Page 22 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
“Yeah, I know. She wants food, and lots of it.” Nick shrugs and rolls his eyes. “Divas. What can you do?”
This pinch actually hurts.
“Sure, sure.” The guy nods, his wide-eyed expression never wavering. “Give me five minutes.”
The door bounces against the frame a few times before gliding shut. She stretches on tiptoes and kisses him softly as her hands slide from his waist to his chest. Warmth radiates out from her fingertips to the rest of his body. She’s come back to him, to them. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Her face so full of expectation he presses his forehead to hers. “I forget sometimes how simple things can be. Should be. But I promise to try and remember, if you promise to remind me.”
“Isn’t that nagging?”
“I think I can handle it.”
She raises her eyebrows and tilts her head. “Well, now you’ve done it. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
He encircles her waist and pulls her to him. The feel of her pressed against him, her quiet breaths, relaxed body, and arms tight around his neck, generate the serenity only she brings him. “I take full responsibility for my decisions.”
The throat clearing behind them brings him back to their mission. Their partner in crime pushes out the bag, and Nick rewards him with a duplicate of the earlier bribe. “Thanks. You’ve made my girl very happy.”
“No problem, man. I threw some waters in there too.”
They walk hand in hand back to the parking lot. He helps her climb up before striding around to the passenger side. She’s already digging into the sack as he pulls himself up.
“Do you think ten’s going to be enough? I could go back.”
She answers with a moan after taking a big bite. “Heaven.”
Yeah, she is.
They eat in peaceful silence. The light has returned to her eyes, and a tranquil expression graces her face. She stuffs the last bit of her third taco back into the wrapper and drops it in the bag. “I can’t do it. I’m stuffed.”
He nods toward the bag. “We did some pretty good damage. Max can eat the leftovers for his midnight snack.”
“He’ll be mad at us for doing this.”
“I think he’ll understand. Why do you think he has his motorcycle?”
She curls her legs under herself as he finishes his food. “What a crazy few days. How’d we go from two children to…?” Her voice fades away, and she looks toward the horizon. The loss settles in after the shock wears off.
Yet, he refuses to diminish the impact her pregnancy meant to either of them. Their dreams no less real just because they’re lost. “No, don’t say none. Our baby counts, even if we don’t get to see him.”
She bobs her head and gives him a small smile.
“I’m making arrangements to buy Jessica a house and take care of them financially. Then, she’ll let us spend time with Emme.”
With another nod and a shaky sigh, she climbs over the gearshift and sits on his lap, lying against his chest. His whole world wrapped in his arms. “Thank you.”
“It’s the right thing to do. You helped me see that.” He strokes her hair before kissing the top of her head. “It’s getting late. Are you ready?”
Love lights her face as she looks up and presses her lips against his. “Yes, let’s go home.”
