by Nikki Paris
“Okay, guys, let’s eat,” Our mom sighed and moved to grab a stack of plates from the cupboard.
“Sorry, Bea.” I patted my older sister’s shoulder.
She sniffled and shook her head. “It’s fine. It’ll be fine. I’m going to be strong for Sophia.”
I nodded and Charlie said, “Damn straight you are. We’re tough in this family.”
Bea smiled through her tears, and we all settled around the kitchen table.
An hour later, It was just Charlie and me left at the table. Bea and our mom had already finished eating and gone out back to talk more about Bea’s divorce and have another glass of wine. Charlie twirled some spaghetti around her fork and stared me down with freakish intensity.
“What’s up, Charlie?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Did you ask her yet?” She slurped up a noodle.
I sighed. “You know I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t know.”
“Don’t you love her?” Charlie raised an eyebrow.
“One hundred percent, yes. Sienna is it. It’s not her that’s making me feel off.”
“It’s dad, right?”
My eyes flashed up to meet Charlie’s. She was absolutely right. Of course that’s what was wrong. That was exactly why I felt like there was a big hole in my chest. I should have been able to have a chat with my dad about Sienna and marriage. I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded at my little sister.
“What do you think dad would have said?” Charlie’s voice was quiet.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s why this all feels so hard.”
Charlie blinked her blue eyes and said, unsmiling, “I know what he’d say. He’d say, ‘Son, this girl is incredible, and she’s one of a kind. Don’t screw it up.’ Dad liked Sienna, you know that, right? You already know that when you and Ava were being dumbasses and making out, Sienna would come and watch Parks and Rec with me. Well, sometimes Dad watched with us, too, and listened to us bullshit and laugh. Then after she’d leave, dad would say, ‘Why the hell isn’t Evan dating that one? Does he need his head examined?’”
I laughed and shook my head. I could almost hear my dad’s voice. “I didn’t know that. Thanks, Charlie.” I took a sip of my water and asked, “But what about Bea? Is it insensitive for me to get engaged while she’s going through hell with her divorce?”
Charlie laughed. “Are you kidding me, Evan? This family fucking needs something to celebrate and be excited about. Even Bea will flip. So, stop dicking around and wasting time. Ask her to marry you!”
“Little Charlotte. So wise.” I grinned at my sister and stood to put my plate in the sink. Then I turned and headed for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Charlie called after me.
I turned over my shoulder and smiled. “To ask Sienna to marry me.”
“Atta boy!” Charlie grinned.
◆◆◆
I walked into Toni’s coffee shop and shoved my way to the stage. Sienna was mid-song, but I had no problem interrupting her show. I gently pulled the guitar from her hands and grabbed her face.
She gave me a curious look, “Um, hey—”
Then I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her. The room was packed, and people started to whistle and cheer, but I hardly heard them. Sienna was the only fucking thing that existed to me — just her warm body and her perfect lips against mine.
After getting my fill of her lips, I pulled the ring from my jacket pocket and dropped to one knee. “Sienna, you are my everything, and I don’t want to waste another second not being married to you. So, will you marry me?”
Sienna covered her mouth with both hands, and her gold-green eyes burned exactly the way I imagined they would. “Yes!” She laughed and held out her left hand so I could slide the ring onto her finger. Her hand shook, and I softly kissed it before sliding the ring into place.
The room erupted into cheers as I stood, and Sienna flung her arms around my neck. She kissed me like I was fucking everything and then whispered in my ear, “I love you, Evan.”
“I love you, too, Sienna.”
She kissed me one more time before turning to her fans. “You guys will have to excuse me. I need a minute alone with my fiancé.” Sienna took my hand, and we made our way through the small crowd. They cheered and patted us on the back as we passed.
Once we made it outside, Sienna pulled me around the back of the building and pushed me up against the brick wall, kissing me like she couldn’t get enough. I wrapped my arms around her waist and adored the feeling of her body pressed up against me.
After a few moments, Sienna broke our kiss and rested her forehead against mine. “I thought you were having dinner with your family tonight. Also, it’s not Sunday, Evan. Were you fucking with me?” A soft smile danced across her lips.
I smiled and caught her lower lip gently between my teeth. I sucked it for a second, then released it and brought my lips to her neck. “I was having dinner with my family, and Charlie set my head straight and made me realize I was wasting time by not putting that ring on your finger.”
Sienna smiled and ran her hands through my hair. “I’ve always liked that little sister of yours. So what took you so long?”
I gazed right into Sienna’s beautiful eyes. There was no question in my mind. I knew I could tell her the truth. “Honestly, I wished I could talk to my dad about this huge life decision. I knew I was going to marry you as soon as we seriously started dating. It wasn’t like I needed help to decide. I wanted to have a talk with my old man, you know?”
Sienna didn’t smile, nor did her eyes fill with pity. She gave me that perfect look that said, “I understand your soul.” She nodded and kissed me softly. “Of course you wanted to talk to him.” She hugged me tighter and rested her head on my chest.
I almost apologized for ruining the romantic moment, but I stopped myself. This was Sienna. She wouldn’t want my apology because there was nothing to apologize for.
Suddenly, I felt a cold, wet drop hit my arm, followed by another and another. Sienna glanced up at the sky with an adorable smile and excitement in her eyes. “Evan, holy shit. It’s raining. How damn perfect.”
I grinned and kissed her nose as the sprinkle turned into a drizzle. “It’s like all the bad things in the world are being washed away, right?”
Sienna nodded and said, “And all that’s left is the good.”
We kissed in the rain, not caring that we were getting soaked, not needing anything but the heat between our bodies.
A Note From the Author:
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this book, be sure to check out the next book in the '69 Series. Of Course, Cutie, is Charlie's story. It's available now! (Keep reading for a sneak peak) Book Three, Yes, Love, is Ava's story and is available for pre-order.
Follow me on Instagram & Tik Tok @nikkiparisromance or check out my website https://www.nikkiparis.com to stay updated on my current works in progress.
- Nikki
Of Course, Cutie
1
Charlie
October was the worst month of the year. Halloween was a bullshit, stupid holiday. Pumpkin spice tasted like hot garbage, and no, the vibrant hues on the trees weren’t beautiful. Red, orange, and yellow were garish, hideous colors.
I hated watching those ugly leaves cling to the branches for dear life, but I hated it more when they fluttered to the ground, losing their battle. They represented death, even a year later. They always would.
“Charlotte Cox!” Matteo called across the courtyard of our quaint little city college. It wasn’t a friendly greeting. His hands were on his hips, and his lips were pursed. My fabulous best friend was pissed, and I knew exactly why.
I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, “What’s up, Mattie-boy? Love the scarf!”
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he rolled his eyes. Matteo loved compliments. I could worm my way out of this fight. “I know what you’re do
ing, Charlotte.” He marched his skinny little ass over to me and sat next to me on the bench, shoving his hands in the pockets of his pea coat.
Matteo was the only person in the world allowed to call me Charlotte, and I was the only person who called him Mattie. We each hated the names, which was a fun little part of our friendship.
“What am I doing, Mattie?” I blinked innocently.
“Put your big blue puppy-dog eyes away! I am furious with you!”
I groaned and covered my face with two gloved hands.
“You love me, don’t you? Don’t you, Charlotte?”
“You know I do.” I’d RSVP’d no to Matteo’s extravagant Halloween party. There were over two-hundred people on the list. I honestly didn’t think he would notice. My bad.
Matteo raised both of his perfectly manicured black eyebrows. “You do what? Say it.”
“I love you.” I rolled my eyes and stared up at the gray afternoon sky.
“Fuck yeah, you do. So why aren’t you coming to my party?”
I turned to glare at him. “Because I hate Halloween! And you have so many stupid people at your parties! And… you know.” We first met at Matteo’s Halloween party last year. He found me high as a kite and mid-emotional breakdown in his backyard.
“Charlotte, come here, beautiful.” Matteo tucked me under his arm and gave me a big sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I know you hate this month. That’s why I have a relaxing day planned just for us next weekend. I bought every season of Parks and Rec, Modern Family, and The Good Place. I found fuzzy blankets and facial masks with actual gold flakes in them, and I’m going to make those little lemon cupcakes that you love!”
I laughed and slumped against him. “You’re the best, Mattie-boy.”
Matteo rolled his amber eyes. “Obviously. So you’re coming to my Halloween party because I need you there, and you need to meet more people!”
“I don’t like people. You know this.”
“But you’re lonely, and you need to get laid.”
“Shut up. There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin.”
Matteo snorted. “Okay, sweetie. Being a teenage virgin is fine, I guess, but you’re turning twenty in a couple of months. You can’t be a twenty-something virgin. That’s embarrassing.” He teased and gave my shoulder a playful shove.
“Don’t even, Mattie.” I shot him a glare. “The second I meet a guy that interests me, he can have my V-card. Until that time comes, shut your fucking face about it.”
Matteo threw his head back and laughed. “All right, all right. I’ll keep an eye out for a guy that might hold your attention.”
“Great.”
“Okay, let’s get back on topic. I need you at my Halloween party.” Matteo chewed on his bottom lip and glanced sideways at me. “I invited Jonah!”
“Oooooh!” I sat up and laughed. Matteo had been crushing on Jonah for months. “Mattie, you’re hot as fuck. You don’t need me!”
“No, I do. I do need you! I’m so nervous that I’m going to piss myself just thinking about his gorgeous sea-green eyes!” Matteo stood and started pacing in front of the bench. “I need you to be my wingman and pick up the pieces of my broken heart if it doesn’t go well!”
I groaned again and made eye contact with my best friend. Matteo had repeatedly picked up all of my broken pieces over the last year. I owed it to him to be available to return the favor if he needed it. I let out a long deep breath and admitted defeat. “I’ll be there, boo.”
“Yay!” Matteo bounced on the balls of his feet. “Okay, I have to get to work. Love you!”
“Love you!” I called after his retreating back. Damn-it. I didn’t want to go to his Halloween party. I still had PTSD from the last one. It was my own damn fault for showing up at a party three weeks after my dad’s funeral and consuming 50 mg of cannabis for the first time. Some dude named Isaiah told me it would help.
Boy, was he fucking wrong.
Matteo found me sobbing and puking into his bushes and took pity on me. We liked to laugh about that night now, but at the time, it was terrifying. I was so high that the entire yard was spinning, and I kept forgetting to breathe. And instead of dulling my grief, the cannabis amplified it.
So Matteo found me at my absolute worst and pulled me into his arms, and a life-long bond was forged. I’d do anything for that fabulous little man-boy.
I sighed and stood, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. I had one more class today, but I was not in the mood. Instead of showing up for U.S. History, I headed to the parking lot and then drove to my favorite place.
The name of my brother’s bar, ’69, made me snort as I pulled up and parked. I’d laugh at the name every damn time because I would always remember the color of Evan’s face as he adamantly insisted to our mother that it had nothing to do with sex. “Mom! It’s the year of my Camaro! I swear!”
Suuuure, Evan. Like we all don’t know that you’ve been a sex-crazed idiot ever since Sienna came back into your life.
I pushed open the door, and Evan’s gorgeous fiancé greeted me with a smile. “Charlie!” Sienna crossed the empty bar and pulled me in for a hug. “How was school today?”
“Oh, ya know, a fabulous waste of time, like usual. Can I hang here for a bit?”
Sienna nodded and pulled her cinnamon-brown hair into a ponytail. “Yep. We’re just setting up, and Evan’s showing the new bartender the ropes. You can stay until we open.”
“New bartender?” I asked, following Sienna back to the bar where she was folding black cloth napkins into perfect triangles. “What happened to Marla?”
“She’s starting nursing school and needed to cut back her hours.”
“Ah.” I sank onto the barstool beside Sienna and started wiping down the stack of laminated menus to my left. I hung out at ’69 a lot. It was much better than being at home. I stayed close by for college because I couldn’t leave my mom so soon after my dad’s passing. But then my older sister, Bea, and her daughter moved back in after her divorce. Things were chaotic at home, so chaotic that the bar was almost calm in comparison.
“How are you doing, Charlie?” Sienna’s soft, soothing voice brought me back into the moment.
“Fine.” I refused to look at her. If I looked at her, I would cry. The anniversary of my father’s death was in two days.
Sienna nodded and reached over to squeeze my hand. “Evan’s not fine either.” I watched her fold another napkin, furiously blinking my eyes to keep the tears back. She spoke again, “We’re going to do a classic rock night for him tomorrow. We’ll tell Mason to look the other way and let you in without carding you if you want to come.”
I cleared my throat to make sure my voice didn’t crack. “Thanks. That sounds nice.” I let my gaze travel down the bar to where my brother stood, talking with a man. He had his back to me, but he looked tall and muscular, and his arms were covered in tattoos. His longish dark hair was pulled back and secured with an elastic, and he had an incredible ass. Not a bad fucking view from behind. “That’s the new bartender?” I asked, nodding toward the guy.
“Yep. Burke Reid. He just moved to Washington from the east coast to be closer to his kid. Nice guy.”
Right then, Burke turned, and I got a good look at his face. He had a thick brown beard and striking green eyes. Matteo could go on and on about Jonah’s pretty green eyes, but damn. Jonah had nothing on this Burke dude.
Sienna cleared her throat. “You’re staring, Charlie. I know your mother taught you better than that.”
I rolled my eyes and turned back to the menus. “I’m not staring.”
Sienna laughed. “Oh, honey, you were staring. I didn’t know you were into that badass biker gang look.
“Beats a pretty boy any day.”
Sienna burst out laughing. “You don’t like pretty boys?”
I raised both eyebrows at her. “What about me has ever given you the impression that I like pretty boys?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
“You like pretty boys, though.” I smirked at her and then glanced over at my brother. His light brown hair was perfectly tousled, and he never let his “beard” get past well-groomed stubble.
Sienna sighed and rested her chin in her hands, grinning at Evan. “Mmm… your brother is so damn pretty.”
I made a gagging sound which caused my brother to glance over at me. “Charlie!” He grinned and walked toward Sienna and me. “Too many tears at mom’s house?”
“Always. Bea’s spawn is teething.” I loved my darling niece, and I called her spawn with only the utmost adoration in my heart.
Evan laughed and called the new bartender over. “Burke, come meet my kid sister, Charlie. She’ll probably be here a lot, and under no circumstances may you serve her.”
I tried not to freeze when Burke’s green eyes skated over my face. I begged myself to keep breathing when he smiled and rumbled out a deep, “Hey. Nice to meet you.”
I cleared my throat. “Hey.” That was all I could work up. Wow. Nice.
Burke smiled. “Not very chatty?”
Evan laughed. “Once you get to know her, she gets bossy and loud.” He reached across the bar to mess up my hair.
I smacked his hand away. “Fuck off, Evan. And don’t call me your kid sister. I’m in college.” I glanced over at Burke. “I’m not a kid.”
Burke’s smile turned into a grin. How old was he? Maybe late-twenties? Mid-thirties? And what kid? Didn’t Sienna say something about a kid? Was he married? Single?
Evan messed up my hair again. “Aw, isn’t she a cutie?” He laughed and then patted Burke’s shoulder. “Hey, man, I have an order coming in that I need to go make room for in the back. Feel free to familiarize yourself with our stock and drink menu. I’ll be back out in like twenty minutes.”
“I’ll help, babe.” Sienna hopped off her barstool and followed Evan into the back room, leaving me alone with Burke—sexy, manly Burke. Good god, I was having a reaction to this man. Suddenly I knew why I’d never had a serious relationship before. I’d been hanging out with boys all my life. Boys didn’t hold my interest. Men, on the other hand…
