Damn.
Ever since Des fucked her at the table that night, she can’t look me in the eye without blushing the most beautiful pink color.
I’d tried to deny my pull to her. Yes, she’s attractive, obviously, but I told myself that was all it was.
Pretty girls are a dime a dozen, though.
She wasn’t special.
But every day she proved me wrong, over and fucking over.
Kat is special, so fucking special.
She’s thoughtful, nurturing, and gentle, yet stern with Addy, always doing only what’s best for her and looking out for her even above herself. But she’s also somehow the perfect balance for each of the guys as well.
She allows Nathan to spoil her but still pushes back a healthy amount. She’s sassy and playful with Des, gentle and nerdy with Oli, and a good center for Alex. She makes him happy and chases away his demons, something even Natasha hadn’t been able to manage.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t think it was possible before Kat.
Nathan and Alex had worked hard to build the life they have now, and while they have everything they ever wanted, it wasn’t always like this.
Alex bears the weight of that trauma, something that still pains Nathan even all these years later.
I pull up to a stop outside the building, switch the car off, and move around to open Kat’s door.
I’m not sure when it happened, but she lets me open her door now, but only if I don’t take too long.
Somewhere along the line, it’s become a game. One I don’t actually know the rules to, though that doesn’t make my need to win any less.
“Why can’t I come?” Addy asks as I pull the door open, and I don’t even need to look to know Kat’s about to fold.
She’s fantastic with Addy and does a much better job than the rest of them with discipline and boundaries. And all that important stuff that ensures she doesn’t grow up to be a spoiled brat who expects the world to be handed to her, like the Willy Wonka girl.
But she’s far from perfect, and this isn’t something that has to be done alone, meaning she could give in.
It’s just the doctors. I’m sure plenty of women take their kids with them, but she doesn’t have to. I’m more than happy to spend the day with Addy.
I crouch down so that I can see her, and I’m not surprised to find her giving Kat the full-on pouty lip and puppy-dog eyes.
She’s got it down to a science now.
“Oh man, and here I thought we could go get some ice cream while Mommy was busy.”
Addison’s eyes go wide, and she looks at me before looking back to Kat, clearly torn now.
“I guess I’ll just have to go by myself.” I shrug and begin to stand, moving as if to let them out.
“Wait!” I pause. Having risen a few inches, I’m still able to see her and the way she’s fidgeting, and I know I’ve got her.
“I want ice cream,” she says with a little pout.
Kat gives a soft laugh and scoops Addy up onto her lap.
“Will you eat a scoop for me, too?” She asks her, making it sound super serious, and just like that, Addy’s sold.
“Say goodbye to Mommy, Princess. We’ll be back for her as soon as the appointment is over,” I tell her with a smile, and damn if they aren’t so cute together.
Nathan couldn’t have picked a better mother figure for Addison. It’s amazing she doesn’t have kids of her own with how natural a parent she is.
