Chapter 3
The reunion was set at an upscale club.
I really didn't want to go at first, but Bert said everyone was coming, even those I hadn't seen in ages, and they were all curious about my husband.
I looked at Elvis, dressed in some cheap casual clothes I'd bought him for a couple hundred bucks. He stood out awkwardly among all the guys in their sharp suits.
Michael was there, too.
His family's crisis seemed to have blown over, and he was back to his old arrogant self.
He swaggered over with his drink, pointed at the cheap digital watch on Elvis's wrist, and snorted. "Wow, Detective Rivers, still rocking that student-era watch? Feeling nostalgic?
"This Patek Philippe on my wrist? Just a measly 300 grand. Bet you'll never make that in your whole life."
The other classmates started whispering, shooting us looks full of pity and contempt.
I was so pissed that I wanted to throw my drink in Michael's face, but Elvis held my hand, looking totally unfazed, like Michael wasn't even there.
That kind of ignorance got under Michael's skin way more than any comeback ever could.
"Stop acting all high and mighty!" he slammed his glass down on the table. "Nicole, stick with Elvis and this is all you'll ever get in life."
The atmosphere in the whole room froze.
Just then, a chubby figure pushed through the crowd. It was Billy King, the class clown from back in the day.
His face was red from all the booze, and he threw an arm around Elvis's neck, shouting with a drunken slur, "Come on, what are you even saying? Elvis was the school heartthrob. And he treated Nicole like a queen back then."
That was all it took to set everyone's gossip radar on high.
Billy let out a loud belch and went on, "You guys have no idea. Back in senior year, Elvis would get up at five every morning, run across half the city to buy Nicole's favorite breakfast, and then make me hand it to her, pretending it was from me.
"And every time Nicole had PE, Elvis would secretly watch her from the sidelines of the basketball court. One time she got heatstroke, and he carried her all the way to the nurse's office, almost collapsing himself.
"And there's more..."
Billy kept talking, but my mind had gone blank.
I looked at Elvis in disbelief.
He stayed quiet, but his ears were quietly turning red, and behind his usual cold eyes, I caught a flicker of nervousness and helplessness I'd never seen before.
Then Billy dropped the biggest bombshell of all. "Nicole, Elvis had a crush on you for three whole years.
"Back when we graduated, he was about to confess his feelings, but when he heard you were going to say yes to Michael, he spent the whole night drinking alone on the playground."
The whole room went dead silent.
My heart skipped a beat.
I looked at Billy and asked slowly, "Billy, who did you say I was gonna say yes to?"
"Michael," Billy blurted out.
I whipped my head around to look at Elvis.
He was already staring at me, his eyes filled with undeniable affection and ten years of bottled-up pain.
Suddenly, I realized how many years we'd let slip away.
All those moments I thought were random acts of kindness turned out to be his quiet protection.
It felt like time itself had stopped.
Elvis and I locked eyes across the table—separated by a piece of furniture and ten years of memories, saying nothing.
*****
The drive home was eerily quiet.
I could hear my heart thundering in my chest, and next to me, Elvis's breathing was a bit uneven.
As soon as we arrived at home, I couldn't hold back anymore. I spun around and pressed him up against the door.
"Elvis, why didn't you tell me?" My voice was shaky, almost breaking into tears.
All those details I'd overlooked started flashing through my mind like movie scenes.
No wonder Elvis always knew exactly which breakfast I loved, and no wonder he remembered all my quirks and habits.
Elvis lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting a shadow under the light.
"I heard you were going to Michael's birthday party, and you were going to say yes to him in front of everyone," he said in a low voice, with a barely noticeable huskiness.
I froze. "Who told you that? I never even went. I heard... I heard you were dating the campus belle, and you two were planning to go abroad after graduation."
Elvis was stunned, too.
We locked eyes, and in that moment, the shock and realization were clear in both of our eyes.
Turned out, we'd both been fooled by rumors.
Turned out, we'd been secretly into each other all along, but thanks to some stupid rumors and misunderstandings, we ended up wasting our entire youth.
"I never did," Elvis said, almost desperate. "I never dated her, not even once."
"I never had feelings for Michael, either," I murmured.
We fell silent.
After what felt like forever, Elvis suddenly pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight that it was like he wanted me to become a part of him.
"Nicole," he called my name over and over, like he was trying to bring back all the years we'd lost. "I've waited for you ten years. I'm done waiting."
His warm lips pressed against mine, carrying an undeniable dominance and all the long-suppressed affection he'd kept hidden for years.
The kiss began restrained, but quickly grew fierce, like we were both trying to consume each other.