Page 70 of Valentine's Daddy To Go
“Yeah!” they say in unison. They start to get out of the car, but Mackenzie stops short.
“Are you coming Auntie Nellie?”
“I have to make a couple phone calls. Plus, I’m not really hungry. Go have fun with Nash and your sister.”
The two jump out of the car instantly, and Nash gets out too, taking their small hands in his big ones. Looks like they’re thick as thieves already. An offer of ice cream will do that.
As they walk to the store, I turn back to reality. The first thing I need to do is call Vivica and tell her the girls are safe.
I dial her number, and my sister-in-law picks up on the first ring.
“Nellie! Did you find them? Are they okay? Are my girls okay?” she asks in an agonized voice.
“Yes, Vivica. We found Madison and Mackenzie. They’re fine. We’ve stopped for ice cream, but we’ll be on our way home right after. They’re perfectly safe. Didn’t even really realize what was going on.”
“Okay, that’s amazing,” she cries. She’s openly sobbing at this point. I don’t think I can do much more of this phone call, so I decide to say goodbye.
“We’ll be back at your place soon. Talk to you later.”
She seems a little surprised with my brusqueness, but Vivica says goodbye, and I’m able to hang up.
When the call ends, I slump in the chair, getting as deep into the pleather as I can. It only takes a few seconds before I’m crying. I’m crying because of what I just went through, but I’m also crying for my brother. I’m crying for how much he’s lost himself and wondering if he’ll find his way back to the old Brian.
Gross, snotty, gasping sobs fill up the whole car. Crying like this is something I haven’t done since my parents died. I’m grateful that Nash took the girls so I can have this moment alone. He was right in thinking that I wouldn’t make it all the way to Vivica’s house before breaking down.
Plus, I wouldn’t want Madison and Mackenzie to see me like this.
I ball up in the seat, resting my head in my hands.
At least there is solace in the fact that Madison and Mackenzie are safe and sound. I know Nash will keep them safe.
I take a peek out the window and see the three of them laughing and eating their scoops. He’s just met the two of them, and already, Mackenzie and Madison are looking at him with adoring blue eyes. He’s so good to my nieces, even when there’s no reason to be.
It only solidifies how much I like alpha male. Maybe evenlovehim.
I lie back down and lament how much I fucked up our relationship. I really yelled at him and screamed at him for telling me the truth.I called him a liar and a piece of shit and whatever the else I could think of in the moment.
“What a fucking idiot,” I mumble to myself. It’s true - I’m a fucking idiot. I pushed away the best man to ever walk into my life. I want to cry about this significant loss, but I can’t. I’ve cried so much that I’m out of tears.
I yawn, my eyes fluttering closed. I need to stay awake until we drop off Madison and Mackenzie. I have to show Nash how to get to their house. But today has been one of the wildest days in my life, and finally my body is giving up on me.
I feel my brain slipping into oblivion as tendrils of sleepiness take over my mind.
I’ll probably wake up when they all come back into the car. I’m sure all the clambering and laughing will wake me right up.
I can close my eyes for a couple of minutes in the meantime.
22
Nash
Ileft Nellie in the car to give her some time to deal with her feelings. I knew she’d have a total breakdown in minutes.She was acting like she was okay, but I could see under the curvy girl’s exterior. She’s fragile. She’s been tested beyond her limits, and knowing how much she loves her nieces and wants them to have a happy childhood, Nellie wouldn’t want them to see her sobbing.
I fully understand why, though. I almost broke her brother’s face after he hit her. I almost killed that man, to be honest. If Nellie hadn’t stopped me, I would have enacted capital punishment. All I could see was red, and punching Brian was the only thing making me feel better.
But now I have to focus on these little girls so Nellie can have a break. Hopefully, I don’t screw up.
“Can we get two scoops?” Madison asks me, holding up two fingers. Two scoops will probably take us a lot longer. I haven’t been around kids a lot, but I’m sure they eat a lot slower than adults.
