Part 55

Seth's point of view;

I'm standing outside waiting for Nikki to arrive. It's very cold December night. Tonight we're having a Christmas dinner as a family.

Tonight is the night the whole truth is going to come out. I'm quite nervous but I know I'm going to feel so much better once everyone knows.

A car pulls up and I think it's Nikki with Brie and Roman but it's just Brandon. "Hey man." He says as he walks out of his car. A girl comes out of the passenger seat and I give him a look.

"Hey Brandon." I say, he just smiles and walks by me with his lady friend. The cold breeze is making me shiver.

Another car pulls up and this time I know it's them. Roman walks out with Brie. They both greet me and start walking ahead.

I see Nikki walk out. She's wearing a lovely black dress. "Hello Nicole." I say as I walk to her. "Hey Rollins." She says as she closes he door.

"Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."

She grins from ear to ear as her cheeks turn a pinkish color. "You're so corny." She says with a smile. "Just for you my dear."

We walk to the house and before we enter she stops. "Are you sure about tonight?" she mumbles quietly.

"I'm more than sure." I answer as we start walking ahead. Once we enter the house Kathy greets Nikki with a hug.

"I'm so glad to see you." She says as she rubs her back slowly. "Shall we head to the dinner table?" My dad says.

My heart starts accelerating and I know Nikki feels the same way. We all sit down, Nikki in front of me like usual.

I'm sitting beside Brandon. Brie and Roman are across from me. I told Roman about my plan tonight. He told me to go for it but he still sounded concerned.

Roman and I make eye contact for a brief second and I can tell that he's still worried about it. He was very encouraging though. Roman has always been the "honest" one I guess you could say.

"Before we get started I want to say something." I speak up. The whole family turns to look at me.

Nikki looks right at me and she looks beyond scared. "Okay go ahead." Kathy says smiling. I think after I start talking she's not going to be smiling no more.

"First off I wanted to say how thankful I am that our family is very close." Nikki gulps and she looks very pale.

"I also wanted to say that... I'm in love." When I say this they start smiling except for Nikki and Roman who both know it's about to go down.

"Renee right? Just go ahead and bring her over!" Brie says excitedly. "We will love to meet her. Our arms are open to her. Bring her whenever you want to." Kathy says.

"It's not Renee." I say while clearing my throat. "Oh. Then who?" Dad says. I take a deep breath before I say it.

"I'm in love with... Nikki." As soon as I say this everyone stops smiling. Nikki looks down at her lap with blushed cheeks.

"What?" Kathy says loudly. "I'm in love with Nikki." I repeat this time my voice not as shaky as before.

"What the hell are you talking about Seth?" My dad says anger rising in this voice. "I know this is something that's hard to understand, but I fell in love with her from the moment I saw her."

"That can't be it. You guys are..." Kathy's voice trails off. "We're not related by blood. We grew up together and I'm sorry I just couldn't help falling in love with her. I'm just telling you guys because I don't want to hide it anymore. I don't want to hide our love."

"Seth be quiet. You don't know what you're saying." My dad says. Brandon, Brie, and JJ are quiet. They're not saying anything at all just staring at me.

"Seth has helped me through so much. I... I love him too." Nikki says. I look at her surprised just like everyone else.

Nikki has never ever told me she loved me. This is the first time I hear it. It suddenly makes me feel better.

I don't care how angry and confused they all are. I only care about Nikki and her feelings. "I can't believe this." Kathy says.

"This is not how I expected this Christmas dinner to go." JJ says breaking the awkward, tense, silence.

<<••>>

"Do you think they will understand someday?" Nikki whispers as we lay in my car in the darkness.

"I'm not sure." I reply honestly. "I hope they will." I add as I turn to look at her. The moonlight is shining on her face.

She looks a bit sad. I can understand why. "It'll be okay, Nikki." I say as I kiss the top of her head. "How do you know?"

"Because I know. Everything will be fine eventually. I promise." I say as I take her hand and kiss it.

"Did you really mean what you said?" I ask Nikki. The curiosity has been eating me alive. I've been wanting to ask her since she said it.

"I did." She says. "How do you know?" I ask as my heart flutters. "Because I know. You're the only person that has seen the real me."

She turns her face and leans in a bit. Our noses see touching and she's breathing softly against my face.

"You've seen my flaws, my insecurities, the worst of me and yet you still accept me. You still stick with me. You encourage me to be a better person. You make me believe in myself and that's something no one has ever done. You've seen my dirty heart and you still find something beautiful about me. You've made flowers grow in my soul and I'm learning to love myself. That's why I love you."

I smile as I take her face in my hands. I slowly lean in to press my lips against her. I can feel her smiling and I smile too.

This is what I've been waiting for all of my life. I feel like I can't live without her anymore. She has because my everything. She is my everything and I don't want to love no one else but her.