Page 24 of Timelessly Ours

“Ahhhh.”

I hear Nicole chuckle.

“No evidence of a blue lollipop,” I mutter, shifting Rory’s head in every direction to fully inspect before releasing it.

“Blue lollipop? She made me have buttered pasta and chicken fingers.” Rory turns a treacherous glare on her temporary caretaker. “You have candy?”

Ignoring my daughter, Nicole laughs and points a wet wooden spoon at me. “So you were getting my messages.” She doesn’t seem the least bit insulted, but thoroughly amused as she hurls over in laughter. “Man, you’re easy.”

“Hey.” I start in a low voice to my little girl. “You take Rover out back yet?”

She shakes her head and sighs. “Come on, boy.” My dog leaps, beating Rory to the back door, wagging his tail.

“I’m sorry dear, busy day at the office,” I mutter mockingly to Nicole, nudging her away from the sink so I can take over the dishes.

“Hey, I’m not offended, but I question your parenting had there been a real emergency.”

If I were being honest, her messages throughout the day—no matter how absurd—were comforting. In her own rebellious way, she was checking in with me, letting me know everything was fine.

Minus the looks I’ll now be getting from Blondie—I mean Mrs. Matthews.

She looks at the clock on the wall and stiffens, then removes the apron I hadn’t noticed she was wearing. I almost wish she’d put it back on—and I don’t know why.

Swallowing, she steps up to me. “Listen, um…I really appreciate the time you’ve given me here, privately, to recover and…well, hide out for a bit.” She glances out the window as if expecting something—or someone.

Squaring her shoulders, she looks up and squeezes my arm.

It sends a shiver down my spine. Because Nicole doesn’t touch people loosely.

“I know you worry about me.” She starts tenderly, and it feels as if she’s finally voicing the one thing we both feel but never act on. “I can see it in your eyes. And I know you were disappointed—just as everyone else will be soon. But I promise, I’m going to take all the right steps. I—”

The sound of a car door slamming from my driveway cuts her off. I realize my jaw’s been tight the entire time she was talking. As if I’m bracing myself. Why does it sound like she’s saying goodbye?

Nicole sighs expectantly. “I called Nick for you.”

“What do you mean for me?”

“It’s alright, Coach.” She shrugs with a defeat that tightens my gut. “Let’s just get this over with.” She hangs up the apron just as Rory and Rover come back into the house. My dog looks relieved and less jumpy.

Coach.

I’m back to being Coach. Not the man who’s been a little more on her side than anyone else.

“Rory, go play in the den,” I growl, following Nicole, who’s halfway to the front of the house.

She pulls the door open before her twin brother has a chance to ring the bell.

He sighs dramatically. “Nicky, thank God. What the hell do you think you’re doing ignoring my calls?”

She steps back to let him in.

My team captain looks up at me and I nod him in. “I told Jace and Angel where you are by the way. They’ve been worried sick since you ran off—seriously, Nicky? Where did you even go? I wiped all of your contacts.”

I jerk back and glance at Nicole, who’s glaring at her brother like she’s waiting for her moment to speak.

“I’m fine—now.”

“What does that mean? Where did you go?”

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