Page 23 of The Cost of a Bride

I have to make her understand that what happened back at my house between her and Cheryl was complete nonsense, and that she and I are meant to be together. And I think that deep down, she understands that too.

“Listen, Russell, I get it,” she says, averting her gaze. “You’re a good guy, and you feel guilty.”

“What?”

“You were my teacher way back when, you feel like you didn’t handle my first time well, and now you feel bad for not being home when Cheryl showed up,” she continues. “So you want to come and apologize.”

“No,” I reply, completely flabbergasted. “Nikki, that’s not it. That’s not it at all.”

I step forward, hoping to draw her eyes, but she won’t look at me. She just continues doing her makeup.

“Nikki, the reason I came here tonight was because I care aboutyou.” I can’t help myself any longer. I reach out and grab her by the waist and spin her around, forcing her to face me. “You should have seen me when I got home and realized what happened. I kicked her out, then I sped over to your place, just to find you not home. I was frantically calling you, texting you, and then I drove to the bar, praying Eric would be working and that he’d know how to get Alyssa’s address so I could come over here and that you’d be here so I could talk to you.”

A hint of softness comes across Nikki’s face. It isn’t much, but it’s there. She places her hands on my wrists as though her next move might be to push me away, but she doesn’t. She allows me to continue holding her.

“You…you did all that?”

I smile. “How do you think I got over here?”

Nikki thinks a moment, then a tiny blush comes over her cheeks, and the corners of her lips twist upward. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it.”

I squeeze her sides just enough to make her jump and try to wriggle away, but I hold her strong. “And you know why I did all that, gorgeous?” I ask her. She shakes her head. I can see the defenses coming down now. Joy begins to swell within me. “Because I love you.”

She wasn’t expecting that.

Her eyes go wide, and her jaw drops. A visage of innocence comes over her face, and she moves closer, so close our bodies are nearly pressing against each other.

“Russell…”

“I know you may have trust issues from your father,” I say softly. “But I promise you, baby, you willneverhave to worry about trusting me. I will always be there for you.” I notice a T-shirt lying on the bed and pick it up. I take a step back and lift it up over her head. She looks confused for a moment, then smiles and raises her arms up, and I slip it down over and on.

It goes on backwards, and we both laugh. “And you will never,everhave to go back to work at that mansion again,” I tell her. “Not so long as I’m around.”

Nikki lets out a deep sigh and collapses into my arms. I hold her against my chest, relishing in the warmth of her body, feeling every breath she takes as I run my hand through her hair.

This is it. This is our life. This is where she belongs.

“I’m so sorry,” she whimpers. “I never should have believed some woman I don’t even know.”

“It’s all right,” I reply. “It’s over now.”

She looks up, and I can see the tears beginning to form in her eyes. “I love you too, Russell. I’ll never leave you again ever.”

Epilogue

Nikki

Five Years Later…

Live could not be betterfor me.

Five years ago, there was one man who dictated my life through his gambling and drinking and countless others who I felt as though I served via my job. Now there is one man who I happily serve because I am his loving and devoted wife. Those other men are gone, and my father is four years sober.

He cleaned up his act when Russell and I had our son, Benji. I told him if he ever wanted to see him and be involved in our life that he couldn’t be drinking, and just like that, he got himself into a program.

I have to admit, I didn’t trust him at first, and why would I? It’s not like his track record was anything but awful. But he showed nothing but progress, and in less than three months, it was like he was a whole new man. I was crying tears of joy some nights and would just lie in Russell’s arms on the couch when I thought about what the future might be like.

Of course, Russell warned me not to get my hopes up too high, and I listened to his advice, but somehow, my dad kept things together and now he’s not only involved in my life, but Benji’s too.