Alcohol You Later (51)

“Where’s Nick?” The bus is surprisingly quiet, which I find odd. It’s nowhere near naptime.

Lyle breaks his stare with the video game he’s playing to look over at me. “Oh, hey. He’s in his room.”

“And the twins?”

He looks around the living area. “Guess they’re with him.”

He guesses. Oh, brother.

“Thanks,” I say, heading through the kitchen. I pause at the sink, long enough to note that it’s clean. He must’ve finished disposing of the glass after I left. My heart stirs at the memory of being pressed against him. The feel of his hard body. The smell that’s uniquely Nick. My face warms and core tightens. Before I know it, I’m panting, and my pulse is out of control.

Shaking myself out of a stupor, I continue my trek, peering into the front bathroom to be sure the babies aren’t playing in the toilet. I release a breath of relief when I find it empty.

Upon arriving at his room, I flatten my ear to the door. I’m just barely able to make out the faint sounds of drums and cymbals. Justin Baldwin had the master sound-proofed. An upgrade that comes in handy for Nick’s practices and is also great for my modesty’s sake when there are others on the bus.

I tap against the wood lightly with a knuckle before twisting the knob and shouldering the door open. The sight I’m met with is one that will be etched in my heart and mind for eternity.

Nicholas Potter, shirtless, in a pair of basketball shorts, his feet bare, and his hair a disheveled mess. On each knee, a cotton-haired toddler sits, clutching a drumstick. His inked arms hold them close, his fingers curled around their little fists as they jam out on the drums.

Three identical smiles. Six heart-melting dimples. A symphony of laughter.

I loiter in silence, taking a moment to appreciate this little glimpse into the future I dream of.

Seeds of hope take root in my chest.

To witness Nicholas not only tending to his children but enjoying them is the most unexpected gift. I knew if he would only give them a chance, a natural bond would take root. But this is more than I ever dared to imagine so soon.

“Don’t stop on my account,” I say when Nick finally notices me lurking in the doorway, nailing me to the wall with his sparkling green eyes.

“Hey, pretty girl.” He’s out of breath, his body bathed in a light sheen of sweat. “New drums came this morning before we left Lafayette. They uhh…” He looks down at the babies and rolls his eyes upward. “Helped me put them together.”

“I bet they did.” They must have driven him absolutely insane.

“Way-way!” Ava’s lopsided ponytail bobs from side to side as she reaches for me from Nick’s lap.

Alex’s face lights up, his hand wildly waving his drumstick in the air. “Hi, Way-way!”

The toddlers morph into wiggly worms trying to squirm their way off Nick’s lap.

He shakes his head as he sets them to their feet. “Oh, I see how it is. Raven walks in and suddenly I’m chopped liver!”

I giggle, enveloping Ava and Alex in my arms.

“Dada drum!” Ava swings an arm around to show me.

But I’m singularly focused on one word—a name, rather, that I was not expecting to hear…ever.

“See?” she says. “Dada drum!”

“I do see Dada’s drums…” My face is one big puzzle, and my heart a blubbering blob of mush.

Nick lifts one shoulder and lowers it, no doubt a defensive reaction to my stunned moment of silence. “What else were they gonna call me?”

I throw my hands up in surrender. “No argument here, Dada.”

“You,” he purrs, rotating his eyes to the bed, “can call me daddy.”

I choke on a laugh. “Oh, dear God.”

“Or that.” He winks. “Old reliable works.”

The suggestion in his tone, and the blatant desire in his eyes has me burning from the inside out. I can feel a flush moving across my skin. I clear my throat, remembering our tiny guests and reminding myself of our current situation. “I forgot my phone in here last night.”

He presses his lips into a flat line but is quick to mask his disappointment at my obvious attempt to douse the flames smoldering between us. “On the headboard.”

“Thanks.” I release the babies, giving them a gentle nudge in his direction. “Go play Ray-ray a song.”

As they toddle across the room, I retrieve my property, briefly scrolling through to inventory the litany of calls and messages I’ve missed.

I’m slowly making my way toward the exit while typing out a quick text to my sister when I hear his voice.

“Wait.”

I look up, darkening the screen as Nick hands the children their sticks, encouraging them to do their worst before stalking across the room to where I’m standing.

The little hairs on the nape of my neck start to rise as he approaches.

“I wanted to tell you that I had my first Zoom AA meeting today.”

A bout of emotion I wasn’t expecting socks me in the gut. It collects in my throat and pools behind my eyes. “You did?” My voice is sandpaper.

He clutches my chin, brushing the pad of his thumb reverently along my jaw. “I meant what I said. I’m going to do everything I can to become the man who deserves you.”