Mom chuckled and said "Not this time, sweet pea. I'm sure they won't do it again." She arched a brow at us, andI snickered as Nico responded "No, ma'am" like a good little boy.
Nico settled in next to Gracie to watch a Disney movie with her. They were debating which one - Gracie wanted "Frozen" for the three-thousandth time, and Nico was begging for any other movie but that one - as Mom nudged me toward the kitchen. Once there, she rounded on my and started her interrogation. The FBI had nothing on my mother when she wanted answers.
"So, what happened? You two have obviously made up, and we'll get to that in a minute, but first tell me what he had to say?"
"Hold your horses, Nosy Nellie. First, why are you home so early? I heard Gracie say something about Dad being sick?"
"He started getting one of his migraines as we were eating, and didn't have his medicine with him, so we had to hurry home. You know how bad those get if he doesn't take the meds soon enough. I tried to call to warn you, in case you were...indisposed," she finished delicately.
I laughed. "Yeah Mom, we were indisposed, that's why I didn't hear my phone ring."
"So, you and Nico are together now, I mean, officially together now?"
"Yes, Colleen, we are most definitely officially together now." I hadn't heard Nico come into the kitchen and startled at the sound of his voice and the feel of his arm wrapping around my waist from behind. He dropped a light kiss on my temple and gave my side a quick squeeze, before stepping away from me and moving to the pantry.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the princess wants popcorn to go with her movie."
My mom smiled fondly at him and walked over to pull him into a hug. "I'm so happy for you both, Nico. I know you'll take good care of my girls."
He smiled at me over the top of her head and hugged her back. "I will, I promise you."
Mom patted him on the back and let him go, then bustled into the pantry to grab the popcorn. "You two get drinks, and I'll take care of the snacks."
After bringing in the popcorn - a big bowl for Nico and me to share, and a smaller bowl for Gracie - Mom excused herself, saying she was going to go check on Dad, and then settle down with the book she was trying to finish reading. She winked at me as she left the room.
Nico leaned over to whisper "I take it we have her approval to snuggle on the sofa?"
"Apparently so. She's not terribly subtle, is she?" I laughed.
Nico was sitting at the end of the sofa holding the big bowl of popcorn, and he lifted his arm to drape it around my shoulder as I scooted in close, angling my body so my back was leaning against his side, and the back of my head rested on his shoulder. Gracie sat next to me with her legs folded up under her, her bowl of popcorn balanced in her lap, chattering away about her afternoon's activities as the movie started. By the time it ended, she was sprawled out on her back asleep, with her head laying in my lap and her arm and foot dangling over the edge of the sofa.
Nico chuckled quietly. "There is really nothing graceful about Gracie when she sleeps, is there?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No, she always looks like a drunken sailor passed out after his first night of shore leave."
He snorted, then shifted to slide out from behind me without disturbing her. He stepped around me, then bent to pick her up in his arms. She didn't even flicker an eyelid. She was a heavy sleeper, my Gracie-girl.
"Which room does she sleep in here?"
"She's in the room next to mine, Scott's old bedroom. Mom and Dad redecorated it last year for her when she started having sleepovers here more often."
I led the way upstairs and pulled back the covers on the bed so Nico could lay her down. He got her nightgown out of the bag I pointed to and helped me get her changed. I didn't bother trying to get her to wake up to brush her teeth. Skipping it one night wouldn't make her teeth fall out.
I turned on the nightlight that Mom had in there for her, and then turned off the overhead light and closed the door as we left the room.
As we headed back downstairs, my stomach growled, reminding me that, unlike Gracie and my parents, Nico and I hadn't had dinner. Popcorn didn't count.
"Are you hungry," I asked, turning to Nico. He smirked and cocked a brow, "Starving. I was interrupted earlier just when I was ready to eat."
I blushed. "Oh my God"
"What?" he asked innocently, "I just answered you honestly."
"I meant for food, my dear horndog"
He grinned unrepentantly and shrugged, "Yeah, I could do with some food. Might as well satisfy one appetite tonight at least."
He grabbed for my ass as I walked by him into the kitchen, and I laughed and jumped out of his reach.
