Page 71 of Drive To Survive

Everly

One Year Later…

“It’s here! It’s here!” Rhett yelled, running through the house with an innocent-looking white package clutched in his hand.

“Whoa, slow down, buddy,” Nico said as he swung Rhett up into his arms. “What’s here?”

“What do you think?” I asked, arriving in the kitchen a few seconds after Rhett. Damn, that boy moved fast. Sometimes I didn’t think he needed a race car.

Nico’s eyes widened. “But the lawyer said we shouldn’t expect it until next week.”

“Oh well,” I said. “Maybe I should ask the courier to take it back.”

“Don’t you dare,” Nico said. He pulled out a chair and sat at the table, settling Rhett on his lap. “Shall we open it together, buddy?”

“Yes!” Rhett exclaimed.

I took the seat across from them, my heart filled with more joy than I would ever have thought possible. The last year spent with Nico had been a dream come true. I mean, sure, we had our disagreements, like most couples, but the make-up sex made the arguments worth it. I had been known to start one just so I could coax Nico’s mad side to come out and play. I adored it when he lost his cool. It didn’t happen often, but I was learning which buttons to press. Angry sex was kind of fun.

Nico slid his nail underneath the seal and reached inside. He pulled out a sheaf of papers and unfolded them, then laid them on the table.

“What does it say?” Rhett asked.

“Well,” Nico said, a huge smile breaking across his face. “It says that I’m now officially your dad.”

“For reals?”

Nico kissed the top of his head and ruffled his hair. “For reals.”

“Excellent.” He climbed down off Nico’s knee. “Mommy, can I call my friends and tell them I’ve got a dad?”

Nico’s gaze lifted to mine, so much emotion swirling in the striking green eyes that had captivated me on that first meeting almost fifteen months ago.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I think you should ask your dad if you can go call them.”

“Can I, Dad? Please,” Rhett begged.

“Buddy,” Nico said, his throat clogged with pride. “I’d like nothing better.”

Rhett grinned, then sped off. Seconds later, his loud footsteps thundered up the stairs.

“I swear that boy makes more noise than an elephant would,” I said, rising to my feet. I walked around the table, nestled in Nico’s lap, and looped my arms around his neck.

“No regrets?”

“Adopting Rhett? Nope. Not a one.”

I kissed him, his lips soft and warm and inviting. “I had another letter this morning.” I nibbled my lip. “From Paul.”

Nico’s face darkened and he worked his jaw. “What the fuck did he want? And how did he get this address?”

“Calm down. The letter came via his lawyer. The prison had redacted a couple of lines. No idea why. All he said was that he’d heard the adoption was about to be finalized and he wanted to tell me sorry and that he hoped one day I could forgive him.”

Nico snorted. “And the answer to that is a big fat ‘Fuck off.’ ”

I shook my head. “I’m not going to hold on to hate, Nico. Paul is paying the price for what he did. Fifteen years in the state penitentiary and the loss of his parental rights is punishment enough, don’t you think?”

“No. I don’t, actually. He could have fucking killed you, and even though he didn’t hurt Rhett that night, I will never forget the terror I saw in your face when I walked into the principal’s office. And that, love, is why I’ll never forgive him.”

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