wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

spring ; 08

A smile crept onto Nini's face as she walked in the direction of the harbour. She took her heels off and held them in her left hand, as her right clutched tightly to the napkin.

"Hey you," Nini sat next to Ricky and dangled her legs off the pier, just as he did. He leaned into her, kissing her on the lips. Her eyes closed shut and she tilted her head slightly, to get closer to him. He breathed like he'd just ran a marathon when he pulled away, but she leaned in again to capture his lips with hers.

"Hey, hey," They pulled away, looking into each others' eyes, "Can I ask you something? It's been on my mind the whole day, and i really need to get it off my chest," Ricky straightened up and fiddled with his tie nervously. Nini nodded and gulped unconsciously, she sort of already knew where this conversation was headed.

"Was the thought of being with me so revolting that you had to set it straight with everyone at the wedding that we aren't dating?"

Nini saw a twinge of sadness flash in his brown eyes, and a twinge of sadness in her heart knowing she made him sad. But, she hesitated as the wheels in her head started spinning at full speed. There were so many things that she wanted to say.

"You know ever since I'd been over at your house for games night, I'd been thinking that I don't think we can be friends anymore," The wheels in her head stopped turning. A breath hitched in Nini's throat, but she let him continue. "I'm always going to want something more with you, Nina, to hold you in my arms and kiss you anytime I want to. I know it's been only three months and things seem to be moving really fast, but if you were okay with it, I'd like to give us a try." She immediately let go of the breath she'd been holding in, relieved that he wasn't going to end their friendship. To Ricky, it seemed like she let out a sigh, which he interpreted as hesitation. He quickly tried to blow off the situation, "We don't have to put a label on it yet, I just want you to know how I feel."

Nini could feel his sadness building up, her thumbs rubbed against his hands to soothe him, "Ricky, look at me." She cupped his cheeks with both her hands, "These three months have been the best three months ever. I wouldn't have wanted to spend them with anyone else, other than you." She planted a kiss on his lips and he held her chin to deepen the kiss. After a not-so-short while, they pulled away, her forehead still resting on his. "As for dating me, you'll have to get my brothers' permission first." Nini teased him again. He pulled her into his lap, hugging her waist tightly, "I already did, Nins." Her eyes widened in surprise, "No, you did not." He shrugged, admitting that he'd asked Nic and Nate if he could ask her out; they even told him to bring her home if he'd like; it was a mighty stamp of approval from the older bros. He knew that her brothers were a big part of her life and wanted them involved in this aspect of her life.

Nini turned around, straddling his waist and attacked his lips once more, her fingers playing with the curls on his head. His hands lingered around her waist, caressing the small of her back. "You are just amazing, Bowen. Thank you," She really appreciated that he respected her family relations as well; he was even more thoughtful than she thought he was.

"Can I be really honest, Ricky?" He turned his body, angling it toward her to keep his eyes on her as she spoke. He didn't have a single clue about what she was about to say and was feeling really uneasy about where it might head. "I like who I am around you. For the longest time, I'd been Nic's and Nate's younger sister, I was expected to follow in their footsteps, to get good grades like they did, to surf and start a business like they are doing now. With you, I'm just plain ol' Nina, not the Nini everyone knows me to be, the Nini that others befriend just to use to get close with my brothers." He relaxed visibly, enough to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, listening intently like he always did with her. "I like you, Ricky. You accept me for being my own person, you've never judged and you help me become better. You're polite, I've never felt objectified under your gaze and you've shown me that you care." Ricky's heart was beating out of his chest and a soft smile was growing on his face. "I like who we are together, it feels very us-against-the-world, like nothing is stopping us."

"But, like I said, everyone sees me as the sweet baby Nini Roberts. My family is crazy, they are crazy protective over me and my brothers. I just didn't need them meddling with this part of my life too, I just wanted it to be us first." Nini got shy as she admitted these things to him, a blush rising up to her cheeks.

Ricky pulled them back from the edge of the pier and into his lap, closing the distance between them, "Be my girlfriend, Nina." She leaned in closer to him, their noses touched and he could feel her breath on his lips. She whispered a "yes" and hastily closed the mere inch of distance between his and her lips.