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Nicky put the pillow over his head when the phone vibrated in an attempt to ignore it.
"If this isn't Santa," Nicky muttered a minute later when he took the phone. "I'm going back to sleep."
"Ever so funny, my friend," Logan replied. "And yes, today, you could say I'm working for Santa."
"You aren't making any sense," Nicky muttered. "Let me at least go to the loo before we speak."
"Ok," Logan replied. "Call you in ten. It should also give you the time to make a cup of coffee."
Nicky just groaned as a reply before ending the call. Then he rolled over on his back and looked up at the ceiling for a moment before getting up. He had just sat down with a cup of coffee when Logan rang again.
"Logan," Nicky said. "What do you want at 7 AM?"
"It's closer to 10 AM," Logan replied. "It's good to see you're catching up on some much-needed sleep."
"Yeah, listen, make it fast," Nicky replied. "If it's closer to 10 AM, I must leave in half an hour."
"Sure," Logan replied. "I talked with the jeweller who is going to sell your rings today. She said she had had over 200 requests for rings and even bigger activity on Insta and other platforms. Nicky, you have sold your entire first collection before it has made it to the store. And to top it all, a big photographer says he wants to include your rings in his next fashion shoot."
Nicky's head was spinning while trying to understand it all.
"You are going to have a big payout for it all, more money than you have ever seen before," Logan said. "And you..."
"Logan, please stop talking," Nicky said. "I can't process it all."
"It's a lot to take in, I know," Logan replied. "If I weren't in Paris with the wife, I would come over to explain it all to you myself."
"Let me ask you something," Nicky said. "Is there something I need to sign or make a decision about right now?"
"No, it can easily wait until I'm back on Tuesday," Logan replied. "Why?"
"Then enjoy your weekend with Tenna. You both have earned it for helping me the last year, for always being there for me when I needed it," Nicky replied. He was the one who had bought the trip to Paris for his friends as a gift. "And then we'll talk when you get home."
"Ok, I'll do that," Logan replied. "Oh, another thing, Nicky. Don't get a heart attack when you see your bank account."
They said goodbye, and then Nicky checked his bank account. If he wasn't sitting down, he might have gotten a heart attack when he saw that he suddenly had over 750.000 Dollars in his bank account. After taking several deep breaths, he decided not to touch the money before talking with Logan on Tuesday and telling anyone about it. He needed to be sure that the money really was his.
After taking a shower, Nicky got ready to leave. His phone vibrated again as he was about to get on his bike. He smiled when he saw it was a text from Joe together with a photo of Joe wearing the pink sweatpants and two tickets for The Pride Lunch.
"See told you I could get two tickets, so I hope you are okay with vegetarian food. I heard they can turn a beetroot into a beef."
Nicky smiled to himself.
"And yes, still wearing your pink sweatpants. Most of all, because they give me a piece of you. Yeah, I know, romantic soul who can't wait to go on a date with you tomorrow. What kind of flowers should I bring you?"
Nicky blushed as he started to text back.
"Can't wait to see what it takes to turn a beetroot into a beef, but most of all, I'm looking forward to spending time with you too. I love yellow flowers. Nicky."
Nicky saw the bubbles on the screen.
"Yellow flowers for the cute Italian. Noted. I wish I had more time to text with you, but I'm already late for the birthday. Text you tonight. Say hi to your Nonna from me. And know you're always in my thoughts. Joe."
Nicky quickly texted back.
"I'll say hi to Nonna from you. Have fun at the birthday. And you're also always in my thoughts, Nicky."
Nicky turned around when he heard someone giggle.
"Nicky is in love," Celeste said. She lived next to Nicky. "I can see it on your face because you look just like Dad whenever Mom says something to him."
"I think you're right, Celeste," Nicky replied as he put the phone in his jacket pocket. "Can we keep it between us for now?"
"Hmmm," Celeste replied. "Only if we bake muffins next Friday after school. I would say tomorrow, but we're going to Disneyland this weekend."
"You got yourself a deal," Nicky replied. "I need to get going. My Nonna is waiting for me."
"Say hi to her from me," Celeste replied. "And tell her we'll bring muffins next Friday."
Nicky promised before he got up on his bike. With the road not blocked this time, it only took the usual 24 minutes to bike to Nonna.
"Hi, Lenny," Nicky said. "Am I late?"
"No, I'm early for once," Lenny replied. "I thought I wanted to try it out."
"And how does that feel?" Nicky asked. "Being early for once?"
"I actually had the time to talk with a cute girl, so I'm going to do that more in the future," Lenny replied. "Here are the sandwiches."
"Thanks," Nicky replied. "And thanks for bringing them."
"Don't mention it," Lenny replied. "Say hi to your Nonna from me."
Nicky promised before going inside, and it didn't take long before he was being hugged by his Nonna. After giving all the greetings, they sat down to eat, and Nicky told Nonna about last night, plus about the date tomorrow.
"After we have been to the cemetery," Nonna said. "I'll help you with finding some clothes."
"Nonna, please," Nicky replied. "I got it covered."
Nonna leaned back in her chair.
"If you have it covered," Nonna said. "Then you don't mind telling me what you will wear. And know this, if you say your cargo shorts, I might disown you."
"It's still too cold for shorts," Nicky replied. "And I was thinking of jeans, a shirt, and a jacket."
"We're going shopping," Nonna said in the tone that meant it wasn't up for discussion. "It must be over two years since you last got new clothes."
After eating, they went down to the garden to pick out the flowers for Nonno and Nicky's mother. Because Nicky didn't have a car, he called a taxi to drive them around.
"I still miss them, Nonna," Nicky said when they looked at the tombstones. "Will it ever go away?"
Nonna placed her arm on Nicky's arm.
"No, but it's a part of being alive. The missing of those we have lost," Nonna replied. "As I have told you before, you have to find your own way of living with the feeling."
They sat down on the bench to drink a cup of tea while talking about Nonno and Nicky's mother. After that, Nonna dragged Nicky with her into town.
"Ah, Jake," Nonna said after reading the name tag of the store walker. "Could you be a dear and make sure that my grandson gets a nice outfit for his date tomorrow?"
"I can help with that," Jake replied. "What are we looking for?"
"Anything but cargo shorts," Nonna replied. "To my grandson, it's fashion."
Before Nicky could say anything, Nonna pushed Nicky with Jake while she sat down on the sofa in the store. Nicky tried different clothes for the next hour, and Nonna shook her head every time.
"Jake," Nonna said. "Could we try out the dark jeans, the grey shirt, and the green jacket? Together with the boots he is wearing."
"I think that it's a good idea," Jake replied. "We'll be back in a moment."
Nicky tried out the requested clothes, and this time, when Nonna saw him, she smiled.
"Perfect," Nonna said. "When my grandson is getting married, we're coming back, Jake."
"Nonna," Nicky said. "It's only a date."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Nonna replied. "Jake, do you know a hairdresser who also is a barber?"
After another hour, Nicky had gotten new clothes, a new hairstyle, and was clean-shaved. They picked up a pizza on the way back to the nursery home.
"Thanks, Nonna," Nicky said. "For the push. I needed it."
Nonna placed her hand over Nicky's hand.
"I know, Sweet One," Nonna replied. "And I think you should consider painting the walls in your flat. I don't mind it."
So far, Nicky had refused to change much about his flat. Most of all, because of Nonna's dementia, he wanted it to still look like when she lived there with his Nonno.
"I promise to think about it," Nicky replied. "You said something about Ernest."
"He asked if we wanted to come to dinner on Sunday. Joe will also be there," Nonna replied. "I haven't said yes, because I wanted to ask you first."
"I think we should go," Nicky replied. "Let me talk with Joe about the details, and then I'll tell Lina, so she can have you ready on Sunday. Ok?"
"Yes," Nonna replied. "I'm tired, Nicky. It has been a long day."
Nicky hugged his Nonna.
"Call me when you get home," Nonna said. "And tomorrow too."
"As always," Nicky replied. "I love you, Nonna."
"Love you too, Nicky," Nonna replied. "And please burn those cargo short."
When Nicky got home, he called Nonna as promised, but the night career said that Nonna had fallen asleep when he left. She promised to tell Nonna tomorrow that Nicky had called. After pouring a glass of milk, he sat down in his corner to look out over the streets from his perch on the window sill. His phone vibrated.
"Hi," Joe said. "Hope it's ok I called. I just wanted to hear your voice. I missed hearing it today."
"I don't mind it because I was thinking the same," Nicky replied. "How was the birthday?"
"My nephew decided to throw his birthday cake after his big sister when she took his favourite car. It isn't easy being two with a teenager as a big sister. I got it on video," Joe replied. They both laughed. "And your day with Nonna?"
"Nonna made sure that I got new clothes for our date together with a new hairstyle," Nicky replied. "She is hoping to marry me off soon. And I think it's to you. Now you're warned."
"Thanks for the warning," Joe replied. "But let's see if we survive our first date before discussing marriage."
"I like that plan," Nicky replied. "I don't like rushing into things."
"Me neither," Joe replied. "About your sweatpants. Can I keep them?"
"Be my guest," Nicky replied. "According to my Nonna, I need to burn some of my clothes."
"Thanks," Joe replied. "And what do you mean with burning your clothes?"
"I'll tell you on our second date," Nicky replied. "If there's a second date."
"I'm counting on that there will be several dates in the future," Joe replied. "Too much?"
"Not at all," Nicky replied with a yawn. "Sorry, it has been a long day."
"I can only say the same thing," Joe replied. "Go to bed, Nicky and get some sleep. And maybe dream of me."
"I'll dream of you if you do the same thing," Nicky replied. "Too much?"
"Not at all, and you got yourself a deal," Joe replied. "Night, Nicky. Text you tomorrow."
"I'll look forward to it," Nicky replied. "Night, Joe."
When Nicky lay down in his bed, he could feel all the butterflies flying around in his tummy. The last thought before sleeping was that he couldn't wait for his date tomorrow.