Chapter 21 20. Kiss You Now

Chapter 21 20. Kiss You Now
Chapter 20

Kiss You, Now

"Are you sure?" asked Nick as they arrived at the basement parking lot of a star hotel, where Sophie's birthday party was being held.
Vanilla rolled her eyes. "Everyone's over me," she muttered.
"Well, if you feel uncomfortable later don't push it, okay?" Nick said as he unbuckled his seat belt.
He hurried down from his super car to open the car door for Vanilla. Holding out his hand like a prince welcoming a princess off a horse-drawn carriage.
"Thank you," Vanilla sighed, her cheeks flushed with a blush while a smile played on her lips.
Vanilla let go of her palm that was in Nick's hand, she didn't want to make a scene because there was no guarantee that Beck wouldn't get angry seeing her too close to a man. Not that she was overconfident but she better watch out because she didn't want to mess up the event, also she didn't want any disputes between Beck and Nick tonight, if there was any later that was for later.
"Why?" knew Nick as Vanilla tugged on his palm.
Vanilla smiled softly. "We're not a couple," she said mockingly to Nick.
"In a few.... In about seventy-five days," Nick said no less mockingly.
"Did you do the math?"
"Of course."
Vanilla really couldn't contain her laughter.
"Don't laugh," Nick growled, he pulled Vanilla's waist and then with an unexpected movement kissed the girl's lips briefly.
Vanilla widened her eyes, she was about to protest but it was too late because the elevator doors opened and Nick dragged her into the narrow box-shaped room.
Nick grinned in jail at the pouty expression on Vanilla's face until the girl's lips pursed slightly. "You can retaliate if you don't accept," he said as he pressed the number of the floor they were going to.
Vanilla furrowed her brow. "What?"
"You can hit me back," Nick replied.
Vanilla reached out her hand towards Nick's arm to pinch the man. Hard and muscular, Vanilla was a complete failure at not being able to pull the man's skin.
"That's not how you reply," Nick whispered in Vanilla's ear because there were other people in the elevator.
Vanilla knew what Nick meant from the start. "Pervert," Vanilla said.
"That's romantic."
"Bullshit."
With the clinking sound of the elevator, they stepped out and headed straight for the venue.
Vanilla frowned as she entered the party venue, Beck had said that he was going to propose to Sophie. However, what Vanilla saw was not formal and she didn't see Beck's parents there either.
"Beck really isn't romantic," Nick grumbled as he entered the cafe that served as the party venue because the atmosphere was so ordinary, far from luxurious and romantic. "I'll propose to you in the most romantic way, later."
Vanilla ignored Nick's words even though her heart was jumping up and down with excitement at the thought of Nick proposing to her in the most romantic way possible. Maybe Nick would kneel down in front of her with a bunch of flowers or put the ring in the ice cream while they ate dinner.
From the opposite direction, Beck and Sophie walked up to Vanilla and Nick.
"Vanilla...," Beck greeted kindly, as if he had never come to Vanilla and accused her of a heinous act.
The expression on Beck's face was very flat, it was almost impossible to guess if in his mind he was growling because he was annoyed to see Vanilla coming with Nick, he did not expect Nick to be that close to Vanilla and what infuriated him even more, Vanilla was wearing a dress with open shoulders revealing her beautiful skin which he had seen for the first time, also her appearance was wrapped in a very graceful style making her look extraordinarily beautiful. It felt... a little regretful just seeing Vanilla's beauty.
Although he was upset because he didn't want Vanilla to be with Nick, he had to restrain himself because from the beginning he himself encouraged Nick to approach Vanilla. Tonight he was going to propose to Sophie, so he shouldn't do anything that would mess up his plans or embarrass himself.
"Happy birthday, Sophie and...," Vanilla said.
Beck cleared his throat. "Thank you, you came," he said, cutting Vanilla off.
"Thank you, Vanilla. Who is she, Vanilla? What's your new boyfriend?" asked Sophie who was secretly glancing at Nick who looked handsome in his semi-casual appearance.
"Oh, he's Nick, my friend and Beck from high school," Vanilla replied.
"Oh. Beck, you never wear your friends on your sleeve," protested Sophie in a very gentle tone.
Beck smiled. "She went to college in Toronto and just got back six months ago," he replied.
"Nick, you seem to be having success with our project," Beck quipped meaningfully to his best friend. His lips turned up in a sardonic smile that only he and Nick understood.
"Happy birthday, Sa... I mean Sophie...," Nick congratulated Sophie, almost calling her Soap.
"Thank you," Sophie said kindly.
Vanilla once again swept her eyes across the room, looking for Beck's parents.

"Beck, where's Mom and Dad?" she asked Beck.

Beck's composure seemed to waver, the man cleared his throat. "Oh, Mom and Dad, they're in Madrid."

His parents didn't even care when he told them that he intended to propose to Sophie even though his own mother had asked him to marry in order to have children. However, that was a matter that only he knew, no one else needed to know.

Vanilla frowned, confused. However, she soon understood when Beck rounded his eyes slightly as if he was giving her a code not to ask any further questions. The way they communicated using certain codes that only the two of them knew, was still the way it used to be. When they were together, before Sophie came between them.

"You guys enjoy your time, we'll greet the other guests first. We'll talk later," Beck said, as he led Sophie away from Vanilla and Nick.

Vanilla looked at Nick. "You never mentioned that you went to Toronto."

"I finished my undergraduate degree there and then went on to do a master's degree in New York."

"You only said that you went to New York," Vanilla grumbled. She felt she knew nothing about Nick.

"Mi Amor, after the party you can make a list of all the questions you want to ask me," Nick said, winking.

God, he was so sexy when he winked. Vanilla almost melted at the sexiness of the man she idolized as a teenager.

However, Vanilla didn't want Nick to know that she almost melted. She scowled. "No need for me to ask, if you want to tell me, just tell me."

"Oh my God, Vanilla...." Nick looked fondly at the pouting Vanilla.

He wanted to torture Vanilla's lips that had dared to flirt in the middle of the crowd, he wanted to teach those sexy lips a lesson by fondling them until they were limp.

Vanilla returned Nick's gaze, she knew what Nick was thinking. "What are you thinking about?" she asked with a teasing half-laugh.

"Thinking about kissing you, right now."

Vanilla widened her eyes. "Don't mess with me," he said fiercely, his gaze looking wary until he took two steps back and successfully bumped into the person who happened to be walking behind him.

Vanilla immediately apologized politely and scowled back at Nick. "You scared me."

Nick chuckled, he grabbed Vanilla's waist. "We'd better enjoy the meal."

"Good idea," Vanilla said, her eyes sparkling. She wanted to sample the cafe's dishes and get a peek at what their specialties were and how they were served.

The two of them enjoyed some of the dishes that had been provided at the place, they chose dishes that were not too heavy and chose sweet dishes as dessert.

Nick cut the cake on his plate and then gave the cake to Vanilla using the fork in his hand. "I want to eat this cake later," he said.

"You can come here again," Vanilla said after swallowing the cake that felt very soft spoiling her tongue, she licked her own lips because the butter cream from the cake she ate still left a sweet residue on her lips.

"I want this cake but yours." Nick stared at Vanilla's lips that had been making him fantasize naughtily, perhaps because he had not channeled his desires for too long that his wild thoughts about Vanilla were getting crazier.

Vanilla wrinkled her nose. "Just ask my mommy, she...."

Vanilla couldn't finish her sentence because a familiar girl attacked them.

"Nick...," the girl greeted.

Vanilla blinked her eyes, how could that jockey girl be at Sophie's birthday party?