Second Chances (Ricky + Nini)

chapter 19 - when we're underneath the lights

[a/n : thank you for 1.6K!  As always, please enjoy!] 

On Saturday morning, Nini and Ricky went to brunch with Big Red and Ashlyn. Afterwards, they took a stroll around the park. Nini was walking with Ashlyn, while Ricky and Big Red were racing around the park. 

"We're dating children." Ashlyn said shaking her head as she watched Red try to shove Ricky off the path. Nini laughed. Red and Ricky had  always been like this, and they never seemed to grow out of it, but she found it endearing. 

"Who do you think is gonna win?" Nini asked playfully. 

"Probably Ricky. He's more competitive." 

"Actually, I think Red's gonna win. He's smaller and faster. Have you seen him on Friday nights at Slices? It's like diner dash!"" Nini said. "Bet you 20 bucks ?" 

"It's on!" Ashlyn laughed. "I have missed you, Nina Salazar-Roberts." 

"Aww. I missed you too Ash." Nini nudged her. 

"I miss having someone to talk to about my boy problems, and you give really solid advice." Nini sensed Ashlyn's mood shift and become more serious. 

"You and Red aren't having problems are you?" Nini asked. "You guys seem to be doing well. You should have seen yourselves during brunch. You were all over each other, it's the cutest thing." 

"Are you talking about me or are you talking about you and Ricky?" Ashlyn joked, making Nini blush. "Red and I are .. we're not having problems per se."

"But?" Nini looped her arm around Ashlyns and encouraged her to keep talking. 

"Have you and Ricky ever talked about the future? Like the future future." 

"Like marriage? We kind of just got back together, and we've just been through a lot recently. I don't think we're going to talk about it for a while. But if you're asking me... if I had it my way, I would want to be with Ricky forever."

"Exactly. That's how I feel about Biggy." Ashlyn said. "But lately, I'm not sure he feels the same way." 

"What? Ash, of course he does. Red is crazy about you okay." Nini was shocked to hear Ashlyn's qualms. "What makes you think that?" 

Ashlyn sighed. Nini squeezed her arm comfortingly. 

"It's just... every time I try to bring it up subtly, or not so subtly he kind of withdraws himself from the conversation." Ashlyn said. "Like last week, we were at this dog park, I casually mentioned that when we get married I want to get a puppy, and he just brushed it off. Then he changed the subject completely."

"That seems unlike Red. He's probably just overthinking everything. He'll come around, Ash. I promise. He loves you. I know he wants a future with you too, he told me before." 

"Really?" Ashlyn was still unsure. "I mean it's okay if he's not ready, you know. I just want to know that it's a possibility someday."

"Ash, he would be an idiot if he didn't want to marry you. He'll get there." Nini tried to reassure her again. She was going to have a talk with Big Red after this. 

"I win! You owe me 20 bucks." Red exclaimed. Their boyfriends were back from their lap around the park, and Nini was right Ricky had lost. She quickly opened her palm for Ashlyn to hand over the 20 dollar bill she won from their bet.  

"Don't worry, babe. I won our money back!" Nini screamed to Ricky who was heaving by a tree. 

"Oh my gosh.. did you bet against me?" Ricky asked. "I'm offended."