Nicole's birthday was tomorrow. She and Chase were celebrating tonight because she had to work tomorrow night. They went to their favorite Italian restaurant, Vaccaro's. They were drinking champagne and eating.
"I can't believe I'm gonna be thirty-eight tomorrow." Nicole said.
"You'd make any twenty year old jealous.
"Yeah why would you say anything like that?" She said jokingly. "I mean you're only marrying me."
"Even if I wasn't marrying you I'd still say that."
"Well I think you were willing to say anything to get me to go out with you." She said smiling.
"The first time I saw you I couldn't keep my eyes off of you."
"I remember." "You were prepping us on our flight plan and you kept staring at me."
"Ten minutes later I asked you out and you said no."
"Yep." "Lucky for me you were very persistent."
"I wasn't quitting until you agreed to go out with me."
"Yeah I got that when you asked me out over the speaker system of the plane, a plane filled with passengers."
"It got you to say yes didn't it?" He said smiling.
"Yes it did."
"That was a fun first date."
"So was our fifth date." She said smiling.
"Yeah, that was when you coaxed me into your place and took advantage of me." He said jokingly.
"Chase." She said laughing. "That's not what happened."
"I bought you a present."
"You didn't have to do that honey."
"It's your birthday."
"You've already given me the greatest gift you could." She said looking at her engagement ring.
"Maybe but you still need birthday and Christmas presents." He took a piece of paper out of his pocket that was wrapped in a bow. He handed it to her. It was a luxury spa package.
"Thank you Chase."
"You can go whenever you want." "Everything's top of the line."
"This is great." She kissed him.
"I knew you'd like it
The next morning Nicole was just settling into her hotel room in Miami. There was a knock at her door. She answered it.
"Come on birthday girl, we're going to breakfast." Jeff said.
"Aw, you remembered."
"Of course I remembered." "Come on.."
They went to a diner that was just down the street. They were eating.
"It's been awhile since we celebrated one of your birthdays." Jeff said.
"I think I was twenty-two the last time we did." "Now I'm an old woman."
"No you're not."
"Well I feel like one."
"Well you shouldn't." "You're a beautiful woman in the prime of her life." She smiled. So did he.
Later that afternoon she'd gotten a text from management, saying she needed to report to the arena early for an emergency meeting. She was instructed where to go when she got there.
Later that night when she got where she was supposed to go, she was confused because when she opened the door the lights were off. When she turned them on everyone popped out and yelled "Surprise." The room was decorated with balloons. There was a cake on the table.
"Happy birthday Nicole." Mickie said giving her a hug.
"Thanks." "Was this your idea?"
"No." "Jeff's."
Nicole went over to Jeff.
"You planned all of this?" She asked.
"Yeah." She hugged him.
"Thank you."
Matt was helping Jeff clean up after the party.
"Jeff, you need to stop it." Matt said.
"What are you talking about?"
"This thing with Nicole, before it gets out of hand."
"There is no thing with Nicole."
"Who spent three weeks planning this party for her?"
"I wanted her to have a nice birthday that's all."
"Just stop it."
After the show Nicole had just pulled into a parking spot at the hotel when she got a text. It read.
Feel like going for a walk on the beach? - Jeff
Sure. - Nicole
The beach was right acrossed from the hotel. It was lit by the moonlight. They were walking.
"Did you like your birthday party?" Jeff asked
"Yes." "That was so sweet." "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to." "Do you remember your first birthday we spent together?"
"How could I forget?" "It was my fourteenth, when you gave me that promise ring."
"I suppose that's long gone by now."
"I don't think I threw it away but I have no idea where it is."
"Not bad for a ninety-nine dollar ring huh?"
"Ninety-nine dollars?" "How did you afford a ninety-nine dollar ring back then?"
"Lots of saving."
"I never would've guessed it was that much."
"Matt told me I was nuts when I told him how much it was."
"Well I've always known you were nuts." She said laughing.
"Very funny Nic-Nic." He said not even realizing what he'd called her at first.
"What did you call me?" She said surprised. They stopped walking and faced each other.
"Shit." "I'm sorry." "I didn't mean it." "It just came out."
"It's ok." "Just don't do that anymore."
He walked her back to her room. They were standing outside the door.
"Thanks for everything today Jeff." Nicole said.
"You're welcome." They hugged and just stood there for a few seconds.
"I should go in."
"Yeah." "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."