I want to roll my eyes. “Harold, the father, was adamant that I have a man by my side to guide me. He was also holding out because he would have liked me to be married. Can you believe we are in the twentieth-first century and a woman cannot be without a man?”
“I’m sorry that you went through all that,” I say. “Truly I am, but—”
“I tried everything to get him to sell them to me, and when I say everything, I mean everything. He wouldn’t budge so I called in Nico. I begged him to help me out. He was hesitant at first and even he tried to get him to switch without actually having to get married but.” My mind starts to spin when she starts to talk about Nico’s part in this plan. “It was supposed to be a ninety-day marriage. We had the lawyer draft up NDAs for anyone who was on the case to sign. It was never, ever supposed to be leaked.” The tear that is waiting to fall finally rolls over. “For that, I’m so, so sorry.”
“I’m …” I say, and my throat closes up.
“I don’t know what you and Nico had,” she says. “But I do know that my best friend is suffering. I have never seen him like this, and to be honest, I had no idea about you until yesterday when he almost tore off his lawyer’s head,” she says. “He’s the only man I will ever trust.”
“Then he confessed to me what happened and I have to be honest. He’s a smart man, but he’s also a very stupid man.” I almost laugh at her. “But he’s also kind and so fucking loyal he married me just so I can get stocks in a company.” I try to say something. I try to, but nothing comes out. My mouth is dry, and as much as I try not to cry in front of her, I can’t stop the one tear that escapes.
“I know what it feels like to love someone and they not know.” She wipes her own tear. “I fell in love with Lizzie when I was thirteen, but I had to hide it. I didn’t know then that it would be a love that would seep so deep in me that nothing would come close to it.” My eyes go wide, my mouth hangs down. “I kissed her for the first time three years ago. No one knows that we are together, not even Nico. I love her with everything I have, and I have no idea how I would be if I had to stand back and watch her parade around with someone. I can’t imagine what you went through when you found out. I would never want to inflict that pain on anyone.” She wipes her tear away.
“It’s not your fault,” I say, and she gets up.
“I won’t take up anymore of your time,” she says, turning and walking away. She stops when she gets to the door. “Nico also doesn’t know that I’m here right now.”
“Why?” I ask. “Why come here and plead his case?”
“Because regardless of what happens, you should know that we aren’t together like that,” she says. “The marriage is as fake as my boobs.” I want to burst out laughing, but I can’t. “I hope to see you soon.”
She turns and walks out of my office. I stand here for a second until my legs give out, and I fall into the chair.
I don’t even focus when I make my way home. I walk to my room and undress, slipping into jeans. I’m walking downstairs when I make the decision to end this. End all of this. I get into the car, my head replaying Laurene’s words. Over and over again, I fight back the tears.
Getting out of the car, I look around, seeing only a couple of lights on. I walk up to the door and press the doorbell. I wrap my jacket closer to me as my heartbeat echoes in my ears. I hear footsteps and then the lock unlocking. I have been practicing this moment. I’ve seen it in my head, but nothing could have prepared me for this.
The door is pulled open and all I can do is look at him. “Becca,” he whispers. He stands there in his dress pants and a white shirt that I know is almost soft like silk. His two buttons at his neck are open, his sleeves rolled up. His hair looks like his hands were just in them, his eyes look exactly like mine. With heavy circles around them and the light in them gone.
“Nico,” I say, feeling almost like a stranger standing in front of him. “I was wondering if you had a minute to talk.”
Chapter 32
Nico
“Nico.” She says my name, and my heart stops in my chest. She’s so fucking beautiful she takes my breath away. “I was wondering if you had a minute to talk.”