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Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of the rest of their lives. He’d alluded to the proposal. They’d discussed getting married. She had made a joke just that morning when they talked and called him her fiancé.
He had planned on proposing tonight with her parents and his father there. Properly.
But his dad wasn’t coming.
Not only was he not coming but he’d reminded André that he had no idea what he was getting into.
And he was right.
What did he really have to offer? At some point she’d figure out that he wasn’t the man she thought he was and she’d be gone. He’d fooled her. But she was smart and eventually she’d see it and then what?
And then he’d lose even more.
* * *
He’d sat in his car outside the restaurant for over an hour.
She probably didn’t know that. And it honestly didn’t matter. He hadn’t shown up for her and then he’d cut off all contact because she’d want to know why.
And he couldn’t tell her at the time.
“I’m here! I’m here!”
He turned to see Nikki running towards him in a light blue ballgown. She held the skirt up with both hands as she sprinted in high heels.
Her blonde hair was pinned back and her cheeks were flushed.
She bounded up the stairs, the dress floating around her in a way that looked like she was bouncing and not running.
“Asa decided to drop me off where the school buses park. A tour must’ve just ended or something. I was surrounded by children and most of them were larger than me. Which is terrifying, by the way. When did children get so large?” She smoothed her skirt and fanned her face with both hands.
The wrist brace was gone.
“I had to run around the building. I’m a sweaty mess, and I may or may not have rolled my ankle, but I’m here now.” She exhaled on a smile and beamed up at him.
The relief that flooded through him when she came running towards him was unexpected. He sought the correct reply, but no words would come out.
She came closer until they shared the same stair.
“André?” she asked with a soft frown tugging at her smile.
“You look beautiful,” he finally mustered.
She looked down and back up. “I do rock a ballgown, don’t I?” she agreed. “Are you okay?” she asked, inspecting him carefully.
He took a deep breath and let it out. “I am now.”
“Were you worried I wasn’t going to show?” she asked.
He knew she was teasing. It was obvious in her voice and the sparkle in her eyes.
But he said it anyway.
“It’s what I deserve.”
It was the closest they had come to talking about The Ghosting.
Her lips parted and a shadow passed across her bright blue eyes.
