AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hunter will be so excited.”
“He get his homework done?”
“We didn’t have time for a shower, but we got it done.” Suddenly, she sounded exhausted.
I’d only been doing the single-parenting thing for a few weeks, but she’d been at it for years.
“If you ever need me to talk to him about responsibilities and how homework comes first, I can.”
“I may need you to do that. Thank you for offering, Nick.”
I loved how my name sounded on her lips. Instead of saying something stupid like “I want to see you naked on my bed,” I cleared my throat and said, “I should get to bed.”
I had nothing to get up for other than to make sure Brody ate breakfast and got to the bus on time. I could work whenever I wanted and often put in more hours than required. I was a valued employee, so my job was secure. Insurance companies had difficulty retaining actuaries since we could make more money in the private field, but I was happy with where I was.
“Me too. Parenting is exhausting.”
“Yet fulfilling.” Brody had filled my life in a way that nothing else ever had.
“You’re an amazing guy for taking in your nephew, and don’t tell me it’s what anyone would do because you’re wrong. It takes a special person to do what you’re doing.”
Her words settled in my chest and burrowed in my heart. “I like the way you see me.”
“Good night, Nick.” I could practically hear the smile in her voice.
“Night.” My voice was gruff as I clicked off. Being so close to her and knowing I couldn’t have her was difficult. She kept saying that I was a good guy, but I didn’t compare to her. She’d rebounded after her ex had left, and she was doing a phenomenal job raising her son by herself while running her own business. She was the one who was impressive. Not me.
Still dusty from practice, I headed upstairs to take a shower. I turned on the water and waited for it to warm up while removing my clothes before finally stepping inside. Brody had taken over my life and made me see that there was more to it than work. At the same time, it came with worries and complications I’d never experienced before. I wanted to be a good father figure. I wanted to be there for him. But the hardest part was protecting him from anyone who wanted to hurt him.
I didn’t want him to think he was somehow tainted because of his father’s actions. It didn’t escape my notice that I felt that way. But I didn’t want the same for my nephew. Maybe it was time to let go of that wound. To move past it. If I didn’t, he never would.
As I soaped up my body, I wondered if I was ready to step out of my brother’s shadow. Was I ready to be the man Brody deserved in his life? I didn’t have a choice. I needed to grow as a person if I wanted to be the guy he looked up to.
I worked shampoo into my hair, then tipped my head back to let the water sluice through my hair and chase the bubbles away. If only healing the wounds of my past were as easy.
I turned off the water and dried off. I wanted to be a man who Brody could look up to and respect, and another part of me wanted to be the right man for Abby. I didn’t want to feel less than.
I’d never done anything in my life close to what Austin had done. Seeing him get in trouble, the difficulties he’d dealt with, cured me of any troublemaking in my youth. And now, he was dealing with very real adult consequences. I needed to shield Brody from him. I needed to step into my own light. Hiding in Austin’s shadow didn’t serve me, and it wouldn’t help Brody.
I still wouldn’t let myself pursue Abby. She seemed willing on the phone tonight to explore something, but no matter how I felt about myself, there could still be blowback from the community. And I wouldn’t allow it to taint her or her business.
She had enough strife in her life. It was time for hers to be easy. I’d help her out, but I couldn’t be the man in her life.
Thirteen
ABBY
Iwas confused by Nick’s change in mood at Giovanni’s. He was attentive and sweet at first. Even flirty and quick to touch me. He had me imagining all the things he could do with his lips and mouth. But when we were playing Frogger, I sensed a shift in him. He stood apart from me, not touching me or whispering in my ear.
When I saw Ben talking to him, I could only imagine what he’d said. He meant well, but he didn’t understand what was going on between us.
We’d been intimate before and managed to move on unscathed. We could do it again. I was thinking of how a physical relationship might work. No expectations. Certainly no emotions or feelings. We’d just satisfy our physical needs.
We both understood we couldn’t be anything more.
I’d even dropped off Hunter at the batting cages for practice without any weird tension between us. At least that’s what I told myself because if I was honest, there was something in his eyes. It was similar to the interest I saw at the wedding when we’d met. Would he be open to a physical relationship despite his reservations the other night?
“Abby? Joan and Michael wanted to hear about the photography packages.”
