AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lose control over everything.
He pulls me in like the persistent tug of an undertow.
So, I close my eyes and get swept in the current.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
LYLA
When I wake up, I feel relaxed. For the first time since I moved to this apartment, I don’t open my eyes to the sight of a gun. I forgot to even carry it into the bedroom.
I was…distracted. After fucking me on the counter, Nick carried me into the bedroom, and we immediately fell asleep.
The doorbell rings. I glance at Nick’s face, smooth in sleep, and slip out of bed, pulling on a robe and hurrying through the apartment. I only pause to slip the gun into a drawer in the living room before opening the front door to June, AJ, and Leo.
“Hey,” June says. “I’m so sorry. Did we wake you up?”
“No,” I lie. “It’s fine.”
I’m externally calm and internally panicking. I don’t want Leo discovering Nick in my bed. Don’t want him to have any hopes about me and his father having that sort of relationship.
“My mom forgot about a brunch. When you’re over seventy, I guess brunch begins at nine a.m.” June rolls her eyes. “I called, but you didn’t answer. Is…is everything okay?”
“Yep!” I tighten the knot of my robe and run a hand through my hair.
I follow June’s gaze to the tie draped on the table. “Did something happen with…” She mouths Michael’s name even though the boys are oblivious, both looking at a toy AJ is holding.
“No. He just walked me—”
IfeelNick’s presence a second before Leo shouts, “Dad!”
I turn to watch as he launches himself at Nick.
Leo’s voice contains more excitement than I’ve heard from him in the few weeks we’ve been back in Philadelphia.
It cracks something in the very center of my chest, watching Leo embrace Nick, only pulling back to say, “AJ, this is my dad.”
Pride fills Leo’s voice as he introduces Nick to his best friend. The crack widens, filled with the heartbreaking realization that Nick will always be able to offer Leo something I can’t—himself.
I can provide Leo with everything I never had—the unconditional love of a mother, security, support, a reliable home—but I’ll never ever be able to fill the father-shaped hole in his life. Especially now that he knows the exact size and shape of it.
June takes Nick in. He’s dressed in last night’s clothes at least, but it does next to nothing to hide his impressive physique. His dark hair is messy, and stubble coats his sharp jawline. He looks like the fantasy of the guy you wake up to, not the reality.
“Nice to meet you, AJ,” Nick says, leaning down to shake the boy’s hand. The sound of his voice, deep and rumbly, stirs something in my stomach. Ignites memories of him saying other things. Nick stands and offers a hand to June next. “I’m Nick. It’s nice to meet you.”
“June,” she says. “It’s very nice to meet you too.”
Once introductions are out of the way, there’s a beat of silence.
“How long are you staying, Dad?”
Nick ruffles Leo’s hair, giving him an affectionate smile. “I have to leave tonight, buddy.”
I’m pretty sure my face is wearing the same disappointed expression as Leo’s.
“We’ll have the whole day together, all right?”
Leo nods, his face losing some of the sadness. “Are you going to fly the plane back?”
