight Casey could get that would bring her home in time for my birthday tomorrow—or in ten minutes, technically.
Finally, I spot her, trudging out of the jet bridge. Her black leather jacket is draped over one arm, and she lugs a carry-on tote over one shoulder. She looks tired, and I’m not surprised. She’s been working for the past four months on an upcoming, star-studded HBO series. It’s a historical, set during the 1940s, so she had to do a ton of research to nail down the looks and style of that time period. She got to come home exactly two times during the shoot, and I’ve missed her like crazy.
She spots me. Her face lights up, and she rushes into my arms.
“Hi, baby,” I murmur into her ear. “Welcome home.”
“I missed you!” she exclaims, tightening her arms around my neck. “It’s so good to be home. And just in time for your birthday.”
“I would have understood, you know,” I say, brushing her hair behind her ear. “If you could have gotten a better flight home.” She had to switch plans three times today.
“I don’t care,” she says, kissing me. “I refuse to miss your birthday.” Then her smile turns naughty. “Besides, I’ve got a few things planned for you.”
My dick jumps at her tone. It’s been a long four months. “Is that right?”
She nods. “It’s going to be an amazing birthday weekend, babe. Full of treats and presents and you getting spoiled rotten!”
“I am?”
“Yes. So let’s get my bag and hurry up so we can get the party started!”
I tug her hand. “How about we get it started right now?”
Casey turns toward me, lifting her brows. “What do you mean?”
“You said this weekend will be full of spoiling me and presents, right?”
“Yes…”
“Then I want a present now.”
“Nicholas, what—”
I pull her close. “Don’t forget to check your pocket for extra nickels,” I whisper in her ear.
Her face lights up with confusion and excitement. She grasps around the pocket of the jacket draped over her forearm and finds the little surprise I snuck in there during our first hug.
Then her eyes widen as she pulls out a small, black velvet ring box. I lower myself to one knee, reaching her hand.
“For my first present,” I say, popping the lid on the box where it rests on her palm, “I’d love for you to make me the happiest birthday boy around by being my wife.”
Casey drops her bag as her mouth falls open. “Wait, like, for real?”
Some of the midnight stragglers pause to watch us, smiling.
“One hundred percent for real,” I say, smiling. “No play-play.”
“Oh my God!” she squeals, tackling me. “Yes! Yes!”
We hug, laughing, in an awkward pile on the floor. Finally I ease her back to her butt and sit up so I can slide the ring on her finger properly.
She doesn’t know the long heart-to-heart I had with Alex before this moment. The conversation that solidified us as brothers. She doesn’t know that the birthday party she thought she planned for me has been converted into an engagement party, because I would rather celebrate her. She doesn’t know that I have a luxury hotel room booked for us, all her favorite meals planned, and that I plan to do the spoiling.
Those are all the things I want for my birthday, because it wouldn’t mean anything without her.