My vision blurs with unshed tears and I finally look up from the lavender to see Niko watching me.
“Hey, hey. Did I do something wrong, Sadie?” Niko moves to my side of the counter and sits in the stool next to me, turning his body so he’s facing me. I do the same and wipe underneath my eye to catch a tear that escaped.
“No it’s not that. It’s just?—”
I pause mid-sentence, unsure of what to say. How do I tell someone—in particular, this wonderful man—that I’m so pathetic no one has ever given me a gift this thoughtful before? Ellie and Hunter are my people, but they’ve gotten to know me over time. How does Niko see me so clearly, so effortlessly, in such a short amount of time? It’s unnerving.
“It’s just what, Sadie?” He places his hand on my thigh, the warmth immediately spreading to other parts of my body. His touch steadies me and after a few calming breaths, I find the courage to reveal another part of myself to him.
“No one’s ever gotten me a gift like this before.”
He tilts his head, looking confused by my statement. “A gift like what?”
“A gift so darn perfect.” I laugh at the same time more tears escape my eyes. Damn these leaky eyes.
Niko’s hand moves from my thigh to my face, his thumb wiping away the tears as they fall. “Don’t cry, beautiful.”
His hand doesn’t leave my face after my tears are done falling. He keeps it in place, cupping my cheek in the most tender way, causing me to involuntarily lean into him. We stay suspended in this moment, eyes not looking away from each other, as his thumb brushes lightly against my cheek. This pull between us is becoming stronger and stronger, our threads intertwining in a way I’m not sure I’m going to be able to ignore much longer.
After what feels like an eternity, although I’m sure it’s only a minute or two, he drops his hand but keeps it on the back of my stool. “You okay?”
I nod twice and nervously laugh at myself. “Yep. Sorry about all that. I’m not usually this emotional.”
Niko stays silent, giving me a moment to collect myself. Once I’ve wiped away my embarrassment, I change the subject, not wanting to dive into my emotional baggage.
“Sophia told me she’s turning five next month.”
At the mention of his daughter’s name, Niko visibly relaxes, happiness radiating off his body. He releases his hand from my stool and leans back. The moment he shifts back, even though it is only a few inches, I feel the space between us throb with absence. The distance is tiny but every part of me is aching to close the gap.
“She is. I still can’t believe it. One last summer with her before my girl goes to kindergarten.”
There’s sadness dripping from his words, and I fight every instinct to reach out and console him. This whole interaction with him is teetering on the edge of something more, and as much as I want to take the leap and see what thatmoremight be, I refrain. Niko and Sophia have been through so much and muddying the waters is the last thing I should be doing. So instead, I try to make him smile.
“She also mentioned you still haven’t planned her birthday party yet.” My tone is accusing and sassy, and at my accusation, he throws his head back and groans.
“Sophia sold me out, huh?” Niko’s eyes twinkle with humor, the sadness from a moment before forgotten, at least for now.
“She did. I think she’s afraid she’s not going to get a party because of the playoffs.”
Niko nods and then turns to lean his elbows on the counter. He rubs at his temples a few times before turning his head to look at me again. “It’s my fault. Things have been so crazy lately, I forgot to put everything in motion. My mom’s asked me a few times about it too. I didn’t forget, I just haven’t had the time.”
Niko’s self-deprecating tone is all it takes for me to reach out and squeeze his arm. “All right. Enough of that. Her birthday isn’t until the end of May, right?” Niko nods, and I continue. “Okay, so we have five weeks to put this together. That’s plenty of time. I have a few ideas up my sleeve.”
I pull my hand back and grab my phone to show him the traveling petting zoo I found after Sophia fell asleep for her nap. There are a few texts from Hunter waiting for me.
Hunter
Something’s wrong with Gordie.
We’re still potty training but he’s trying to go like every ten minutes and I noticed blood on one of the puppy pads.
Okay he just went again and there’s more blood.
I’m taking him in. Can you meet me at the vet?
“I’m sorry, Niko, but I need to go.”
I jump out of my seat, grabbing my emotional support water bottle and aimlessly start rushing around his kitchen to find my bag and keys. Once I find it, I sling my bag over my shoulder and all but run to the front door to put my shoes on.
