Twisted Chances

Epilogue

Niko:

"Camilla, trust me, let's go with a Halloween theme for your birthday!" Ava exclaimed, eyes sparkling like she'd just discovered the fountain of party-planning wisdom.

"Then let's kill Amy and offer her as a sacrifice to really set the vibe," Josephine added, her sarcasm dripping thicker than icing on a birthday cake.

"Oh my god, you guys, just stop! I shouldn't have asked you all to help me decide," Camilla groaned, throwing her hands up like she was negotiating peace treaties in her own living room.

I tried to jump in, my voice calm but firm: "We still have a freaking month left, girls." A month! That's plenty of time. Her birthday isn't until December, and right now it's only November.

We were all sprawled across Camilla's massive couch—like seriously, it could double as a small stadium. Nia had her legs draped across my lap, comfortably claiming her territory like the queen she is, while she gobbled down her third bowl of ice cream. I swear, she loves the stuff more than life itself.

It had been six months since... that day. That dreaded day. Her discharge from the hospital. The sheer terror and helplessness.

After Nia had woken up in my arms the next morning, I had completely broken down. Tears like a waterfall, uncontrollable and blinding. And she—my tiny warrior—had to literally work her magic to calm me down, wiping away the mess I had turned into. It was absurd. I felt like I had been the one lying there, bloodied and beaten, while she just sat there, composed as ever.

And, of course, we'd had our fair share of the "you have to break up with him" drama. Uncle—no, Mr. Harper—and my best friend had thrown a few punches at me. Yep. He insisted I start calling him Mr. Harper now. I think it's a badge of honor... or maybe a warning.

Apparently, love is a force so strong it can make the scariest people hate inanimate objects. Even Mr. Unicorn—Aunt Stella's ridiculous stuffed obsession—didn't escape his wrath.

Recovery had taken Nia time, and us both countless sleepless nights. Nightmares haunted us like uninvited guests—her losing herself, me losing her. Therapy sessions became our sanctuary, and yes, we both went. Twice a week. Our therapist? None other than Carlos Castillo. He's brilliant. Honestly, I think he deserves some kind of award for dealing with us.

But look at us now. Happy. Accepted. Safe. Free. No one, and I mean no one, is getting near my sweetheart ever again. I've learned my lesson—I will not, cannot, lose her. I'd burn the world down if it meant keeping her in my arms.

"Where's Sofia?" Nia asked suddenly, peeking through her long eyelashes.

"She's busy, maybe," I answered, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Just look at her. So delicate. So impossibly mine. She returned to her ice cream, satisfied with the answer, while the girls' chaotic conversation continued in the background.

Sometimes I still can't believe it. NIA HARPER is my girlfriend. FINALLY. My last-year self would have laughed in disbelief if I'd told him.

"Guys, can we just calm down?" Nia finally interjected, putting down her ice cream bowl. She moved to sit beside Camilla, trying to broker peace.

"Ugh, stop pouting, you smitten freak," Jas said, her face twisted with mock disgust—but that smirk betraying her amusement. Sometimes I swear she's a perfect blend of Dante and Vivian, genetically engineered to tease.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up," I shot back, though my cheeks betrayed me.

She shook her head, rejoining the conversation as if she hadn't just roasted me alive.

"Camilla, we still have a month. We'll think of something," Nia tried to reason.

"Ugh! You guys don't get it! I need to arrange it early!" Camilla groaned.

Between wait, why was I the only guy here again?

"I mean, I would also be planning things early if I were turning twenty too," Amy chimed in.

I watched as Nia nudged Camilla with her ice cream spoon, playful and devilish.

"Girl, are you pregnant or something?" Jas asked, eyeing her gorging antics.

"Yeah, babe. Enough ice cream, seriously," Amy added, a mock frown on her face.

I was about to protest, to step in for my sweetheart—but Camilla beat me to it.

"I will not let Niko rush you to the hospital if you get a stomach ache, Nia. Aren't you a doctor, honey?!" She pointed a finger at me like a mini-general.

Nia tried her puppy-eyed strategy, the one I usually never resist. Camilla, however, was having none of it.

"Nope. That won't work this time. No more ice cream. My order."

Ooh. Demn. Respect. Fear. Authority. All rolled into one. Camilla commands attention—she protects her friends like a lioness.

"Back to the Halloween theme, then," Amy insisted. Sighs all around.

Lesson learned: never speak against an angry, authoritative Camilla. And one can never escape the clutches of a whiny Amy.

I exchanged a silent apology with Nia through my eyes. Her happy smile told me everything—I was forgiven. She's so good.

"I swear, you're so smitten, Volkov," Jas muttered, popping back into my orbit.

"Just... shut up and focus on them," I snapped, irritated but inwardly basking in it. Honestly, how could I not be smitten? Look at her! My sweetheart is perfection wrapped in chaos.

"Ew, you have heart eyes now again" Jas jabbed again.

"Ugh, for god's sake, Jas—" I groaned, surrendering to the absolute truth. My heart belonged to Nia, and everyone could just deal with it.

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The END 

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