Page 37 of Defending A Promise
“What’s on your schedule today?” I ask her as I’m putting on my gun belt and getting ready for work.
“Well, now that I have that contract…” she smiles at me, “I need to find a location to base my work life out of. I’ve made an appointment with a real estate agent this morning to see some office spaces today. I also need to start working on the proposal for Hooplas.”
I’m so proud of her my chest feels like it’s about to explode. “That all sounds great. Is Nicholas going to school or are you taking him with you?”
“School!” he shouts out from in front of the television.
She laughs, “There’s your answer.” She points to him. “Also, I have kickball practice this afternoon and I’ve missed a few practices, so I need to go or they’re going to kick me off the team.”
A thought occurs to me, and I call out to Nicholas. “Hey, Nickels. Want to have a guy’s night tonight? We’ll go get some burgers, maybe hit a playground or two, and hang out like men. What do you say?”
“I say… yes!” He jumps up and down and then turns his attention back to the television.
“Is it okay with you if I pick him up from school? We’ll go get dinner at Jack’s Place while you go to kickball.”
She looks over at her son and then back to me. “Are you sure? He can be a lot.”
“I’m a cop. I can handle it.” I kiss her on the top of her head. “I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late.” I kiss her on the lips this time. “See you after school, buddy.”
“Bye.” He turns and waves at me.
“Bye.” I say to her as I take one last look at my woman.
My woman.
I cannot wait to get home tonight and get lost in her again.
Chapter 15
Riley
Declan left for work as I continue to map out my day so that I can get as much accomplished as possible. Tonight, I’m hoping for a repeat of last night with Declan – although I’d prefer a bigger bed. Maybe we can make that happen, but if I don’t at least get some of these plans made for my presentation for Hoopla’s tomorrow, I’ll have to work through the night to be ready.
It’s been a few hours since Declan left, and I’ve been working diligently on my laptop as Nicholas watches television on the couch. He’s been unusually quiet, so I go to check on him.
“You ready to go to school?” I swipe at the hair on his forehead and realize he feels a bit warm. “Are you feeling okay?”
He sits up and nods.
“Let’s take your temperature. Come on.” I go to lift him up and realize I’m not going to be able to do this much longer. He’s getting too big.
I carry him into the bathroom we’re sharing and pull out the thermometer that goes in the ear. “Ready? Remember, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Ready.”
I stick it in his ear and push the button. 99.3. Not too bad, but he may be catching something. “You’ve got a baby temperature. Let’s get some medicine, okay? Just to be sure.”
Ever since he was a baby, he’s been prone to febrile seizures and even a little temperature freaks me out. The first time he seized, I rushed him to the emergency room and the doctors couldn’t tell me why he was seizing, but eventually it was determined – after his third seizure – that he was just prone to them and that he would eventually grow out of them.
I’m still waiting for that day.
“I’m going to put my shoes on for school.” He grabs his shoes from the hallway on our way to the kitchen where I keep his medicine in the refrigerator.
“If you still have a temperature in an hour, we’re not going to go to school, Nickels. We don’t want to get your friends and teachers sick.”
I pull out a spoon and hold up the medicine. Thankfully, he’s always been good about taking his medication, so no battles there.
“Ahhhh.” He smacks his lips together like my father taught him. “I’m all better now,” he proclaims as he runs to the couch to put on his shoes.
