Chapter 119: Chapter 119: The Weight of Secrets
"Everything is wrong, Zayn... unless this bouquet you just received is from a man... not a woman..."
I froze. My breath caught in my throat, the words sticking before I could even shape a reply. My mind went blank for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest so loud it almost drowned everything else. I blinked at him, buying myself time, pretending I hadn’t heard it right. But Nicki’s eyes stayed locked on me, sharp, like he already knew the answer and was just waiting for me to slip.
I forced a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension, but it came out shaky. "Nicki... what are you even talking about?"
Still, I couldn’t meet his gaze right away. That pause, that hesitation... already gave him more than I wanted to.
Nicki smiled knowingly, his voice calm but laced with provocation. "Your birthday is coming up anyway. There’s no way you won’t invite your partner. We’ll see then why you keep hiding her."
I stiffened, but before I could respond, he quickly circled back to his reason for being here. "Anyway, about earlier... I just hope you’ve forgiven me, bro."
I gave him a tight smile, shaking my head. "That’s what you should have focused on instead of running your mouth with something else."
He laughed awkwardly, then pushed back his chair.
I gestured to the menu. "At least place an order before you leave."
He shook his head, still smiling. "Fair enough. I won’t order, I’ve got somewhere else to be." He rose to his feet, giving my shoulder a light tap. "See you around, bro."
And just like that, he walked out, leaving me alone with the weight of my thoughts.
The moment the door closed behind him, I let out a long sigh, my chest heavy. My thoughts swirled in chaos. I wasn’t even ready to face my friends about Evric... how could I possibly face the whole world?
Nicki’s words lingered like a shadow. I couldn’t even answer his question just now. How could I invite Evric to my birthday? Maybe the easy way was to split things: let my friends celebrate with me in the morning, and be with Evric at night. Or hold two separate celebrations, one for them and one for him.
But deep down, I knew that wouldn’t work. There was no way I could tell Evric not to come to the party my friends organized. He’d realize instantly that I was trying to hide him from them, and that would cut deeper than anything. He’s willing to risk it all for me, yet here I was, still hesitating.
I sank back into my chair, pressing my palm against my face. I have to be ready. I can’t run forever. If I love him the way I say I do, I need to stand beside him... even when the questions come.
But in truth, what unsettled me the most wasn’t Nicki. It was Nantam. I knew him too well. His reaction would be the sharpest, the hardest to take. And I wasn’t sure I was prepared for that storm.
Still... no matter how much I dreaded it, I couldn’t hide forever. Sooner or later, I’d have to let them know about Evric. Only then, when the truth was laid bare, would my mind finally be at rest.
I slipped my phone out of my pocket and texted Dean. We needed to meet at our regular bar... I had things I wanted to get off my chest. But instead of agreeing, he replied quickly, saying he was busy. Still, he promised to come over later that night and even spend the night at my place.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair, and typed back a simple Okay.
At least that was settled. And with Nantam not at home, it meant Dean and I would have enough time to talk freely, without anyone hovering or questioning why.
Not long after, Nuala stopped by the restaurant. I sat with her at a corner table while she ordered a light meal. Between bites, she looked up at me and asked, "Are you heading back home with me? It’s getting late already... I can wait if you’re going back."
I shook my head lightly. "Not tonight. I already made an appointment with a friend, and I don’t want to disappoint him. I’ll come by tomorrow instead."
She pouted, pushing her spoon against the edge of the plate. "Okay... I guess I won’t be going back then. It’s too boring at home with just me around. I’ll probably just head over to Chrisly’s house. At least I won’t feel so alone." She paused, her expression softening. "I miss Evric already. I know Evric doesn’t sit with me all day," she admitted, "but just seeing him around makes me happy. Unlike Chrisly... whenever we’re together, we just end up fighting."
I smiled gently at her words. "That just means you care about him more than you realize."
She blushed faintly but didn’t deny it. Her cheeks warmed, and she tried to hide it with a small laugh. After our conversation drifted off into lighter topics, she finished her meal.
Soon after, she stood, smoothing her dress, and said her goodbyes. I walked her out to the driver’s car, waving as the vehicle pulled away and disappeared into the distance.
The day slipped by quickly. After finishing up everything at the restaurant, I finally went home. Dropping onto the couch in the living room, I waited for Dean. He took his time, more than three hours after I’d arrived, before I finally heard a knock at the door.
When I opened it, he stood there with his easy smile. "Hey."
"Hey," I replied, stepping aside to let him in.
I asked if he was hungry, but he shook his head. "I’m fine."
So I grabbed a couple of drinks from the fridge, and we sat down together. The clink of the bottles broke the silence before Dean leaned back, watching me closely. "So," he said, "what’s this thing you wanted to talk about?"
I turned to him with a serious look. "Dean."
"Yes?"
"I want your advice." I hesitated for a second before continuing, "My birthday is coming up, and everyone will be there. There’s no way Evric won’t show up, even if he’s not around now, I know he’ll be back by then."
Dean’s brows lifted. "Okay... so what’s the problem?"
I swallowed, my fingers shrinking around the bottle. "Do you think I should tell Nantam about Evric now, or should I wait until my birthday?"
Dean exhaled slowly and straightened up on the couch. "Honestly? I’d say wait. Let it all happen on your birthday. Let Evric show up, let everyone see, let them be shocked. Even I’ll act shocked, like I didn’t know a thing."
He smirked faintly. "There’s no point stirring Nantam up early when the party is still happening anyway. Better to let the truth land all at once, just like the day I found out."
I opened my mouth. "But..."
"There’s no but, Zayn," Dean cut in firmly, his eyes locking on mine. "You love him, don’t you? Then stop worrying so much. Let them deal with their shock... You just focus on being happy with Evric."