Forever

Part 23

Sarah walked out of her office building, hailing a cab. Once she got in one, she pulled her phone out of her purse. She saw several missed calls from Nick, worrying her. He was on the second day of his tour, and they had just spoken last night. There was no reason for him to blow up her phone. They texted their hello's and I miss you's. She dialed him immediately. As soon as he answered, she asked if he was ok.

He chuckled, "I'm good baby. How are you? Are you home?".

She sighed, relieved. "You scared me, baby. I'm like five minutes from home".

"Any wedding planning go on today?".

"Babe" she laughed. "We just got back from Puerto Rico. I'm still adjusting to waking up and being a normal person".

"Hate to break it to you, but you've never been a normal person", he joked. "Are you home yet?"

"What's going on at home that you want me to be there so bad?" she asked, becoming suspicious. 

"Nothing, baby. I just want to talk to you about something and I don't want you to be in the back of a taxi for it".

"I'm pulling in now. Hold on one sec". She put her phone down to pull out some cash for the driver, thanked him, and got out, putting the phone back to her ear. "Ok, I'm all yours".

"Ok, hang up and face time me once you're in".

"You're so weird" she said, "bye".

She hung up the phone and let herself in the house. Pepe was waiting for her as soon as she opened the door, jumping up and down excitedly. She smiled, picking him up and giving him kisses. She kicked off her shoes and carried him to the backyard, letting him out. She settled on a lounge chair on the patio before face timing Nick.

He answered immediately, smiling warmly when he saw her. She couldn't help herself. She smiled back "Hey baby", she said softly. 

"I miss that face", he started. "Those lips".

She puckered her mouth, blowing him a kiss, before asking him what he wanted to tell her.

"Please don't be upset, mami. You remember that girl? Ann?".

Sarah tensed just at the mention of her name. "How could I forget? If you didn't want me to be upset, you probably shouldn't have started your conversation with that line".

"Mami, tranquila. Let me finish. The guy who's opening for me, Valentino? She's his PR. She's on the tour with us".

"Are you fucking kidding me!!?"

"I only found out today and I wanted to make sure you heard it from me before you found out some other way. She's here, and it means nothing. It's the same as if she wasn't here".

She stared at his image on her phone, fuming. 

"You trust me right?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes, sighing. "Yes. I trust you, Nicky. I just...I don't know".

"We're getting married, baby. This is not like six months ago when she pulled her shit in New York and we were still figuring out the ropes. You know the ropes. We're on the ropes. We own the ropes!".

She couldn't help but smile at him. "This is why I worry. You're so damn cute!".

"Are you good?".

"No", she answered, truthfully. "But, I do trust you. And, it means the world that you're telling me first. Just...I don't know...carry a spray can of lysol with you in case she gets her whore hands on you somehow".

He laughed heartily. "This went better than expected!".

"I love you, Nicky", she said, sweetly. 

"You know", he teased, "maybe if I had a ring on my finger, I wouldn't have to fight off all these women who want me".

She laughed. "Hoes don't see wedding bands. Or, they see them and see it as a challenge. I suspect Ann if the latter type of hoe".

He chuckled, licking his lips.

"I miss those lips" she said, softly, tracing the outline of them on her phone. "I miss you".

Someone behind Nick called his name, he looked behind him then back to Sarah. "I miss you too, mami. Phone sex later tonight?"

She winked and clicked her tongue, "you got it!".

They laughed together, saying their goodbyes for a few more moments, before finally disconnecting. She called Pepe and went back inside, retrieving her purse and pulling out the bridal magazines she had picked up that morning. She curled up on the couch, flipping through them. She knew how important this wedding was to Nick, and she wanted to surprise him by doing everything he'd asked - pick a venue, do a dress fitting, set up a cake testing for when he got back...everything. 

She earmarked pages of the magazines that interested her, then opened the pintrest app. She was overwhelmed by all the ideas, not having any thoughts about theme or even general direction she wanted the wedding to go it. She just wanted to be Nick's wife. She didn't care about the party. But, it was so important to him. 

"Ugh", she groaned, closing the app and looking at Pepe. "Daddy's so extra". 

Pepe tilted his head, whimpering at her. She scooped him up, kissing his head. She giggled as he attacked her face with puppy kisses. She picked her phone and texted Caro, asking if she wanted to hang out later. Caro replied, telling her she was going to dinner with Angela, inviting Sarah to come, telling her to be ready in half an hour. 

She took Pepe upstairs with her, quickly changing out of work clothes, throwing on a dress and doing her hair. She took Pepe back downstairs, to feed him, before the girls arrived. When they did, they went to a lounge downtown for dinner and dancing. They snapped pics for instagram, downing shots of tequila, dancing with each other, and having a blast. 

By the time Nick facetimed her, she was drunk. She answered his call "Hey baby! Guys! It's my baby!"

"Hi Nick!!" Angela and Caro sang, appearing in the screen. 

Nick chuckled. The girls were obviously enjoying themselves. "You girls having fun?".

"So much fun!" Caro yelled.

"All the fun!" Angela agreed.

Sarah pushed them away. "Get out of here, you crazy kids. Let me talk to my man!". She stood, stumbling out to the patio so she could hear him better. She flopped into a chair, trying to keep the phone steady in front of her. "Hi, baby".

Nick laughed. "Hey mami".

"Guess what?"

"What, baby?"

"I love you. You're the best. The absolute fucking best". 

He shook his head, chuckling. "You girls aren't driving, right?".

"No way, man. Uber for life!".

He had been looking forward to talking to her before he went to bed, but he didn't want to interrupt her fun. "Ok, mami, go. Have fun, but be careful". 

She pouted into the phone. "Why aren't you here?".

He couldn't hide his smile. "I'm working baby".

"Pfft. Work! Why do you work?"

"So I can stay fly for the ladies" he teased. 

"Who ladies?!" she demanded, sitting up straight.

He burst out laughing. "Only one lady" he promised. "You".

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You better". 

"Ok, mami, do drink some water. Have fun. Text me when you're home so I know you're good".

"I love you, Nicky" she said. "I miss you".

"I miss you too, mami" he replied, blowing her a kiss. She blew one back before saying goodbye. She hung up the phone and rejoined her friends for another round of shots.