Amelia looks genuinely insulted by that for a second. Then says, “Nikki, you are my soul sister. Your happiness is my own. If my brother makes you happy, I’m over the moon about it and… and oh my God, we could actually become sisters-in-law if my dingus brother doesn’t mess things up with you!” She squeals. Her mind is already running a hundred miles an hour.
I wrap my arms around Nikki’s waist from behind and say, “She will be. One day soon.” I feel the shiver that runs up Nikki’s spine and finally acknowledge my shmuck of a friend. “Gonna need the name of your jeweler… and a friends and family discount.” I laugh as Nikki slaps my arms.
Amelia steps closer to us. “I never thought I’d see the day. My brother, in a committed relationship.” She puts her hands on top of mine, which are on top of Nikki’s. “And to have found that love with my best friend? My person? Now I think I’m the lucky one here.” And right on cue, the girls burst into tears. I release Nikki so they can hug.
“You can stop recording now, Evan,” I scold.
“Not a chance. Can’t wait to play this at your wedding. I’m kind of known for my romantic videos.” He winks at me.
I roll my eyes, recalling how he proposed to my sister yesterday by compiling childhood home videos of them. Not gonna lie, it was cute as hell. Although I might have him beat, with the appointment I have planned for two weeks from now.
47
Nikki
VALENTINE’S DAY
It’s beena wild two weeks since I had my very public and very dramatic showdown with Justin and his parents.
And since Evan, Amelia, and Tony have recently been in the media, the whole story has blown up and even gone TikTok viral, whatever that means.
We’ve decided to keep a low profile and stay holed up in Tony’s apartment for the time being, since Tony has officially cut ties with the NYPD. He gave his two weeks’ notice, but since he was already on a paid suspension, his resignation was effective immediately. And surprisingly, he was still able to walk away on good terms. They put out a PR statement wishing Tony well in his future endeavors.
But the hiding ends today. Because today is Valentine’s Day, and I’m pulling out all the stops. I’m going to make today so sweet it’ll give Tony a toothache. If he’s giving his all to win boyfriend of the year, then I need to step it up for the most commercialized day to celebrate love.
If someone would have told me that I’d be giddy to celebrate the cheesiest holiday about the one emotion I spent most of my life running from, I would have had them committed on a seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold.
Yet here I am, wrapped up in Tony’s arms, dreaming about my romantic plan for the day.
That is, until my phone starts ringing at the ass crack of dawn.
Tony leans over me and looks down at the screen. “It’s your dad. You should answer it.”
I wipe sleep from my eyes as I take the phone and swipe to answer. Before speaking, I can see that it’s five in the morning. “Dad? Is everything okay?”
“Nikki.” I hear my dad’s voice break and bolt up in bed. “We did it, honey.”
“We did what, Dad? Are you hurt? In a hospital? Tony and I—”
I hear a ping, alerting me to a text message on my phone.
“Look at the picture, Nikki.” My dad exhales harshly.
I put my phone on speaker and go to my text messages. I open the picture but have to rub my eyes once more to make sure my mind isn’t playing tricks on me.
It’s Adriano Bartoli. In handcuffs.
Being led out of a building in nothing but a robe and slippers embroidered with the Barlowe hotel logo. My dad, in an FBI jacket, holds Adriano’s right bicep as a SWAT agent holds his left. A sea of officers and flashing lights flank them.
“We did it, Nikki. All thanks to you.”
Is my dad crying?
I shake my head, unable to form words. Tony takes the phone to get a better look at the picture and smiles. “Congrats, John. It was a long time coming. Can’t imagine how you feel.”
I sit still, shell-shocked, as tears silently stream down my cheeks.
“You know”—my dad clears his throat a few times, attempting to fortify his voice—“I’m not naïve. I’m sure his son is already making moves and calling the shots to take over the multitude of illegal businesses we probably don’t even know about. But it still feels like justice was finally served.” He pauses for a moment. “I’ve always thought about this moment. Catching my white whale. Closing my last case with the one that started my career.” He sniffles. “Yet it doesn’t compare… doesn’t even hold a candle to the moment I got to hug my daughter for the first time.”
