08
Once Andrew’s figure disappeared from sight, I waved Nick down. “Come on, get down from there. This isn’t a stage show; it’s dangerous.”
Nick’s face turned crimson, a mix of embarrassment and confusion, as he nimbly hopped back over the railing.
Ophelia’s eyes widened in surprise. “You figured it out that quickly?”
I chuckled. “Not too quickly. Just when he started reading his lines like a robot.”
Ophelia shot a glare at her brother, puzzled. “Then why did you keep playing along?”
I glanced at Nick. “What was I supposed to do? If I didn’t agree, how would this end? Was he really going to jump?”
Ophelia coughed, caught off guard by my bluntness.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, reassuring her, “I know you’re looking out for me. Trust me, I’ve got this. This time, I really, absolutely won’t get back together with him.”
Her face showed clear discomfort. “As long as you know.”
Just as Ophelia and I were about to head down from the rooftop, Nick suddenly said, “It’s not all an act.”
Ophelia glanced back at us, then decided to make a quick exit.
I paused, forcing a smile as I played dumb. “What do you mean?”
Nick looked down at me, his expression serious. “My crush on you? That’s real.”
I could hear the sincerity hidden beneath his awkward jokes and the chaos of our little drama. But after just ending a long relationship, I felt drained. I wanted to brush it off, but then Nick took a step closer.
The early morning sunlight cast a shadow behind him, enveloping me in its glow.
I couldn’t help but marvel at how much he had grown since we were kids.
Nick continued earnestly, “I’m only two years younger than you, no ex–girlfriends, I got into your university, and you know my major. This year I joined a research institute; my salary is just a tad lower than Andrew’s, but I’m young. I’ll catch up next year. Most importantly, the person I choose will always come first, and I’ll never let them down.”
His sincerity made it hard for me to ignore his feelings.
Just as I was about to come up with a reason to decline, he leaned down.
“Do I need to cry for you to take me seriously?” he asked.
At that moment, my heart raced like a drum.
I must have lost my mind.
Why would I agree to marry Nick after seven years with Andrew, and why would I want to hold a ceremony before getting the license? Because I’d seen too many couples fall apart after a wedding because of differing expectations.
But here I was, swayed by the way Nick’s big, slightly hurt eyes looked at me.
He said I agreed to get the license.
And now, here we were, stepping out of City Hall.
The bright sunlight and the warm marriage license in my hand gave me a surreal feeling.
But that was okay. I was someone who knew when to cut their losses. If this marriage turned out to drain me instead of uplift me, I would make a rational exit.
However, I had a feeling Nick might not give me that chance.
I looked at him, his lips curving into an uncontrollable smile, and I found myself smiling back.
Now, the real headache was figuring out how to break the news to my parents, Nick’s parents, and Ophelia.
00
As we walked home an
