A lazy grin spreading across Nick's handsome face. "What's up, baby? One more round?" he asked, still joking around like he didn't have a care in the world. He figured Amelia was messing with him, but then he saw her face. Dead serious.
Everything changed in an instant. His smile vanished, and he dropped down on one knee like some knight from a fairy tale. He grabbed her hand, his grip firm but gentle. "You scared of my mom or something?"
Amelia opened her mouth, ready to say "no"—because, really, why would she be scared? But then it hit her, like a cold slap to the face. The truth was, Nick's declaration of love didn't magically make everything right. It didn't fix all the crap they'd gone through. She was still on shaky ground, standing on thin ice.
Nick squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Don't worry, baby. I got you. I'll protect you—"
Ding dong.