Page 37 of Don't Regret Me
Evelyn flicked wet hair out of her face. “Shhh, Mom is here.”
“What’s going on, guys?” She sat on the edge of the bed.
“Nothing,” they said in unison.
“I’m sure.” She let them have their sibling secrets. Growing up as an only child, she’d longed for someone to talk to in hushed whispers, someone she could trust with anything. Had Nick trusted Stephen as completely as her kids trusted each other? She couldn’t imagine one kid without their twin, and the thought of them losing each other was enough to steal the breath from her lungs.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Evelyn crawled into her lap. She was getting too big to hold, but she never shied away from snuggles.
“Perfect.” She smiled down at her daughter and then at her son. “Okay, who wants to hear the story about Evelyn, Owen, the yellow helicopter, and their great dragon adventure?”
“Me!” Evenly jumped out of her arms, taking a spot next to Owen against the headboard. Owen grinned in excitement.
“Well, once upon a time, there were two siblings…” As she told the story, their expressions shifted to react to each event. They clutched each other’s hands during the battle.
And Liz couldn’t help picturing two little runaway boys sitting beside a lake they’d later call home, not knowing quite how tightly they had to hold on to each other.
17
NICK
When Nick received his sentence, he was prepared to suffer through the months of community service, to just get through it to the other side. It was what he deserved, what was right. Not… whatever this was. This peace?
He could have spread the community service over a much longer period, but it wasn’t like he’d receive any movie roles while his reputation was so tarnished. He’d have to work his way back into the good graces of Hollywood. If he decided he wanted to.
Now, there was nothing to do except work at the center and think about the night before. About her.
Kissing Liz was like nothing he’d ever experienced. Most relationships he’d had in his life were for public relations purposes, but that didn’t mean they weren’t physical. Yet none of those women made the world fade away. None of them gave him such a sense of peace.
And he wanted more of it. More of her.
“I think those kids are trying to kill me.” Bentley dropped into a chair next to Nick.
“Which ones?” He laughed, unable to keep the smile off his lips. “Yours or the ones who come to the center?” The last kid finally filed out, leaving them with an empty but messy chapel hall.
“They’re all mine.” He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. “But do they have to have so much energy?”
Nick slapped him on the shoulder. “I think that’s the nature of kids.”
Jimmy sat on the other side of him, a tired smile on his face. “These old bones aren’t meant for so much work.”
A few other volunteers set to cleaning up, but the three men couldn’t move. Nick had experienced a lot of exhaustion in his life, but this was different. It wasn’t because of late-night shoots or sleeplessness. There was something different when the bone-deep weariness came from doing something so worthwhile. Kids were amazing like that. They could make a person both energized and tired at the same time.
“What are you both up to tonight?” Nick hadn’t had many friends in his life. For so long, it was only him and Stephen. Then, it was only him. He was never sure how to do small talk.
Bentley smiled at the question. “My mom has the kids again. She takes them a lot during the summer. I’m going home to sleep.”
“That sounds so good.” Nick dreamed of that bed in his hotel room after such a long day, but not until he saw Liz.
Jimmy stared at them in exasperation. “Aren’t you two supposed to be like half my age?” He shook his head. “Neither of you is going to bed. That’s ridiculous.” He stood. “You’re both coming with me for a drink.”
Nick opened his mouth to protest, but when he saw the determination on the older man’s face, he went quiet.
Once they closed the center for the night, the three of them piled into Bentley’s car and headed toward the Cracked Spine and Brew. The last time Nick set foot in the brewery, all he’d seen was red as his gaze found Franklin. And not only that, but Franklin sitting with Liz.
Now, he got a chance to truly look at the place. It was in a building that looked just like every other in this town. Short, old, and with an Italian flair. What was with Gulf City and their obsession with Venice?
Inside, the place was rather quiet, which wasn’t surprising considering it was a weeknight. Only a few patrons sat at high wooden tables.
