Bravo 🤍

Thirty-Seven

"This was the perfect dress choice, Nik," Michelle praises as she buttons the back of Nikki's wedding dress as Marie and Adrienne finish getting ready.

"Thank you, I really love it." She turns back to look at the other three women. "Thanks for everything guys, really." She smiles, looking down at her dress. "My old, new, borrowed and blue!"

Michelle laughs, bracing her sister's shoulders in her hands. "Breathe. Your new is the dress. The blue is the ring Lucas gave you last year."

Nikki smiles, nodding as she looks down at the small aquamarine ring on her right hand. She glances back up at her sister. "And the old and borrowed?"

"I have the old." Lucas enters the room, standing in the doorway in his black tux, smiling as Nikki turns to face him. He motions his head toward the door, not taking his eyes off Nikki. "Can I have the room with my bride, please. You guys can go ahead, I will make sure she arrives on time."

"Luke... you look..." Nikki gets cut off by Lucas placing his index finger on her lips with a small smile.

"You look incredible. I really wish I could take you upstairs right now." He smiles at her blush and small giggle as he pull her to his chest, kissing the top of her head.

"I'd settle for a kiss," she teases as he pulls away with a small groan.

"Can't. No kisses until we're married."

"Hmm..." She leans up to kiss each cheek slowly before hovering her mouth over his. "No kisses here."

He swallows hard, taking a step back as he hands her her bouquet. "Behave. Something old and borrowed..." He shows her an ivory ribbon tied around her bouquet with his pinky ring tied to it. "It is a tradition for all the Bravo women to tie this ribbon around their flowers for the wedding. My mother did and so did my grandmother. I don't even know how many generations it has been through, but it is quite old, I assure you. And the ring, I will borrow to you for the day."

"And if I don't return it?" She grins as he does and shakes his head.

"Well, I know where you live. Now let's go get married so I can kiss you."

She giggles and follows him out to a limo waiting for them. He helps her to climb in first, helping her with the train of her dress as he does. She grabs his hand as he takes the spot beside her and kisses the back of her hand. "Surely no one would know if we had one kiss..."

Lucas chuckles, leaning down to hover his mouth over hers, their breaths mixing as he smiles. "I would know. You have any idea how hard it is to behave right now? We have 40 minutes back here and no one would ever know." He smiles as she moans softly as he runs his nose along hers, his lips brushing hers before pulling back as she whines. "We should talk about our future on our wedding day."

She sighs, but nods as she clears her throat, suddenly feeling a little warm. She shoots him a dirty look as he laughs, turning up the air conditioner in the car. "Okay. Like?"

"Like... kids?"

"Oh? What about them?" She teases as he groans and she laughs. "Okay, okay. Yes, kids. We want them. You want them right away?"

"Yes," he answers quickly as he watches her to gauge her reaction.

"I know. I stopped my birth control a month ago. So we can spend our entire honeymoon in Italy trying."

"Really?" He grins wide at her as he bites the corner of his lip. "It would be easy to start now."

"Tut tut. You have to wait until we say je fais."

He chuckles, squeezing her hand. "Just oui. We don't say I do, only yes."

"Yes seems so eager."

He laughs, shrugging. "I am eager. Are you not?"

"Oui."

***

"Wait, Lucas." Nikki calls Lucas just as he's about to walk away after leaving her in her bridal room to wait.

"Yes, love?" He turns back to her with a smile from the doorway.

"I was going to walk on my own, but I don't think I can. I'm too nervous..."

"Why are you nervous?" He crosses the room back to her to grab her hands.

"Because I know I have a few friends, but it's all your family. And everyone will be watching me," she groans softly as he sighs.

"What do you need?"

"I know we never really talked about it again after he offered, but can I talk to François?"

"Of course. I'll go get him." He kisses the top of her head as he hears her sigh slightly. "Don't be nervous. Once you get out there, just look at me, okay?"

"It will be hard to look anywhere else." She smiles as he laughs, taking one last look at her before leaving her alone until she hears the door open again to find François in the doorway. 

"Lucas said you wanted to talk to me?"

She picks up her bouquet as she ushers him into the room. "Yes. François, I know that things have been awkward at times between us, but I love you like the brother I never had. I was hoping the offer to walk me down was still on the table."

François grins, pulling her into a hug. "Of course it is, sweetheart. I love you, and I'm so happy that Lucas found you." He turns and offers her his arm as she smiles. 

"I love you too, Frankie. Thank you."

He laughs, shaking his head. "Come on. Let's just get you married."