Chapter 14
The drive to Niko’s house on the outskirts of the city was less awkward than I imagined it would be.
I usually carpool with Ellie or use her car when she rides with Lincoln to the rink, so my only option was to jump in Niko’s Yukon unless I wanted to pay for an Uber.
Sophia entertained us the entire drive by singing “Who Says” at the top of her lungs with not a care in the world.
That little girl owns a piece of my heart, and I’m not even sure when it happened.
Niko opens his three-car garage to pull his vehicle in, and I’m surprised to see a Subaru Outback sitting at the far side of the garage. I wonder whose vehicle that is? The only other items sitting in here are a pink motorized Jeep, a couple of bikes, and a scooter.
Once I close the passenger door, I round the back of the car where Niko is getting Sophia out of her car seat. “I was expecting to see a fancy sports car or something, not a Subaru.”
He closes the door and raises an eyebrow at me. “What’s wrong with a Subaru? It’s an extremely safe, practical car.”
I raise my hands in front of me. “Hey, it’s a great choice for a dad. I’m not judging.”
“Aren’t you, though?” He smirks at me, and I feel my knees go weak.
Niko leads the way inside through an impressive mudroom. We pass a beautiful half bathroom and pantry before getting to the kitchen. Sophia rushes past Niko and disappears up the stairs. Niko leans back against the island crossing his arms, looking far too amused.
“Besides, do I really look like the kind of guy who would have a fancy sports car?” He lifts Sophia’s bright pink backpack off the counter, emphasizing his point.
“And if you must know, I bought the Subaru for Sophia’s nanny.
When she had one, I mean. I felt more comfortable buying something for them rather than trusting their cars. “
“That makes sense. I just wasn’t sure what you did in your spare time. A sports car could come in handy,” I tease.
Niko shakes his head and then gestures to the stools sitting near his island. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable before interrogating me.”
I mirror his earlier pose and cross my arms over my chest and ignore his offer to sit down. “I am not interrogating you. I was simply suggesting that hockey players have a rather luxurious and carefree lifestyle. I didn’t know if you partook in those types of things.”
Niko takes a step closer to me, closing the distance between us. I could reach out and run my fingers through his stupidly, perfect blond hair if I wanted to.
But I don’t want to. No, that would be crazy.
“If you haven’t noticed, Sophia is my entire world. And, considering who your best friend is, I’m sure you’ve heard about my current childcare problems. I barely have time to sleep, let alone go out for a night.”
Shit. Now I feel like an asshole. He’s the one who told me about his sleep issues and Sophia sleeping in his bed. Why the hell did I insinuate he would drive sports cars and go out at night like some dumb jock?
Feeling embarrassed, I uncross my arms and begin fidgeting with the necklace I’m wearing. “I’m sorry, Niko. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just teasing. Of course, Sophia is your number one priority.”
I avert my gaze and move the tiger’s eye pendant back and forth on the chain around my neck.
Niko’s hand reaches out and covers my own, stopping my fidgety movements. Surprised, I finally look at him to see his baby blues watching me.
“Sadie.” He must realize his hand is still holding mine because he quickly pulls back and shoves his hands in his slacks. “Forget about it. I know you were just joking.”
An awkward silence threatens to consume us, just as I hear Sophia come barreling back down the stairs.
Perfect timing, kid.
She comes sprinting into the kitchen and climbs onto one of the stools I should be sitting in to save myself from any further embarrassment.
“I want chocolate. With whipped cream and caramel. Oh! And maybe we can crush up some cookies to put on it too!”
Niko and I both chuckle, Sophia’s theatrics breaking away any awkwardness that may have been building.
I join Sophia at the island, taking the empty seat next to her. “I’ll have what she’s having,” I say, pointing my thumb over at Sophia, who is quite literally bouncing in her seat.
Niko opens the freezer and grabs a gallon of chocolate ice cream. He slides it onto the counter and then moves to the giant pantry we passed on the way in.
“Sorry, ladies. All we have are chocolate sprinkles and hot fudge.”
Sophia’s body slumps in her stool, disappointment etched on every inch of her face.
Doing my best to cheer her up, I act overly excited at the ice cream toppings. “Oh my gosh! Hot fudge is my absolute favorite. It’s the perfect thing to go with super cold ice cream.”
Sophia perks up at my enthusiasm so I keep going. “And chocolate sprinkles? This sounds like the most chocolatey dessert ever.”
Niko smiles at me before looking at Sophia in question. “What do you think, sweetheart?”
Sophia slaps her hands on the counter in excitement.
“I think I want some chocolatey goodness, Daddy!”
Niko refuses when I offer to help make the bowls of dessert. He is meticulous when he pours the syrup onto the ice cream, distributing it evenly over every scoop. He’s the same way when he drops the sprinkles on top, making sure all three bowls have the same amount.
Watching him closely like this, I’m in complete awe of the care and attention he puts into this simple act. I can’t help but wonder if he puts this much time and energy into other aspects of his life.
Are his clothes expertly sorted by color in his closet? Is there a certain spot for every canned good in the pantry? What does his sock drawer look like? What’s he like in bed with a woman? Does he make sure she’s satisfied before seeking his own pleasure?
I don’t even have to think about it long. I can guarantee this man is an expert at pleasuring a woman.
“Sadie, you good?” I shake myself out of my daydream and see Niko’s hand extended, holding a bowl of ice cream in front of me.
“Yep. Sorry. Just got lost in thought there for a second.”
Niko leans down on the counter across from us and takes a bite of his ice cream. I’m mesmerized by the movement, watching as he slowly brings the spoon out of his mouth and licks at the corner of his lip.
Oh, to be that spoon.
He catches me staring and a slow smirk stretches on his face. When I realize I’m caught, I move my gaze from his lips up to his eyes and see mischief reflecting back at me.
I bite my bottom lip, not caring in the least that he caught me ogling him, and then he winks.
Holy fucking shit.
This man just walked out of one of my smutty romance novels because he is a freaking dream.
The sound of a bowl sliding across the counter pulls both of our attention down to the little girl next to me.
“Done! I’m going to go play with my magnets.”
Niko rounds the island before Sophia can escape and puts his hands on her shoulders. He crouches down a little so they’re at eye level. “Before you go, can we talk for a minute? I’d like to talk about what happened at the game. We never got to finish our conversation.”
Sophia looks over her shoulder at me nervously. I give her a soft smile and nod once at her. “That’s why you wanted me to come over, right? So I could be here in case you needed help?”
She nods at me and turns her head back to her dad. “I just don’t know why Mommy always leaves. Why doesn’t she love me like you do? Or Uncle Connor and the rest of the Bobcats? They always come over to play with me. She never does.”
I can see the sadness in Niko’s eyes as he digests Sophia’s words.
I don’t remember being that young but I do remember wondering the same thing when I was a kid.
Hell, I remember my siblings asking me almost the exact same question.
“Why don’t mom and dad love us as much as they love going to work?
” I swear one of them would ask me that once a week.
My heart breaks for Sophia just like it did for my siblings back then. This is a cruel reminder of how hard we all had it as kids, never seeing our parents. I always had to be the bad guy. The grown-up. Even though I was only a few years older than them myself.
They all were so desperate for our parents’ love, they grew up to be exactly what they wanted them to be.
Three of them became lawyers while the other two became surgeons.
None of them understood me, just like my parents never understood me.
I was an outcast. The black sheep. I was the one who paved my own path and they all thought I was crazy for it.
Niko’s gentle voice pulls me from my dark memories.
“Baby girl, your mom loves you in her own way. It might not be the same way I do, or Uncle Connor does. Or even Mummo and Pappa. But she loves you the best way she can. I just don’t think she knows how to love big like the rest of us.”
I can tell Niko is struggling to find the right words to make a four-year-old understand. How can you even explain that sort of thing?
He reaches out and lifts Sophia’s chin with his finger, forcing her to look up instead of down at her hands.
“I want you to hear me when I say this, Sophia. Your mom leaving has nothing to do with you. You are perfect.” His words remind me of Ellie’s from the other day and it has my eyes misting over.
Sophia’s voice is quiet when she finally speaks. “Then why does she always leave?”
Niko shakes his head. “I don’t know, Sophia. I wish I knew. But I am not going anywhere. Ever. Do you hear me? I will always be here for you.”
Sophia reaches out and wraps her arms around her dad’s neck. Niko picks her up and holds her tightly against him.
“I’m going to go give her a bath and put her to bed. It’s been a long day and she didn’t get a nap today because of the game.”
Realizing how completely out of place I am right now, I stand abruptly and pull my phone out of my pocket. “Of course. I’ll call an Uber and get out of your way.”
I’m mid-scroll, about to tap for an Uber ride, when his fingers briefly brush mine as he takes my phone from my hands. The touch is light, almost casual, but it sends a ripple up my arm before I can stop it.
“You’re not in the way. It won’t take me more than fifteen minutes. I’d like you to stay if you’re up for it.”
My mouth hangs open and I struggle to make sense of what he just asked me. He wants me to stay? Here?
Niko hands me my phone back and laughs. “So we can talk.” He nods to Sophia who’s resting her head on his shoulder.
Of course. He wants to talk about Sophia. Duh.
“Right. Yeah, I’ll stay.”
He stares at me, unmoving, for a few seconds. I’m not sure if he doesn’t believe me or he’s trying to figure out why I’m acting so nervous.
Don’t mind me. I just thought you were inviting me to stay the night. Gosh, I’m a moron.
Finally, his feet start moving toward the stairs. I release a deep exhale, trying to calm my nerves.
I’m about to clean up the bowls of ice cream when I hear a little voice behind me.
“Good night, Miss Sadie. Love you.”