"Exit Wounds"
'And I hurt so bad, that I search my skin/For the entry point, where love went in/And ricocheted and bounced around/And left a hole when you walked out, yeah/I'm falling through the doors of the emergency room/Can anybody help me with these exit wounds?/I don't know how much more love this heart can lose/And I'm dying, dying from these exit wounds'
Nick's phone beeped unexpectedly just as dinner was ending and he hadn't been expecting it to be from Reagan. He hadn't had much contact with her at all since he'd asked her to Schmidt's wedding, and he'd started to come to the realisation that what they had was just some silly little summer fling. Heat of the moment and borne probably from the ache he had at the absence of one Jessica Day. Still, he wouldn't lie, he did smart slightly as he read the message informing him that she definitely couldn't make it and breaking the news that she'd met someone new at work. A boyfriend. He didn't really know why she was apologising to him...they'd never even slept together...they weren't 'anything' to end. But the suggestion of an impromptu game of True American did wonders for his mood, perhaps not so much his liver.
When all was won, or lost, or disintegrated by the lava on the floor, it was time for everyone to hit the hay. Tomorrow was the big day. Schmidt and Cece...Cece and Schmidt. Getting married. Wow. It still blew Nick's mind when he thought about it. After all the crap Schmidt put her through with Elizabeth, Cece still loved that goofball enough to marry him. He stumbled at the first hurdle with Jess, they couldn't even make it through a simple argument about the made up future without breaking up. It still confused him how things had snowballed so fast with them that day, but once they'd made the decision there was no going back. Having spent a lot of time with her in the weeks leading up to this point in their Best Man and Maid of Honour roles, Nick was really struggling to understand why they'd never backslid. Not even once. Their chemistry was undeniably still there. More subtle now, sure, but the jokes still bounced freely, touches shared easily without a second thought, and he was sure...sure...that she held his gaze for a few seconds more than was deemed 'friendly' on several occasions. Maybe one day they'd find their way back to one another.
As Sam was preparing to leave, Jess passed him his jacket and froze when a ring box fell on the floor in front of everyone. They all stood still and shared knowing looks across Jess's head as she reached down to pick it up.
"Hey, Sam...um...what's this?" She asked, already knowing the answer and feeling butterflies in her stomach.
He creased his face that his secret was out. The ring he'd been keeping safe was now on full display for all to see. He sighed and gave her a small smile.
"Well...I wasn't going to do this here, or now...you know, I'm not looking to steal anyone's thunder or anything...but, seeing as I've been discovered - well, I guess there's no time like the present!"
He dropped to the floor and held out his hands to hers "Jess, will you marry me?"
She stared at him in silence and glanced to Cece for guidance. What was happening?!
"Jess?" Sam laughed, a little nervously when she didn't answer him.
"Yes!" She said with a slightly bewildered look in her eye as she caught Nick's gaze. Schmidt, Winston and Cece piled in with hugs and screeches of congratulations before Jess could see the colour drain from Nick's face. Before she could see the light go out in his eyes. Before his world came crashing down around him as he saw the only woman he'd ever truly loved promise her life to another man.
He called out 'Congratulations!' even though he nearly choked on the word, and slapped Sam on the shoulder a couple of times. Reaching over to Jess, he pulled her in for a hug. He squeezed tighter than he'd meant to, but he couldn't help it. Excusing himself, he left to go to bed, suddenly needing to be alone. Nick closed the door behind him and locked it. Clenching his fists he walked to the bed before sitting heavily on the edge as his knees buckled beneath him. He buried his face in his hands and cried. Heaving sobs that wracked his body as two years worth of hidden emotions bubbled to the surface from deep within his soul and engulfed him.