Those Three Words

February 9

                 

                 

A/N: SPG warning again. I think this may be the 'aminan series' SPG version. I'm not sure if I have a chapter that isn't lol.

"Do you have a surprise for each other?"

Out of the corner of his eye James could see the big grin on Nadine's face that she couldn't hold back. Yes, she had one hell of a surprise for him and he enjoyed it very much.

James tried to focus on the interview and on answering the questions but he was distracted by Nadine's dress and how badly he just wanted to go home already and strip it off her. He was replaying in his mind the moments in the darkened theater when Nadine had strategically placed the popcorn bucket on her lap so that James could sneak his hand behind it and play with the small strip of skin peeking out in a v-shape just below her breasts. Looking at that small piece of exposed skin now drove him crazy. And she knew it. She knew what she was doing to him. It was in the playful smirk of her lips every time she looked at him, the sparkle of mischief in her eyes. Her dress tonight was nothing like the one she wore at the last premiere night. It fully covered her with just a teasing bit of skin showing. It flattered her figure without clinging to it skintight. James had given his approval of the dress but he still wasn't prepared for the effect that it would have on him.

They finished the interview and James led Nadine away with a hand on the small of her back. He couldn't hide his giddiness. Tonight was going so well, a far cry from what had happened at this very place three months ago. They were on their way to Paper Moon Café now and James automatically reached for Nadine's hand. But a sharp look from Ella made him let go. He sighed in frustration and shoved his hands in his pockets. He hated that they had to hide. He hated that he couldn't just randomly hold her hand whenever he wanted. Nadine looked up at him and put a hand on his back, rubbing gentle circles there. He looked at her and felt his irritation slowly fading. She smiled at him and he returned it, the tightness in his chest loosening at her happy glow.

When they arrived at Paper Moon they were immediately surrounded. James lost track of the amount of handshakes and besos he had to give, the amount of pictures he had to pose for with Nadine, Andre, and Yassi.

"James!" He turned to find an all too familiar face smiling back at him. He panicked slightly as he watched Debs walking towards him but then Nadine was there, an arm wrapping around his waist as she pulled him towards a table where Yassi was already sitting. They took their seats and Nadine kept an arm wrapped around his bicep. Debs had stopped in her tracks at the sight of Nadine and turned to talk to other people.

James looked down at Nadine. She was engaged in a conversation with Yassi about something that he couldn't even follow with how fast they were speaking and the periodic giggling in between their 'kwentos' but James didn't miss how Nadine made sure to keep a hand on him even after releasing her hold on his arm. Her fingers gripped his thigh in a way that he knew meant she was tense. He could see that her eyes darted in the direction of where Debs was standing every once in awhile, even as she kept her bright smile plastered to her face.

James wanted nothing more than to reassure her that she had nothing to worry about. Debs was nothing. A blip in the radar, a past mistake that helped him wake up to the beautiful truth that had been staring him in the face for more than a year. Nadine was everything to him now, he'd never look at another girl again. But there was no way to tell her or show her that while they were in public. It was yet another thing that frustrated James about their current status. He hated that he had to appear single and available to the public when he was anything but.

Food was served to them and James kept one arm wrapped around Nadine's chair, his fingers stroking her arm, while he ate with one hand.

"Hey dude," Andre said, stopping behind James as he walked by. "Come and sit at our table."