Chapter Text
“You’re my favorite,” she murmurs, sing-songy. Nic’s tracing the arc of his cheekbone with her pointer finger, one arm over another at the bar.
“You’re very drunk,” Conrad reminds her. He’s smiling because she is. Her joy is kind of contagious, he already knows.
“Don’t care!” She puts her arms around his neck, inhaling his aftershave. Five-drink Nic is very huggy, like a koala on an overexcited tourist. Five-drink Nic hugs the way that grandmothers do after presenting you with oatmeal-raisin cookies.
“Aaand I’m taking you home.” He reaches for her hand, dragging her somewhat successfully out of her seat.
“I got the good one!” She follows him out, flushed from the lights at the bar and the alcohol in her system. Her face is rosy, and it’d be adorable if it weren’t 2 AM. “The good one! He might ask me out!”
“Think I might go a little further than that,” Conrad says, shrugging as he pays their bill. “Like, to the altar, perhaps?”
“He married me?” Five-drink Nic is a hilarious and bumbling mess. Conrad’s not quite sure if he’s ever had a confused hug before, but he’s having one now. He can smell her shampoo, like Pantene’s put their own lemon-y twist on the scent of a lilac.
“I did marry you.” He holds the door for her and they walk out to the parking lot. “Several months ago, in fact. It was very nice. Your dad cried. My dad gave a very stern-sounding speech layered with hidden childhood nostalgia.”
“Did I cry?”
“We both did. It was beautiful! And emotional!”
“Okay then,” Nic says, opening the car door. “I believe you.” She falls asleep on his shoulder as he drives them home, and even if she’s snoring above the traffic noises, Conrad knows he got a good one, too.
“G’night,” she whispers, tucking herself into bed next to him. “Thank you for marrying me.” Five-drink Nic is a blessing.
“You’re welcome.” He kisses her cheek, still warm from blushing. “Thank you for marrying me, too.”