"That hummus looks good!" Jess chirped, peering over Royce's shoulder. The spicy scent of garlic and coriander filled the kitchen.

Royce dusted his hands off on his apron and wrapped his arms around Jess. "Not as good as you look!"

Jess giggled. "Well hello there Mr. Evans."

Royce leaned in, their foreheads touching. He pressed his lips against hers, kissing her hard.

"What's that for?" Jess said breathlessly as they pulled away.

Royce caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Call it a happy birthday kiss."

Guilt washed over Jess, Nick's kiss the week before still stuck in the foreground of her mind. She hadn't told Royce about the kiss, just that she and Nick had once again had a falling out. Royce had oddly been ok with it and hadn't pressed for many details. "How did I get so lucky to have you?" She said, placing her hand on top of his.

"MOMMY! THEY'RE HERE!" Josie called from the living room.

Jess straightened her dress and walked into the living room, as Schmidt, Winston, Cece, and Aly walked in.

"Happy birthday Jess!" Cece called, hugging her tight.

"Come in! Here's some fresh made hummus and veggies. Dinner should be done soon." Royce said, sitting the platter of hummus down.

Schmidt patted Royce on the back. "You'll make a fine house husband."

Cece chuckled. "Don't pay any attention to him Royce."

"Have you set a date yet?" Aly asked, scooping up some hummus with a carrot.

"We haven't really talked about it yet" Jess replied.

"I've been thinking about June 2nd." Royce said

"That's not even two months away." Jess sputtered. "Why the rush?"

A sly smile slipped onto Royce's face. "Why wait?"

Jess swallowed hard. She forced a smile on her face. "Well then. Who can fight with that logic? June 2nd it is."

….

Jess strolled into the kitchen, the tile cool against her bare feet. She opened the box of teas that Schmidt and Cece had given her tonight, her taste buds tingling at all the exotic flavors. She chose one and began to fill her tea pot with water when there was a knock on the door.

"Who on earth could that be?" Royce yelled from the bedroom.

"I'll get it!" Jess called "It's probably Winston. He's always forgetting something."

Jess opened the door, shocked to find Nick standing on the other side. "What do you want?"

Nick stroked his chin, trying to gain all the courage he lost when Jess opened the door. "Please just listen to me."

Jess furrowed her brows. "Are you going to preach to me about your perfect life choices again?"

"I'm not going to say sorry, because I've learned that doesn't fix anything." Nick's palms began to sweat, the small box he was holding suddenly scorching in his hand.

Jess rolled her eyes, unamused with Nick's statement.

Royce walked in the living room. "Jess? Who was at the. . . ." His eyes locked with Nick's.

"hey Royce." Nick said, waving unenthusiastically.

Royce took a deep breath. "What is HE doing here?"

Jess shrugged. "he was just leaving."

Nick held up the small package that he had been holding. "I know today's your birthday."

"I don't want anything from you." Jess seethed, her eyes piercing Nick's soul.

Nick's face fell. "Please? Just open it. You can give it to Josie, it's a family heirloom."

Jess remained vexed, her jaw tight, but took the package.

Royce cleared his throat. "Jessica, you don't have to open that."

Jess ignored Royce and unwrapped the plain brown paper that was wrapped around the box. She opened the lid to reveal a coin on a small silver chain.

"This is a family heirloom? From your family?" She asked, puzzled at the gift.

A small spark flickered in Nick's honey chocolate eyes. "Our family."

"THAT'S MY FIANCE' YOU'RE TALKING TO" Royce interjected, beginning to lunge at Nick.

Jess placed her hand on his chest. She turned, looking up at him. "baby? Can you please just give us a minute? I'm ok, I promise. Just go to bed I'll meet you there."

Royce was tense, his fist clenched tight, but he conceded into the bedroom, sulking the whole way.

"It was going to be a wedding present for you. Before I ruined everything." Nick lamented, ashamed at his past choices.

Jess held the necklace up, the coin shining in the light. "This coin. . . is it. . . "

Nick nervously stuffed his hands in his pockets. "It's the coin I had in my pocket the first night we kissed. I know it's probably inappropriate considering you're engaged, but I wanted you to have it. Maybe our love wasn't meant to be, but that kiss lead to another, and another, and another, which eventually led to Josie. I could explain more, but I really don't want to start thinking of your boobs again."

Jess placed a hand over her mouth, speechless at the thoughtful gift.

Nick smiled slightly. "Like I said, I'm sure it's an inappropriate gift to give you ex-fiancé', but maybe you can give it to Josie or something. Even if you don't want me to see her, I still want her to know I love her. The coin is a circle, a never-ending object. Just like my love for her will never end."

Tears weld up in Jess's eyes, blurring her vision and stinging as she tried to hold them back. "Nick, I don't want you to not see Josie. That's never what I wanted. But you crossed boundaries the other night. You came in here so entitled, so self-righteous, thinking you knew what is best for me, when you yourself singlehandedly destroyed my life."

"I wish I could go back in time and find past Nick and be like 'you're making a really stupid decision man!' and then slap him. I'd also tell him to avoid the burritos at the seven eleven in New York, but that's beside the point. The thing is I can't. I can't go back in time and not ruin our lives. I can't find past Nick, but I'm present Nick. I'm here, I'm still stupid, and impulsive, and confused. I'm going to make mistakes. Like the other night. I should have never have kissed you. I overstepped my bounds. I don't take back what I said, but I do feel really bad about my actions. I don't know what to call this tangled, messy, explosive, train wreck that we are, but I'm here, and I'm trying."

Jess pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him. He surrendered to her embrace, squeezing gently. The world began to melt away, neither of them wanting the hug to end. Jess could feel his warm breath on her neck, her pulse rapidly rising by the second. Nick's fingers resisted the urge to curl themselves up in her brunette locks, while his brain memorized the feeling of her body pressed against his.

Nick pulled away, his soul screaming like a small child clinging to its mother. "I should probably go."

Jess bit her bottom lip, her feelings better left unspoken. "Yeah, Royce is probably already asleep. . . "

Nick squeezed her arm. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his mouth upturning slightly. "See you later Day."

"See you later Miller." Jess hummed softly, a sparkle in her eyes.