“That’s what everyone says until they see his father,” Honey said as she looked at the photo, and though she wasn’t exactly on good terms with Kai’s father, she could thank him for her son’s good looks. He would definitely be breaking hearts when he got older. He was already doing it now, considering how many girls in his class liked him.
Honey placed the controller down and set the PS4 back on the stand before turning off the TV. She glanced at the clock on her wall before she looked at Nikos.
“Don’t you have some poor woman to harass?” Honey asked pointedly.
“I don’t harass women,” Nikos said as he stood, grabbing his shirt. “I seduce them.”
Honey rolled her eyes before she nibbled on her bottom lip. She initially had every intention of telling him to leave tonight, but then she thought of the smile on her son’s face.
“How are you getting home?” she asked.
“Probably call a cab,” Nikos said, shrugging.
“If you want, you can sleep on the couch tonight,” Honey offered begrudgingly. She had a feeling that after what Nikos possibly experienced tonight that he probably needed it. She usually wasn’t this nice, but she was grateful for how kind he hadbeen to her son, answering all of his silly questions and playing with him.
“Thank you, Honey,” Nikos said, and she could hear the sincerity in his tone.
“Thank my son,” Honey said as she walked over to her hall closet and pulled out a blanket for him to use.
“Don’t drool on my couch,” Honey said as she headed to her room.
“How about your bed?” Nikos called after her, and she rolled her eyes before she went into her room and got ready for the night, showering and changing into her night clothes before she crept into her son’s room. She usually slept in her own room, but she didn’t know Nikos all too well, and she wanted to make sure that her son was okay even if she was doing a nice thing.
After kissing the top of her son’s head, she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
C H A P T E R
14
WHEN NIKOS OPENED HIS EYES, HE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A PAIR OF BROWN EYES LOOKING INTO HIS. Nikos scrunched his nose as he blinked blearily, trying to gather his bearings as he tried to figure out why he wasn’t looking at the white ceiling of his bedroom but, instead, at a young child.
“Mom said to wake you,” the boy said as he nudged his shoulder again, and that was when it came back to him. He wasn’t inside his bedroom but in Honey’s apartment, speaking to her child.
As Nikos sat up, the young boy stepped back to give him some space.
“What time is it?” Nikos asked as he groaned.
“It’s seven,” Kai said before he handed him an unopened toothbrush, a towel, and cloth. “Mom said to use the bathroom to get cleaned up.”
“Thanks, kid,” Nikos said gratefully, not expecting this. He was certain that when he opened his eyes, Honey would be carting him out the door. But as he glanced around the room, he didn’t see her. “Where is your mother?”
“She’s getting dressed,” Kai said as he grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. He was still dressed in pajamas.
“Shouldn’t you be taking a shower or something?” Nikos asked, thinking about how Honey said the kid had to get ready for school in the morning last night.
“I already took one last night,” Kai said as he sat in front of the TV, watching a cartoon. His eyes were laser-focused, and he didn’t even bother to look back at him as he spoke.
Before Nikos could say anything else, he heard Honey’s voice call out into the room.
“Kai, when I get out there, you better be dressed for school and have brushed your teeth already, and that’s why I hear the TV on!”
Kai’s head whipped back, his eyes slightly panicked.
“Come on, kid,” Nikos said as he hauled the kid onto his shoulder with ease. Kai giggled as Nikos tossed him around playfully. “You don’t want to start disappointing your mom just yet.”
“When can I do it then?” Kai asked curiously, and Nikos laughed.
“When you’re in your teens. She’ll forgive you then.”
