Page 43 of All in December
The perfect end to the perfect weekend.
CHAPTER 19
Caleb
Nash is waiting for me to call. He texted an hour ago to say the house felt too quiet without the kids since they’re at their mom’s house. I told him I’d let him know when I finish reading to Sam, who’s nearly asleep but isn’t ready to stop fighting it just yet. He’s curled into my side, blanket pulled to his chin.
“Just one more page,” he mumbles with barely open eyes.
“Alright,” I whisper, flipping the page. My voice drops to a softer tone to read to him, and a minute later, his breathing finally evens out.
Even though I can’t wait to talk to Nash, I stay by Sam’s side a little longer, brushing my hand through his hair. These moments don’t last forever. He won’t always want me to read to him or sit in his bed with him or lean against me when he’s tired. So I let my hand rest there for a bit longer, soaking it in before I go talk to the other person who’s started taking up space in my heart.
When I finally slip out of bed and make my way down the hall to my room, I climb under the covers and call.
“Hey.” Nash’s voice beams through the phone.
“Hey, sorry that took so long. Sam wanted a second chapter of his book. Then a third.”
Nash chuckles. “I don’t mind. I like imagining you doing the bedtime thing.”
“Oh yeah?” I tease.
“Yeah,” he says with adoration in his voice. “Just you being you. Taking care of Sam. Being the best dad.”
My eyes water slightly at that because being seen like this catches me off guard in the best way.
“So, what’d I miss over there?” I ask.
“Nothing at all.” He sighs. “It can be nice to have the house to myself, but a lot of the time it just feels empty and lonely. I miss them when they’re with their mom.”
“Sometimes I wish I had someone to help me with Sam, but the thought of him not being here with me at all times also feels unimaginable.”
“It’s a double-edged sword, that’s for sure.”
I nod to myself as my mind drifts. For most of Sam’s life, it’s just been the two of us. I’m used to being the one who does everything, used to holding it all together. And I’ve never really let anyone else in—not past a certain point.
But Nash is different. He’s gentle and thoughtful, and when I picture him here, it doesn’t feel like a disruption to our lives. It feels right. He feels like the perfect addition.
“Hey, Nash,” I start. “I just thought of something. Would you want to come over? You could stay the night. As long as you’re okay with leaving before Sam wakes up?”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “Yeah, of course,” he says. “I’d love to, Cay, and we should probably talk about a few things anyways. Good things, I promise.”
“Yeah,” I say, my throat tightening unexpectedly onceagain knowing he wants to talk more about us. “We should. Thank you.”
“Send me your address, and I’ll be over soon!” he says excitedly before hanging up, and I do.
The house is hardly dirty, but I panic clean anyway—remaking my bed, tidying up the bathroom to make sure I don’t look like a slob. It only takes a couple of minutes, so I jump into the shower after to freshen up.
There’s so much energy coursing through me, especially with the looming conversation we agreed to have. Are we talking about the kids? About what this is? What it might become? What if I come on too strong and he realizes he doesn’t want to be with me? He said it was good things, but my mind is stirring with so many thoughts as I wait for him to get here.
About twenty-five minutes later, my phone lights up, and I reach for it quickly.
Nash:
I’m here.
I walk toward the door and tug it open to see Nash standing there in a hoodie and jeans, and he wraps me in a hug. His arms are strong and steady around my back, and I melt into his embrace until he pulls back to capture my mouth. It’s the kind of kiss that feels like exhaling after holding my breath all day. It’s hungry and desperate, and the second his hand comes up to cup the side of my face, I lean into it even more.
