Sutton

"What's going on with you today, Sutton?" Dominique asks as we lounge on my bed, both of us reading while music plays in the background.

"What are you talking about?" I ask glumly before looking up at her from under lowered eyelids.

She cocks her head to the side. "That tone says it all, don't you think, babe?"

I flop onto my back and lay my book over my face, groaning in frustration. "I don't know. It's just one of those days."

It's a lie. I know exactly what's bothering me, but I don't want to bring it up. It doesn't matter because there is nothing that can be done about it anyway.

No one can change the fact that this would have been the first rehearsal with the orchestra for Moulin Rouge. It was supposed to be last week, but they moved it back because...well, they didn't have an acceptable sub for me, apparently. I only know that because they forgot to take me off the email list.

Fucking painful.

But last time I pushed Dom away when I was upset, no matter how unintentional, she was hurt. I don't want that again.

"I don't want to complain about something we can't even change," I say, moving my book off my face and sitting up.

She sits up too and presses pause on her phone, stopping the music. "I don't care if we can change it or not. I still want to be here for you if you need to vent."

"Tonight would have been the first rehearsal of Moulin Rouge," I say, sighing and leaning against the headboard.

Her face lights with recognition and she moves to sit beside me. "Oh, shit, Sutton. I didn't even think about that."

"It's okay, I didn't think it would bother me like it has. But I just keep thinking about how I should be there, living my damn dream. That I earned it, and Jason and my dad took it from me."

"I know, babe."

"And what really gets me is that I could've kept the part...with Nicolai here now, he could've taken me back and forth to rehearsal and even sat and watched to make sure nothing happened during it."

"You're right. But you couldn't have known this was going to happen. I didn't know until right before. And I definitely didn't know I was going to hire Nicolai until right before I did it."

"Yeah, I know." I shrug and lay my head on her shoulder. "It's fine. It's just that I keep getting reminded of the shit I'll never have."

"Come on, babe. You can't say never."

I can, and she knows it. I don't know a situation where I'll get to live my life for me. But just to get past this depressing moment, I force a smile.

"I know. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. It'll get better." I wiggle my eyebrows, actually feeling happier with this next thought. "It already has with Nicolai here."

Dom laughs and bumps me with her shoulder. "I knew it would help to have him here."

"After we got over the initial bumps in the road, it's been fucking amazing."

"Good." Dom leans over and kisses me on the side of my head. "Are you okay if I go home?"

"Yeah, I'm good now. Thanks for staying with me and making me work it out."

She smiles and lays her book on my nightstand for tomorrow's reading session as she gets to her feet. "I know how you get in your head just like I know you'll feel better if you'll just talk about it."

"Yeah, yeah," I say, walking out with her into the hallway. "Is Nicolai back with dinner yet?"

"Yeah, he just texted me to say he's coming up, so I was good to leave."

My stomach flutters with nerves, which is so silly because it's just Nicolai with dinner, but I can't help it. Every second I spend with him now feels like something that could lead to a life-changing moment.

I hear the elevator ding, and as soon as I see Nicolai step through the doors, a smile spreads over my face. I've been looking forward to seeing him all day, and it's a little bit ridiculous, really.

"See? You'll have fun tonight, babe," she says, giving me a wink.

I bump her with my hip and walk with her through the living room, meeting Nicolai on the way.

"Bye, Dom."

"Make good choices," she says in a sing-song voice before disappearing into the elevator.

Nicolai grins and leans in to brush his lips against mine. "I don't know if that's possible when you and I are in the same room," he whispers.

I shake my head and grip the front of his t-shirt, pulling him in for a deeper kiss. "Definitely not."

Dropping the takeout bag on the barstool, he grips my hips and lifts me up to the kitchen island, and my legs instinctively spread so he can step between them. "How am I ever supposed to get anything done with you so close to me all the time?" he asks, cupping my cheeks in his hands and resting his forehead against mine.

I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer. "And just what do you need to get done besides me?"

He groans and slides one hand into my hair, running his tongue along my jawline to the soft spot under my ear meets my neck. "You are naughty, mala tigrica," he whispers, nipping at my earlobe.

"I've been missing you today, what can I say?" I murmur, looking up at him and running my finger along his waistband.

I squeal as he lifts me by my ass and swoops me off the counter, swiping the bag of food on the way out of the kitchen. "I say we're eating dinner in my room and then you're going to show me just how much you missed me."

***

"If you wanted to mess around, Nicolai, we should've done it before you fed me sweet and sour chicken. I am way too full now to do anything besides lay here and go to sleep," I say, nuzzling into his side as he wraps his arm around me.

He laughs and pulls me on top of him, running his hands up and down my spine. "You know, you're right, Sutton Marie. I am sleepy too."

I prop my chin on his chest and meet his eyes. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, plus, we have a big day tomorrow."

My eyebrows furrow in the center of my forehead. "We do?"

"We do."

I wait for him to tell me more but when he doesn't, I widen my eyes and sit up, rolling my hand in a "come out with it" motion. "Well? Are you going to tell me?"

He grins. "Not a chance."

"What?" I shriek, swatting him on his abdomen, wincing at how hard his muscles are. "That's not fair!"

"Oh, mala tigrica. You're so feisty. Don't hurt yourself."

"I'm going to bed," I pout, starting to roll off him, but he stops me by grabbing hold of my wrist.

"Stay with me tonight."

All my faux annoyance melts away and my shoulders relax. "Really?"

"Yeah. I don't want to sleep alone. I want you with me, Sutton."

My stomach flips and butterflies take flight. "I want to be with you too, Nicolai." The truth of those words hit me square in the face, and my skin heats.

He seems to feel the weight of them too, and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's all I've ever, ever wanted, Sutton. I hope you know that."

Tears fill my eyes and I lie back down, letting him cradle me against his chest. It's a minute or two before I can speak.

"I didn't. Not for the longest time. I thought you didn't care at all. But now...now you're making me a believer."

He hooks his finger under my chin and raises my face so he can press his lips to mine. "Good. Because it's honestly the only truth I know beyond the shadow of a doubt."

"If that's a line, Nicolai Marković, it's a fucking good one."

"It's not a line, Sutton," he says, his tone serious. "I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

"I know," I assure him. "I don't think you'd be here if you didn't mean it. If you didn't care about me."

"Care about you." He scoffs. "There's so much mo—"

His phone on his nightstand vibrates and we both jump.

"Fuck," he mutters.

"Get it, it's okay," I say, nodding toward it.

He leans over and snatches it from its charger next to the lamp and when he reads the text, a satisifed smile crosses his face.

"Remember when I said we have a big day tomorrow?"

"Yeah?"

His smile widens to a grin. "Get ready, mala tigrica. It just got even bigger."