Chapter 86
Alaia
We stopped in front of a door on the second floor, and I felt tense. I looked at my little ones, and both gently touched the door with the palms of their small hands. They looked at me, saying nothing, so I nodded at them and pressed my hands together before placing one on the door. I pushed it open since it was ajar, and it swung halfway open. That’s when I saw a man about my father’s age lying in the bed. I sighed. “He’s so young p>
My eyes swept across the room, and I saw Nick standing with his back to us, sipping a drink.
I swallowed hard, searching for words in my head before speaking, but Noah beat me to it.
“Daddy,” his little voice echoed. I opened my eyes, full of emotion, and looked at my son. He hadn’t been told since they first met him. My little boy watched him expectantly. I glanced back at Nick, his body tense, and he shook his head. I think he believed it was his imagination.
I smiled with closed lips.
“Daddy,” Noah called again, raising his voice slightly and taking a step toward him.
Nick tensed again, turning slowly. His brow was furrowed, and I could hear him exhale sharply when he saw us. He seemed unable to believe it.
“My little ones,” he said, still in shock. The children ran to him as Nick bent down to receive them with open arms. The father of my children held them tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, they’d disappear.
My heart melted at the sight. Nick looked at them and hugged them over and over again.
“Daddy,” Alana said. I noticed Nick’s eyes welling up with tears, and emotions overtook me as well. I wiped away a couple of tears, letting them enjoy the moment, which lasted several minutes.
Finally, Nick’s light brown eyes locked onto mine, and my body trembled on its own.
I felt like the 17–year–old girl who was completely in love with him, and now I was certain that I never stopped being in love with him.
“Hi,” I whispered, biting my lip. Nick stood up while our children went to their grandfather.
“How was the wedding?” he asked seriously, crossing his arms. I could sense the irritation in his voice.
“We… we decided to call it off,” I explained, and Nick raised an eyebrow. “I… I can’t marry someone I don’t love,” I stated, and he remained silent. I took a deep breath and looked at my kids.
“I haven’t stopped loving you, Nick,” I finally admitted what I had been denying for the past few months. The face of the man I loved showed no emotion, and I began to worry. Had I arrived too late? Had he decided not to give us another chance?
“I understand if maybe I’m too late,” I said, my heart in knots. Once again, there was no response from him. “I understand,” I said, glancing at the children. “I think it’s best if we leave p>
I added, feeling my heart slow down painfully.
I noticed Nick moving. He walked quickly toward me. I looked at him, perplexed, until he reached me, grabbed me by the waist, and kissed me, leaving me breathless. My heart began to race.
His soft lips devoured mine with urgency, and my soul returned to my body. His hand ran down my back, leaving an exhilarating tingling sensation. I responded to the kiss, clinging to the muscles in his arms. His tongue explored my mouth, igniting every inch of my skin, and the kiss warmed my heart.
I didn’t want to let him go, but our lungs demanded oxygen. Panting, we looked into each other’s eyes. His gaze smiled at me, and my lips smiled back. We kissed again and again, as if trying to make up for lost time.
“I knew it from the moment you said hello,” Nick said, stroking my cheek with a beautiful smile. I came down from the cloud his kisses had left me on and squinted my eyes, hitting his arm hard. He had made me go through a few horrible minutes.
“Idiot!” I hit him again, and he let out a loud laugh that our precious children quickly followed.
“You’re the one who accepted that idiot blond at that wedding,” he teased, pulling me closer.
“I had to,” I mumbled, hiding in his chest. He was the only person I allowed myself to be vulnerable with.
Nick made a sound of discontent. I noticed his father and walked toward him, still holding Nick’s hand.
“Cedric and his competitors joined forces to make those devices,” I pointed to them, and he looked at me, confused.
I began to explain what had happened from the beginning. Nick listened in silence, nodding several times. A sound of annoyance escaped him when I talked about the reasons for the engagement.
“I’ve been jealous for months over a fake engagement?” he asked, almost through gritted teeth. I smiled and bit my lip before nodding.
“I admit I enjoyed seeing your face every time my friend showed up. I thought it was just your ego,” I teased, stroking his chest.
The man who held me in his arms shook his head.
“I was dying of jealousy, watching the woman I love with another man who wasn’t me,” he said, running his fingers through my hair. I realized how much I had missed this–being in his arms, smelling his cologne, which was still the same after all these years.
“It’s always been you,” I said, looking into his eyes. Nick gave me a lopsided smile.
I finished telling him the whole story, and he looked concerned when I mentioned his father.
“Your father won’t lose the equipment, I promise. Cedric will take care of it,” I assured him, and Nick let out a deep breath.
“It’s unbelievable that I’ll owe Cedric something now p>
“It’s for him,” I said, looking at Dominic.
Nick sighed with disdain but nodded.
We stayed a little longer in Dominic’s room, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching the kids interact with their grandfather. I smiled.
“I love you,” Nick whispered, drawing my attention. I caressed his face.
“I love you,” I said, realizing that it would become easier and easier to say.
“Mommy, Dom,” Alana alerted us. We both looked at our daughter and saw her little finger pointing at Dominic’s hand.
Nick and I tensed as we saw his fingers begin to move.