Page 190 of Steeling Her
As we all walk over to the table, the other kids come in, dripping wet as well. I grab the towels off the counter to hand it to them one by one. They all thank me as I escort them over to the table, pushing all the adults back so they can get in and see the cake too.
Little children have an amazing spark to them. I sometimes have them coming into the office after a bad accident and I love it when they visit. The whole office lights up. They’re bundles of joy, and I can’t wait to have my own someday.
As Taylor talks about how she chose the colors, the cake being pink and yellow since those are her favorite, four more people enter the kitchen, laughing and playing around, which attracts everyone’s attention.
There is only one person my eyes shoot straight to. He’s dressed in a plain white t-shirt and ripped dark grey jeans, showing off his incredibly muscular physique. I can feel myself taking in a deep breath when he catches my eyes. It’s just like college, as soon as he enters a room, he grabs everyone’s attention.
My father hovers next to me, and I feel a huff of air leave his mouth upon seeing my ex-boyfriend arriving into the house. I know my dad still harbors some dislike for Nick. He was’ not a ball of joy when he dumped me. He hated seeing me so distraught about him breaking it off with me. I was a mess, and my dad pieced me back together, little by little, and I will forever be grateful for my hero.
I avert my eyes from Nick to face my father and tap his chest, telling him to look at me. I send him pleading eyes to not go there today and he furrows his brows. I know he’s not happy that I don’t want him to talk to him. “Not today, Dad . . .” I beg him serenely so it can only be heard between the two of us. My dad lets it drop with a simple head nod but he’s still tense; I can feel it.
“My friend! My friend!” Taylor jumps down from her mother’s arms and shoots over to greet Haley and TJ first by hugging them before she gets to Jason Greengate and hugs him. What surprises me is when Nick crouches down to her level and she smiles at him. Her face turns red, and I couldn’t help but grin lightly at their interaction. She’s blushing at him. As soon as he picks up on it, his eyes shoot over to mine.
I have the same reaction.
I could feel my cheeks heating up with embarrassment. I hated that my body still reacts to him like that, like it’s betraying me.
I flick my attention away from him and look to someone else for safety. My mom. But she’s already staring back at me, squinting her eyes with a hint of a smile on her lips. That has me looking away from her too. She’s trying to read me, but I refuse to let her, or anyone else for that matter.
Everyone is watching Taylor and Nick interact, but I’m watching the little kids raid the table full of snacks and sugar.
“Don’t you look pretty in your swimsuit?” Nick says softly. I didn’t want to gawk at him, but his tone makes me face him again. The way he spoke lures me back.
“Thank you.” Taylor matches his tenor, and it has shocked me that she likes him so much so soon. Taylor won’t approach you initially. If she warms up to you, and that takes a long time, she will open up but it looks like that rule was excused for Nick, her new friend.
“I got you a little something for your birthday, do you want to have a look at it?” he asks her. I can literally feel my heart dissolving inside of me with my body acting hypersensitive to his voice. He’s so good with kids; he always has been, even with his sister Ellie and her friends. He is such a good person to them. He’s still the same now, and it makes me happy to know that he still makes time for them.
“Yeah!” She claps and I sneak a glance into the bag that she’s looking inside of, almost falling into it. I can feel an arm rest lazily around my shoulders and I know it’s my dad. He’s letting me know that he’s here for me. He went through the entire breakup with me. He knows how I’m feeling. “Woah! You got me dress-up dolls!” She pulls the toy out of the bag he handed her. She shows it off to her parents, who beam down at the little girl who’s elated with her gift.
“Are you sure?” my dad whispers in my ear, and I know exactly what he is asking.
“I’m sure.” I nod back and hold on to his arm that’s around me. I turn myself more into his chest and hold him tight.
Nick rises up to his full height, towering over my niece as she stares up at the giant in awe. He turns his head away from her and raises his eyes to meet a group of people staring at him. Then he stops at one person; the other person in my relationship. Ted watches him carefully, and Nick does the same.
“You must be, Ted,” Nick says. There was a hardness in his tone that made me wince.
“Yeah, that’s me. Who are you?” Ted asks. He isn’t being rude, he genuinely doesn’t know who Nick is; unlike the rest of the country who has fallen head over heels for the newest NFL mystery quarterback. Nick has this bad boy mysterious player reputation in the industry. He’s broody, calculated, and sharp. He’s known for being that way ever since the beginning of his career. It’s what makes him an excellent quarterback.
“Nick. I’m Haley’s brother.” Ted tenses up a bit but releases when Nick’s hand reaches out for a handshake. Ted is not a huge fan of Haley and her opinions, but really likes Danielle. Haley has always been like that; you can either take it or leave it.
Ted returns the gesture but winces in what looks like pain as soon as Nick’s hand encloses his.
“Nice to meet you.” Ted swiftly pulls his hand out of Nick’s death grip and it makes him smirk in a small victory. I sigh at the childlike action and roll my eyes.
“Yeah, same here.” I could hear the sarcasm in Nick’s voice as soon as he said that. Ted shoots his head up after he checks his red hand, shaking it out not so subtly a few times to get the blood flowing back. Ted watches Nick for a moment longer, trying to decipher his character, but I know it’ll take a lot longer than a few seconds to crack Nick. By the looks of it, it seems as though both guys have made their minds up about each other.
“Strong grip.” Ted chuckles attentively. I can tell that they already don’t like each other.
“Thanks, you need to work on yours though,” Nick replies with advice that Ted really doesn’t need. I can see it in his face. They aren’t going to get on well at all.
It was a dig, and Ted recognized that. He eyeballs my ex-boyfriend for a period.
After the little chat Nick and Ted had, everyone can feel the tension in the room. Danielle hustles everyone out the back door and back into the pool area.
“What’s his problem?” Ted whispers close to me. All I could do was shrug before dragging him out behind me so he could mingle with the others.
Taylor takes her new toy out with her to play by the pool with her group of friends. Chris, my brother, and TJ lift the table outside to prevent the kids from running inside for the snack Danielle had prepared and possibly slipping. She doesnot’ want anyone crying today.
