Chapter 7
Tachina tried not to overthink the fact that she was pulling into Vic’s driveway for the first real family Friday night. They’d never done this before. Spend the night because of a reason? Sure. But for the purpose of bonding as a family unit…never.
Her palms were sweaty, and her heart was doing a pitter-patter dance. She blew out a deep breath and wiped her hands on her leggings. She’d left work and run home to change her clothes and grabbed her spend-the-night bag.
This wasn’t a big deal. People co-parented all the time. Maybe not as well as she and Vic, but this was not too abnormal. This was a hang out of sorts to watch a movie with their son. That was normal—right?
But her sleeping over at her very handsome ex’s house because they were planning to make another baby was definitely not normal.
She inhaled and got out of the car.
Kian burst out the front door before she even made it to the back seat where her bag rested.
“Mommy!” he shouted. He ran down the stairs and beelined it to her. He had the widest grin on his handsome little face.
Her heart melted at the joy in her son’s face.
“I picked out the movie!”
“Really?”
He slammed into her open arms for a strong hung.
She breathed in her baby’s scent and released him to grab her bag. “What is it? Encanto?”
She sort of hoped it was. They had watched that movie multiple times, and she did love it. She was ready to ‘not talk about Bruno’. She hefted her bag’s strap onto her shoulder and shut the door.
“Nope. Coco!” He walked alongside her.
She tossed an arm over his shoulder and brought him close to her so she could drop a kiss on top of his head.
“Good choice, big man.” She loved that movie, too.
She glanced up. Vic stood by the entryway. His hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the wall. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him in a black t-shirt, gray sweats, and he was barefoot. His hair was slightly damp as if he’d just got out of the shower.
He offered her that crooked grin of his, and her stomach did a tiny flip-flop.
Shit.
“Hey,” he said. He reached out and took her bag from her. He stepped aside so they could enter the house.
“Hey,” she said back. She ignored the flutter of butterflies that filled her stomach.
The house smelled of pizza and lemons. Ginger must have recently cleaned, which always left the house smelling so good. She was going to have to get herself a Ginger. Even though it was only her and Kian, she felt as if she needed help keeping their house clean and organized.
They made their way into the dining room where the table had a stack of napkins, two large pizza boxes, wings, ranch, and bottles of pop.
“You ordered out?” she asked.
“Movie night rules. No cooking.” Vic shrugged.
“Good rules.” She squeezed Kian’s shoulder. “Let’s go wash our hands.”
“I’m going to put your bag on the stairs,” Vic said.
She nodded then followed Kian into the kitchen. They quickly washed their hands and went and filled up their plates with plenty of food.
Ginger, the housekeeper, stepped into the family room just as they were getting settled. She was mid-fifties with short red hair and a warm smile. She had her jacket on and her bag in her hand. She looked as if she was ready for the weekend.
“Evening, everyone. Everything’s cleaned for tonight. Kitchen’s done and the laundry folded.” She tossed a wink to Tachina and wagged a stern finger at Vic and Kian. “Don’t let those two animals destroy all of my hard work before I return on Monday.”
“I’ll try my best, Miss Ginger.” Tachina laughed.
“I make no promises,” Vic said.
“Me, too!” Kian quipped.
“You all have a good night, you three.” She waved and dipped back out of the room.
You three.
Those words hit Tachina in the chest. It took her breath away. She glanced at Kian who was sitting on the floor kneeling at the table, digging into his food, while Vic was seated in his recliner looking the exact image of Kian as he ate.
She smiled.
The three of them made her heart sing.
While they ate, Vic had put the television on a sport channel where the commentators were talking about the last few sports games that had occurred in recent days.
One thing Vic had passed on to their son was the love of sports.
Even at home, Kian wanted to watch games.
Vic and Kian were engrossed in the show and laughed and chatted about it while she sat back and watched and ate.
After they’d finished eating, she and Vic quickly cleared the mess, then he put the movie on.
She and Kian had settled on the couch once it started.
They were twenty minutes into it when she shivered for the fourth time.
She hadn’t wanted to say anything. She didn’t want to be that guest to complain, but it would seem Vic had noticed.
“You cold?” He was in his recliner with the legs up and looked comfortable.
“A little,” she admitted, trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
Why was this man always keeping his house an icebox?
It was fall. He didn’t need the air on at this time of year.
She had turned hers off at her home and opened the windows to allow fresh air to come in. “It’s a bit frosty in here.”
“It’s not that cold in here. Seventy is not that bad,” he grumbled. He got up and disappeared from the room for a moment, returning with a thick blanket.
“For a polar bear, maybe.” She shivered again.
He brought the blanket to her. It was one of the thickest and fluffiest she’d seen. He draped it around her shoulders. The heat of his hands brushing her neck sent a shiver down her spine. She tried not to show the reaction and murmured her thanks.
“There.” He dropped down on the couch next to her. “Better?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
To her side, Kian snuggled against her arm and whisper-shouted every line he’d memorized. Vic shuffled closer to her and placed his arm on the back of the couch. He even leaned into her so she was in the crook of his arm. She didn’t know if he’d done it on purpose or if it was instinct.
Maybe it was the couch.
Or maybe it was her.
Either way, with Kian on one side and Vic on the other, she felt whole. Like a puzzle piece that was missing was now found.
Halfway through the movie, the room had grown dark. The only light came from the television and the small lamp near the stairs. Kian had quieted down as he watched with wide eyes. A rumbling sound came from her left. She glanced over.
Vic’s head had tipped back slightly, eyes closed and mouth parted. The snore wasn’t loud. More like a low grumble that came from him.
“Mom! He’s sleep,” Kian whispered loudly.
“I am not,” Vic muttered without opening his eyes.
“Yeah, you are,” Kian shot back. He sat forward to peek at his father.
Tachina nudged him gently with her elbow. She had found herself cuddled up with him while Kian half lay on top of her.
“If you’re this tired, we can just…you know.” She lowered her voice in hopes that Kian didn’t pick up what she was saying. “Try in the morning.”
His eyes cracked open. They were sleepy yet full of awareness of what she was suggesting. According to her calendar and cycle, today and tomorrow would be the optimal days for her to conceive. She bit her lip, thinking of the actual act they would have to indulge in…
“No. Tonight.”
Heat crawled through her at the tone in his voice. The way he’d said it and the look he gave her had her pushing the blanket off her. Now she was overheating after being practically frozen.
“Okay,” she whispered.
They said nothing else, and now she couldn’t even concentrate on the rest of the movie.
Her mind and heart raced. Vic shifted on the couch, and the new position had her leaning all the way into him with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. She glanced up and caught him gazing down at her.
She glanced away shyly, and the nervous flutter of those damn butterflies returned in her stomach.
When the credits rolled, Kian gave one big dramatic yawn. He rubbed his eyes and flopped back down on the couch.
“All right, big man.” Vic stood and scooped him up from the couch. “Bedtime.”
“Mom is staying, right?” Kian asked.
“Yes, she is,” Vic replied.
“Where is she sleeping?” Kian knuckled his eyes and leaned his head on his father’s shoulder.
She half expected him to ask if she was sleeping in Dad’s bed as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
Her brain short-circuited for a moment.
“Um…the guest bedroom.” She stood and quickly folded the blanket and placed it on the couch. She moved over to where Vic and Kian stood. She rubbed him on his back and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Oh,” he said. He sighed and opened his eyes that had fluttered closed. “I’m happy you’re spending the night with us.”
Her heart melted. She rubbed his back some more while his eyes closed again.
“Yeah, me, too.” She found Vic watching her quietly.
There was something soft and unguarded in his eyes.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes.” It wasn’t true. Hearing her son be happy that they were all under the same roof made her emotional. Her nerves were also getting the best of her with what she knew was about to happen.
Vic carried Kian up the stairs with her following behind him. He headed into Kian’s room while she peeked into the guest room she’d used the few times she had spend the night in the past.
Her bag wasn’t in there.
She inhaled sharply.
She knew where she’d find it. She left the room and went back down the hall and stood outside Kian’s bedroom.
She leaned against the doorjamb and watched Vic carefully change their sleeping child out of his clothes and place him in his favorite jammies.
She didn’t say a word as he quickly finished.
He tucked Kian under the covers and popped a kiss on his forehead.
Her core clenched at the sight of this man who obviously loved their son.
His actions always reminded her of her own father.