I nod.
“I was never engaged, Nina. I never married. I was never even close to a relationship. That was just another of my mother’s schemes—trying to force me to replace you at any cost.”
The word makes Nina flinch, and I head her off before she can accuse me.
“You don’t need to worry about her. Ever again. We’re not a package. My mother isn’t part of our lives—and she never will be.”
I say it with all the force of my resentment, and I think it resonates with Nina long enough for me to add, “What shedid can’t be undone. But her presence can. I don’t want her anywhere near you—or me.”
She considers that.
“What do you need? Proof?” I offer. “In fifteen minutes I can bring every document showing my marital status hasn’t changed in the last five years. Proving I wasn’t engaged might be harder—I don’t know how to prove the absence of something that never happened—but if that’s what you need, say the word, Nina, and I’ll get it. I’ve been guilty of many things—many—but not that.”
She listens carefully before looking away.
“Fine. That means we’re your only stop. But you have a date to leave, right? When?”
I shouldn’t smile—certainly not this widely—but I can’t stop it.
“Never, Nina. I’m never leaving you again.”
She laughs, disbelieving. “I think you lost your mind over those five years.”
“You have no idea how right you are. And that’s just one more reason to stay—yesterday was the first time I felt sane again.”
She shakes her head and steps around me, climbing the stairs to her door.
“I’m too tired to keep having this conversation.”
She reaches into her bag for her keys. I draw a deep breath.
“Can I—”
“If you ask for a hug again, Nero, I swear I don’t know what I’ll do,” she cuts in. I laugh, which only makes her angrier. Beautiful. Absurdly beautiful.
My hands itch to touch her, but I restrain myself, tucking the envelope under my arm and shoving my hands into my pockets. Mental note: no clothes without pockets for the foreseeable future.
“Meet him, Nina. I was going to ask to meet him.”
Her eyes widen instantly, just like they did when we were kids.
“No!” she says, vehement.
I nod, accepting it, but hurry to explain.
“I promise that’s all I want. Nothing else. I brought this.”
I offer her the documents. “They’re guarantees. I’m fully renouncing any present or future claim to Kael’s custody—full or shared. All I want is to be part of my son’s life in whatever way you allow.”
Nina lowers her gaze to the envelope, studying it with suspicion before taking it.
Her eyes stay on our hands for a long moment before she answers.
“No. If you want anything from me or my son, we’ll handle it in court.”
“We’ll do it your way,” I agree. “If you want court, we’ll go to court. But I won’t say anything different there than I’m saying now. I told you yesterday I wouldn’t work against you, and I’m telling you today that I want nothing beyond what you’re willing to give me. Please—read them.”
I let go of the envelope. Her arm drops, but she keeps holding it.
