Not Quite Enough

16.April - Epilogue One

Sweet Emotion // Aerosmith

3 months later...

The girl staring back at me in the mirror has been away too long. No more extra bronzer to keep me from looking gaunt with worry. Gone are the dark circles. The dullness in my eyes I was getting so used to is now sparkling with life. Joy, a I feeling I'd forgotten all about, is back in full force.

Nico is my guy.

Never in my wildest imagination would I have believed the boy with the stupid pick-up lines and permanent grease stains under his nails would be the person who pulled me out of that darkness. I've put up a decent front for months, but Nico saw through me. He saw what the Craig's and the Matt's of this world don't bother looking for: my soul.

"Baby, we need to go! Ko is all packed up." Nico calls from the living room. My mom had to work so Nico and I are taking Ko to the airport. She's going back home. School has been out for a week, which means Nico is a high school graduate. He's like an actual adult. I wish I had graduated as well. As soon as graduation was over, Nico grabbed me to rush off the field saying he wanted to leave and never set foot on campus ever again. I don't blame him. Wish I could do the same.

"I'm ready, hang on." I grab the little gift I have for Ko, to be given at the airport and not opened until the plane takes off. Ko and I have been crying on and off for the last week and I can't take it anymore. She's the closest thing to a sister I've ever had I all I can hope for it to see her again someday.

Nico takes my hand as we walk out the door. We take his Challenger because the trunk has more space than mine. Plus, Nico just looks completely hot behind the wheel. It's no sacrifice to leave my 'Stang at home when I get to watch his biceps flex as he steers one-handed.

"I cannot believe it is already over," Ko says from the backseat. I glance back to see her wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

"You are coming back. Or I am coming to see you in Japan, so no crying. Okay?" I point at her in command.

"Oh, yes. You and Nico must come to visit my home. I will show you wonderful places that are just as beautiful as your love. On your honeymoon you can visit."

Nico coughs. "Um...whoa. I'm eighteen."

I elbow him. Not that I'm planning our wedding. Yet. My freaking gosh, who figured I'd even be thinking like that. Ever. I was set against letting a guy into my heart and Nico bulldozed his way through my walls. Now I can't imagine my life without him.

"Age is only a number." Ko leans forward, resting her forearms on the back of the seat. "Love is ageless, timeless. You will see."

Nico rolls his head, cracking his neck, but says nothing more. He does, however, squeeze my hand a little tighter. I'm taking that as his silent agreement with Ko. I squeeze him back. We're a team. He's got my back and I've got his. That won't change anytime soon.

The rest of the ride is filled with music and reminiscing. We talk about the fun we had at prom hanging out with the group of friends we've become close to. We remember visiting Brax and Savanna at the opening of his Classics museum, playing with their daughter and holding their cute six-month-old son.

Ko mentions something about watching Nico work on his latest rebuild, an old Dodge Charger that he said is for someone he knows, and Nico's hand grips mine a little tighter. I know what he's silently saying to me. Reminding me of the late nights he and I hung out in the garage. Alone. On his couch. My skin heats at the memory and I hold his hand a little closer.

We pull up to the curb for international flights and help Ko get her bags out of the trunk. With all of the shopping she's done she has another full suitcase of her loot.