A light || Ricky and Nini

Chapter 77

Nini POV

"I've never seen that side of you" Ricky whispers in my ear as I lay on his chest. I blush furiously and turn into him so that he can't see. "I wasn't expecting you to walk in" I muttered back and I feel his hand move across my back soothingly. "You have no clue what it was like to see you like that." His voice is raspy in my ear and despite just being intimate with him I shiver. "Was that the first time you did it by yourself?" He asks and embarrassment creeps in as I press my face further into his side. "Don't be embarrassed" he whispers and I nod. "Yeah" is all I whisper out. "I couldn't stop thinking about you so I..." I stop talking out of embarrassment and I feel Ricky kiss the top of my head. "You'll have to get me back sometime." He whispers to me with humor in his voice. I look up at him, embarrassment seeping away and I smile. "Now that is something I can do" I tell him, kissing his lips. Instead of our usual peck though he pulls me by my neck, deepening our kiss. His legs come around my waist and he pulls me as close as I can get and sigh into him. "Nini" he whispers out and I rest my forehead against his when I pull back. "What was that?" I whisper and his hand moves to my jaw slowly, stroking my cheek lightly. "I have no clue" he says but he brings his lips to mine again and he works them against mine, carefully kissing me as if I'll disappear. "I just love you so much." He tells me when we pull away. I blush instantly and I run my fingers through his hair, earning a soft sigh and the closing of his eyes. "I love you too babe." I whisper and his lips turn up in a soft smile.

Ricky POV

The week moves much quicker than I hoped it would, and by Thursday night I'm debating canceling the trip all together. I have to face my mom and her fiancé tomorrow and I'm doing it voluntarily. Am I setting myself up for disaster? Pain courses through me as I imagine watching her walk down the aisle and I feel like my skin is crawling when I think about participating in small talk with either her or Todd. I hadn't realized how hard this might be and I'm completely zoned out, thinking about my stupid decision when Nini's voice pierces through my thoughts. "Baby? Are you okay?" She asks, walking over to my place on her bed, dropping the clothes that she was putting into her suitcase. "Yeah" I say, but even I can hear the thickness of emotion and the pain and her arms come around my shoulders. She massages my arms and runs her fingers through the hair at the base of my neck. "Ricky, can you talk to me?" I shake my head but Nini's soft hands bring me to do it anyway. "What am I thinking Nins? I'm getting on a plane tomorrow to see a woman I barely even know anymore, marry someone that I don't know at all. Why am I doing this?" I feel Nini's hands move to my back. "You're doing this so that you don't miss out. Your mom wants you there baby, and it's so hard right now. You haven't had any time to heal. But think about it this way, if her wedding was in two years, would you go?" I rub my palms against my thighs and I try to clear my throat even though I feel more emotion on its way. "Exactly. She hasn't even been separated from my dad that long. As of this weekend she won't even be Lynne Bowen anymore. She's gonna have a new life." Nini brings her face near my ear and she rests her forehead against me. "Ricky, this is all up to you." She says softly and I look ahead, feeling a little lost. "But whatever you choose, I'm right here. You could cancel this trip right now. You could say screw it, I shouldn't have to go through this. But you could also say what you told me a few weeks ago. Would you regret not going? This is all up to you love. And I'll be right here for whatever you choose." Nini's little pet name gets me to turn and look at her. She frowns and pushes my curls off of my forehead, bringing her palms to my cheeks. "All up to you" she whispers and her thumbs move carefully across my skin. "You won't leave me alone there? To talk to anyone on my own?" She shakes her head and I notice her body has shifted closer to me. "I would never do that. We're gonna be attached at the hip. And you call the shots babe. You're in control." She whispers and she threads her fingers through my hair as she waits for me to talk. I comprehend what she says and I finally nod. "Okay. Just please don't leave me." I repeat again. She nods and pulls me into a hug. The second our bodies are pressed together I breathe out in relief and hold onto her. "I wouldn't ever Ricky. I am here for you. This weekend is the one weekend that you don't have to worry about being alone for a second." I close my eyes and sigh. "Alright, I guess we're going to Chicago tomorrow night." I tell her and she laughs against my neck. "Look out Chicago here we come." I couldn't help but think it's more like, look out mom here comes a shit ton of drama.