CHAPTER THIRTEEN #3
“We were all out at Faroe having dinner,” Cora said with a bright grin, her mahogany tresses slicked back in a stylish, low bun. “When Archer said we needed to stop by here on our way to bar hop in the Meatpacking District, we couldn’t say no.”
“We never need an excuse to see Nash Nightingale,” Axel cracked. “Do you really call Archer Brother Nightingale?”
“It’s just a stupid joke that came up the other day when we ran into Sebastian Cross in Queens,” Archer said with a sigh. “And now Nash is going to use it for the rest of our lives.”
“Literally until the day we die. Guys, let me introduce you.” I swept my arm toward Clara and Zoey. “I want you to meet Clara, my girlfriend. And this is her best friend Zoey. Clara’s daughter Mia is playing over there.”
There was a boisterous round of introductions as Cora came over, pulling both Clara and Zoey into a hug. Mia gravitated toward her mother, hiding her face behind the folds of Clara’s dress as Axel came over to shake the girls’ hands.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you,” Cora purred, staring deep into Clara’s eyes. “I’ve been hearing rumblings about a woman that changed Nash’s life.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Clara said with a grin.
Cora winked. “I can see it on his face.”
We all moved into the great room, situating ourselves amongst the couches and armchairs. Zoey looked a little starstruck as she settled in next to Clara. Mia returned to the play area.
Time melted away in the great room, and one drink turned into another.
Clara held her own in the conversation, trading wit with Archer and peppering Axel with questions about his charity foundation.
When Cora started telling a story about a disastrous charity gala where the ice sculpture melted into the shape of something obscene, Clara laughed so hard she snorted, which made everyone else laugh harder.
Eventually Mia drifted over to the couch, climbing onto her mother’s lap and cozying in.
I could see her little eyelids growing heavy as the conversation continued around her.
“She’s getting tired,” Clara murmured to me after a bit.
“We can put her in my room,” I said without hesitation. “Or one of the guest rooms. Whatever you want.”
Clara contemplated her daughter’s face for a few moments. “Do you want to go lie down in the bed and go to sleep honey?”
Mia furrowed her brows and shook her head, clutching tighter to her mother.
“It’s been a lot for her tonight,” Clara said. “I might just need to take her home.”
“Stay,” I whispered to Clara, smoothing my hand over her knee. “I’ll send for whatever you guys need.”
I saw the temptation flicker across Clara’s face, the desire to say yes and stay in this fantasy bubble we’d created tonight. I knew the request was a long shot.
“She won’t sleep without her blankie, and I’m not positive it’s a good idea to spring a sleepover on her after so much…newness today.”
I understood what she was getting at. It was more than the blanket, at any rate. I knew how she’d bent her own rules tonight in bringing Mia over, and I didn’t intend to keep pushing until they snapped.
“Want me to call the car?” I drank in Clara’s features, getting my fill of her pretty face, those hazel eyes I couldn’t stop looking at, those perfect, full lips I wouldn’t stop thinking about until I saw her again.
“Yeah. She needs to get to bed. It’s way past her bedtime.”
While I arranged for the driver to bring around the car, Clara let Zoey know it was time to go and they began saying their goodbyes.
Clara hoisted Mia into her arms, waving goodbye to everyone.
Cora rushed over for a group hug, and I overheard Zoey tell Cora during their goodbye hug, “I have always wanted to meet you. I still can’t believe this night is real. ”
I accompanied Clara, Zoey, and Mia down to the ground floor and out onto the sidewalk to the waiting sedan.
Mia barely stirred as Clara buckled her into her car seat.
The sight of mother and daughter together, both wearing clothes I'd chosen, both having spent a perfect, easygoing evening in my home, made something fierce and possessive unfurl inside me like roots in soil.
“Thank you, Nash,” Zoey called out through the open window of the front seat. “You are amazing and I still cannot believe I saw Axel Fairchild and Cora Margulis in person.”
“You’re so welcome, Zoey. It was good to meet you.” Clara started to slide into the backseat but I caught her by the arm. I murmured into her ear, “Text me when you’re inside your apartment.”
Goosebumps flared on her forearms. “I will. Thank you for tonight, Nash. It was perfect.”
I surged forward, catching her lips in a final kiss before she could pull away or decide otherwise. I needed one last taste. I wasn’t sure when I’d see her again outside of our regular Wednesday lunches, and that seemed like an eternity away after tonight.
Whatever we’d started here had just gotten a lot more complicated. And more fulfilling.
That scared the shit out of me.