Page 45 of Van

“I like him too. Did you know he signed the birth certificate as the father?” I ask her. She looks shocked as she shakes her head.

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah. He said we could take it off later, but he didn’t want Derrick to have anything over me.”

“That’s … wow. I didn’t expect that from him.”

“Nic, I don’t know what to expect from him anymore. He’s done so much for us.”

“As I said, he’s a good guy with a good heart. I think he just needed the right girl to bring it out of him. He needed to see what real looked like, and he sees that in you,” she tells me.

“You think so?”

“I know so. Look,” she says, nodding over my shoulder. I turn and look behind me and see Van staring in our direction. When our eyes lock, his lips curl into a smile that could melt hearts. I know it does mine. My chest tightens, and I feel like I’m the only thing in the world that matters to him. How can he make me feel that way with just a look? I turn back to Nic and smile.

“He makes me feel special.”

“As he should. You are special, Chy. You’re the best person I know.”

“I love you, Nicole.” I pull her into a side hug, careful not to smash Nate.

“I love you too.”

“I’m glad I’m here,” I tell her.

“So am I. I wasn’t sure how it would all play out, but it’s been good. You’ve brought the club to life that’s for sure.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Just you and Nate being here is enough.”

“Thanks, Nic.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank him,” she says, nodding toward Van.

“I feel like all I do is thank him for something. He’s probably getting tired of hearing it,” I laugh.

“I can imagine. How’s he been with Nate?”

“Girl. He has barely let me do anything. He always has him in his arms and feeds him. He hasn’t changed him yet, but he’s done everything else. He even rocks him in the rocker,” I tell her. I can’t help it. Seeing Van like that does something to me. It makes me feel like he actually cares about us.

“Told you he’s a good guy.”

“He’s more than that. I can’t explain it, but I feel it.” Admitting that to her was hard. I don’t want them to think I’m insane for what I feel, but I also want them to know I do care about Van, too.

“Aww. I think that’s sweet. Have you told him?”

“What? No. I can’t tell him that,” I tell her.

“Why not? Let the man know you care,” she says.

“I don’t know what to say! Do I just blurt it out?”

“Just sit him down and explain to him what you feel. It’s not that hard, Chy.”

“Yeah, because you’re not the one doing it. You’re making me nervous right now.”

“Don’t be nervous. I’m sure he’d love to hear it,” she says. He might, but he might not. Van doesn’t seem like the type who talks about feelings easily, and I don’t want to sound like a dumbass.

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