Love Aint Always Pretty

Sprezzatura

- the ability to make one's actions seem effortless or to disguise one's true desire, feeling or meaning

60

I fixed my earrings while I plaid my skirt as I stand in front of my mirror. It was our family's Christmas Eve dinner and as a family ritual, we always have to look good for dinner. I want to look good cos Nick is joining us tonight. He even helped mom with our foods for tonight and I was also at the kitchen trying to help.

My mom seems to be fond of Nick which was a good thing since my mom is so hard to please while my dad wasn't really talking to Nick that much. Cameron didn't do anything ridiculous at all while Ingrid keeps teasing me about Nick.

My phone vibrates.

I'm outside your room. - Nick

I quickly ran to my door and opened it. Nick stands there before me, wearing a white polo shirt paired with a black skinny jeans and white sneakers. His hair was always perfectly coiffed and I could smell his manly perfume from where I was standing. I fixed his collar as he looks down on my mouth.

I smile. "Looking good."

"You too." He says.

Then we hear someone clearing his throat. I moved my head to my side and found Cameron standing right across us. Nick quickly pulled himself away from me while he glances at Cameron.

"Mind both of your actions, will you? We're in the same house." He says to us.

Cameron walks away and all of a sudden Nick steals a kiss on my cheek. "Your brother is such a pain in the ass."

I smiled.

"Let's go downstairs. It's almost dinner and dad usually puts up fireworks." I say.

Both of us stumbled our way downstairs and headed out to the backyard where everything was set up. The table was there, the foods were prepared well and cooked beautifully on top while the wine stand was ready too. Both of us joined my parents while they were already sitting down on the table. Nick pulled out a chair for me while he sits down right next to where I am.

"You look lovely my dear." Mom compliments me.

"Thanks mom. You too." I say.

"And wow! You look very handsome Nick." Mom complimented him too.

"Thank you Mrs. Canterbury. You as well." Nick smiled.

"Ahh! Let's eat. I'm famished." Dad says.

All of us started eating the foods before us. Mom and dad starts talking about their experiences while I was away and how things were inside the house when I was in WSU. They asked me how college was and how my studies are doing. They even asked Nick about his and I was impressed that he gets high marks too. He says he's aiming for a company next semester to start for his internship. I was hoping my dad could've offered him but he didn't even do or say anything.

"Well how long have you been single, Nick?" Cameron asked him.

I gave him an eye to warn Cameron.

"Eight years." Nick answered.

Mom seemed shock. "If you don't mind, how old are you?"

"I'm already twenty-four, Mrs. Canterbury. I went to college at the age of 20 cos I needed to save up for it." Nick answers so calmly.

My father's eyebrow shoot up while he takes a sip from his champagne.

"And you haven't had a girlfriend for eight years? Why? What happened? It's hard to forget the last one?" Mom asked.

Nick smirked. "Kind of. A little bit."

"Or maybe you're not what you are and you're hiding something." Cameron is starting being an ass.

I looked at him to warn him again but Nick was holding my hand to calm me down.

"What does that mean?" Dad asked.

"Nothing dad." I say right away.

ask about it. We understand Nick."

My brows creasing.

about

I'm so going to kill

be like that. Nick is a... you know

smiling on

"A what?" Dad asked.

"He's gay honey.

wide from my eye

"Sorry." I excused myself.

you really gay

sir. I'm definitely not gay."

amazing in bed.

started putting up the fireworks with the help of Nick and Cameron while us girls were just standing and watching them. They started lighting up every stick and runs back to us and the fireworks lights up the sky. The colors were filling the dark sky and it was a beauty. Ingrid was awed

Christmas Eve."

Eve."

talks for a while with a glass of champagne in our hands. We were having a good time and I'm glad Cameron didn't

princess, Ingrid." Mom says with a smile plastered

her gift and she

my second princess Savannah." She smiles

from my chair and

and dad."

to my prince." Mom says

that car I've been eyeing. This box is too big for a car key

I smirked.

you Nick." Dad handed him a box with an envelope on

to be surprised as I am really didn't expect they had something for him. "Sir. Thank you

smiled at him. "Open

opening the box first and it was a branded plaid polo that I'm sure it would fit him really good. The color

Thank you. Thank you very much for this." Nick says so

excited

quickly held it and opened the envelope. My eyes widened when I read it

dad."

smiling at me

real?" Nick asked while

so happy for

this semester or when you're ready you can have your internship at my

a soft squeal. I see Nick's face lit up with happiness and I'm so happy that my dad

Thank you so much for this. This is really a great opportunity for me. Thank

in the company!" Cameron spits

to him. "Ron. Don't start with it." I

be in the company. He can't have his internship in the

think you're just

an ex-convict in our company! What will the other people say?! We

stop it!!" I yelled as I pulled myself up from

looked back at Nick and he's just bending his head down. His fists are closing. He's mad. Oh

"You're a murderer?"

"Dad please." I say.

is he... Really?"

He is a fucking killer! Now you offered him an

from his chair and looks at Nick while he shakes his head

I can't believe you've been hanging out

called out as he leaves

Come on! Hear him out for

head to mom. "Mom. Nick was just blamed for it. It was all a misunderstanding.

too and reaches her hand out to Ingrid. "I think we have to call this a night.

they leave the table. I

Cameron! Way to go to fuck things up." I

you were the one who ruined this night

didn't do anything to you! He didn't even hurt you or even called you names! All I asked