Page 16 of Nick
“Then it’s settled,” Malcolm concluded as he stood.“Sunburst Mesa at sunset.”
Chapter 7
THE SUN HAD BEGUNits descent as Nick approached the weathered trailer that evening.He hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the metal handle, warmed from the day’s heat.
With a deep breath that did little to ease the tightness in his chest, he rapped his knuckles against the door, the sound echoing hollowly in the still evening air.He braced himself, prepared for the surge of old anger and betrayal that never seemed to ebb completely.
Before Sarah could answer, the door burst open and out tumbled Javier, his tousled dark blond hair catching the last rays of daylight.
“Nick!”the boy called out, his bright brown eyes locking onto him with an unguarded joy that struck straight through Nick’s carefully constructed defenses.
“Hey, Javi,” Nick said, his voice softening despite himself as he crouched to meet the child at eye level.The tension that had coiled like a spring inside him loosened just a fraction at the sight of those dimpled cheeks.
“Did you come to see me?”Javier asked, tilting his head to one side.
“Of course, buddy,” Nick said, ruffling the boy’s hair.The simple action sent an unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest.He let himself revel in it for a moment, allowing the sensation to push aside the doubt and hurt that clung stubbornly to his heart.
Javier grabbed his hand, pulling him into the trailer with surprising strength.
Nick followed Javier inside, feeling a pang of anxiety twist in his gut.He had missed so much of his son’s life, and he wasn’t sure how he could make up for it.
Would Javier even want to get to know him?Or would he be too angry and hurt by Nick’s absence?
“Come on.”Javier tugged at Nick’s hand, pulling him toward the small table where Sarah was clearing away plates and utensils.
“Hey,” Sarah said, her voice a little too bright as she looked up at him.“How was your day?”
“Fine,” Nick said, keeping his tone neutral.He still couldn’t bring himself to look at her directly, not without feeling a surge of anger.But he refused to let those feelings overshadow his time with Javier.
“Can I help?”Nick asked, gesturing toward the food.
“Thanks, but we’re almost done,” Sarah said, shooting him a quick smile before turning back to the dishes.
Nick watched her for a moment, taking in the way her long brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders.She was still beautiful, still the only woman who made his heart race with just a glance.
But he couldn’t forget the past, no matter how much he wanted to.
“Javi, do you want to go outside and play?”Nick asked, hoping to spend more time with his son.
“No.Want to see my room?”
Nick grinned.“Sure.”
Maybe they could make this work.For Javier’s sake, if nothing else.
Fifteen minutes later, Sarah followed them into Javier’s tiny bedroom.
“Are you ready?”Sarah’s voice was tentative.
“Let’s go,” Nick said curtly, without turning to face her.
His eyes lingered on Javier, who was now preoccupied with lacing up his tiny shoes.Nick’s heart clenched, a painful reminder of all the moments he’d missed, all the milestones he hadn’t witnessed.
“Thanks for watching him, Una,” Sarah said to her cousin as they left.
As they stepped outside, the air was cool against Nick’s skin, the smell of sagebrush strong in the desert evening.The silence between them stretched, taut as a bowstring.
Sarah walked a step behind him, her pace steady.Normally, the hike would be an opportunity to appreciate the way the horizon smudged into purples and blues as night approached.But tonight, Nick could feel Sarah’s gaze on him, seeking connection, so he kept his focus forward.
