Page 69 of Unscripted with Mila

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I gave up waiting for Nick by ten. I went down to the pool, needing the physical release. I did lap after lap, finally stopping and treading water in the deep end. I huffed out a long exhale of air, my thoughts still chaotic and jumbled.

“Something on your mind, Mila?” Nick asked from the shadows. He sat forward, into the faint light reflected off the pool. I could see the exhaustion written on his face as he contemplated me. “You’d think you were being chased by a shark the way you were swimming.”

I shook my head. “Just doing my laps.”

“Sorry. Amber kept us on set late. Since they’re dropping BC and moving up Ontario, she wants all the garage scenes done.”

“I assumed so.”

He sat back, crossing his ankle over his knee. “You didn’t assume I was with another woman or out carousing?”

“Were you?”

“No.”

“Good. I didn’t think so.”

“I was surprised by your lack of texts and calls.”

I laughed dryly, drifting toward him. “Sorry, do you want me to play the jealous, suspicious type?”

“No. It was a pleasant surprise. MJ blew up my phone. That was enough.”

“No doubt messages filled with love and encouragement.”

He barked a laugh. “Yeah, something like that.”

I rolled my eyes, pretty sure of what the messages would contain.

“I assumed you were on set and busy. I also thought you would call me when you got back if it wasn’t too late. I heard Amber say something to Andi about filming late and that tomorrow is a closed set, so I knew you were working.” I chose my next words carefully. “I’m also aware you don’t owe me any explanations about your whereabouts, Nicholas.”

He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. He stood and pulled his shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes, and pushed his shorts off his hips, leaving him in black boxers. I swallowed at how sexy he was in the dim light, the way it played over his tight muscles and torso. He stepped into the pool and headed my way. He reached through the water and dragged me into his arms. He stared down at me. “You can ask me anything, Shortcake. I’ll tell you.”

The words were out before I could stop them. “Do you want kids?”

He blinked. “Well, I’d like to have sex with you first, if I’m being honest. In fact, to have kids, we need to have sex.”

I slapped his chest, and he bent his head, nuzzling my neck. “Someday I want kids, Mila. With the right person. Someday I would like to lead a normal, healthy lifestyle without all this craziness,” he murmured in my ear. “Someday I want a home, a wife, and to know where I belong.”

I clutched at his shoulders and held him close. His words felt sad. Reflective. As if they were an unattainable dream for him.

“Why?” he whispered.

“I was wondering.”

“Can you tell me why you were wondering that question?”

“It was one of several I was thinking about.”

“You want to share the others?”

“Not right now.”

“Okay, Shortcake.” I felt his lips press against my temple. “When you’re ready, ask away.”

“Why is tomorrow a closed set?”