NIKKI & JOE, CASUALLY | ✓

bonus: sunshine and rainbows

AN: I did some very minor edits to the start of the book so that Nikki and Joe meet for the first time in chapter 1 now, and the original meet-cute in chapter 6 is their second meeting. You can reread chapter one if you want. Absolutely no need--it's not anything show-stopping--but just know that it's a bit different bc they talk about their first time meeting here so it may be a tad confusing 

(I also edited for Nikki to have a tongue piercing, which is the most important thing)

Onto the chapter!

*

               'Are you nervous?' I ask, though Joe has her fingers tangled in her necklace, which speaks for itself. 'Because if owt, I should be nervous. They're gonna show ya embarrassing pictures of me as a teenager and tell you about the time I did a horrible cover of Aretha Franklin on the clarinet.'

She doesn't laugh. I dunno if she's even listening. Her focus is fixated on Shayna and Desmond's door like she's tryna uncover some repressed brujería powers to either set it on fire or see through it.

As much as I maybe should be nervous, the only buzz in my stomach is excitement. I get to introduce her to Shayna and Desmond!

Joe. My partner.

I caress her thigh until it coaxes her out of her thoughts. Joe blinks her attention back to me, calf eyes unrecognising for a moment.

'They'll love you. I promise.'

I lean in for a quick kiss. It leaves my lips sheened with her gloss.

'Let's go i– No, don't!'

I all but leap over Joe to yank her door back shut when she opens it. She sighs but lets me jog around the car to open it for her. By the time she's standing in front of me, the exasperation has melted into a smile.

I offer her my hand and guide her toward the house, affirming her a final time that they'll love her. And they will. How couldn't they when she makes me so happy?

The tickles grow in my stomach with every step. My face already split into a grin so wide that my cheeks ache when I press the bell.

The door opens before I can lower my hand. Shayna literally does jazz hands before she pulls me into a hug. She cuts it much shorter than normal so that she can focus her spotlight on Joe, tears already misting her eyes.

'Oh, Josephine. You're so handsome. Nicolás did tell us but you're just so beautiful. Can I hug you?' When Joe consents, Shayna pulls her into a hug so tight that she actually lifts her over the threshold. 'You're a good hugger. Just what he needs.'

Desmond beams too. 'Well, you've got my blessing.'

'We've not even got our shoes off,' I say. I knew they'd embrace the relationship but I thought they'd wanna have a conversation first.

'Can't hide love like that,' Desmond says while Shayna announces excitedly, 'We were watching you through the window.'

She takes Joe's hand to usher her in to show her all my "embarrassing teenage photos" and I can't find a speck of irritation in me. This is all I've wanted.

It brings tears to my eyes that I feel no shame to show when Desmond squeezes my shoulder to pull my attention to him. 'I'm proud of you. She's a good one, I can tell. What do I always say?'

'"Trust and respect are the brick and mortar of a relationship. Love is the tool for laying them".'

He hums. 'That's right. The fact that you brought her here is all I need to know.' He pulls me into a hug.