Page 93 of Begin Again
“Then what is the point?”
This is unbelievable. How can he sit there and act like he didn’t have his fair share of extramarital activities while he was gone? At least I have a good excuse, I thought he was dead. He’d been gone for nine months and there were no signs of him returning from the grave any time soon. I can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t for Jace and Ben, would I have ever found him?
“You and Charlie—”
“Didn’t sleep together!” Nick’s voice explodes around us and my shoulders fall when I huff. “I didn’t sleep with her. I couldn’t.Why? Becauseyouwere the one thing on my mind. I’m glad to know I was, too.”
“That’s not fair,” I say, tears building in my eyes. “I thought you were dead.”
“And yet, here I am.”
“I don’t want to fight with you, Nick,” I say, taking a deep breath and trying to keep the tears from spilling. “Not about work and not about this. I just got you back. Please, don’t do this.”
He doesn’t say anything in return. His gaze remains on the passing landscape that goes by in a blur. We’re less than an hour from home now and I don’t want to show up during an argument. Especially not this argument.
“Nick—”
“I need a minute, Davina.”
From my peripheral, I see his shoulders rise and fall with a deep sigh, the window fogging from the warmth of his breath against the cool glass.
We’re two minutes from our driveway and we still haven’t talked. The rest of the drive has been in complete silence, and I almost wish he’d yell at me—get it over with so I’m not walking on eggshells. Instead, he gives me the cold shoulder and sits there letting it stew and brew. I understand he’s hurt, but I don’t understand being angry at me when he and Charlie spent their own time together. And how she reacted tells me there was moreto it than a simple kiss to test the waters…She was too upset, too hurt for that to have been the case.
The house comes into view a few minutes after we’ve twisted around the curves leading up to the door. Light floods from the windows, creating a warm glow as the sun sets behind the trees.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, eyes set on his lap when I pull to a stop in front of the garage. I haven’t opened the garage, yet, hoping to give us a few more minutes before the others discover I’m back. “Nina, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You’re right, it wasn’t fair for me to react that way. I can’t be mad at you or him; and honestly, I don’t think I am. Mad, I mean. I’m upset, and I’m allowed to be upset.” When his eyes meet mine, they hold a level of grief I know all too well. “I just need time to…adjust.”
“We both do, Nick.”
Nick reaches across the console and his fingers caress the side of my cheek before turning my face toward his. “I love you, Davina Bay.Ti amo da morire.”
I love you to death. We’ve expressed those words a few times over the years, but they hold a greater weight now than before.
A smile tugs at the corner of my lips when he speaks Italian.
I whisper,“Ti amo da morire.”
“Good, because that’s what it’ll take to fucking get rid of me.” He kisses me. “Just please don’t give up on me…on us.”
“None of it matters if it’s not with you, Nick.”
He kisses me again. “Please be patient with me. I promise I’ll get there. I’ll be normal again.”
I don’t think we’ll ever benormalagain. Normal went out the window when he walked out the door last year.
Nick sighs, glancing at the house. “I need a minute before I…go in there. Before the chaos starts.”
“Come in when you’re ready.” I squeeze Nick’s hand and climb out of the car, but I barely make it up the front steps beforebeing swept into a pair of strong arms. Beau frets over me, touching my hair, my cheeks, my neck, my shoulders, my hands, and finally my cheeks again, cupping them in his warm hands. Instinctively, my fingers grip the front of his shirt, pulling him close. When his green eyes meet mine, I can see the worry being replaced by relief.
“Don’t do that again.” Beau finally takes a breath. “Do you understand me? I was worried fucking sick about you. What in the hell was so important—” His words falter and his gaze travels over my shoulder. “Is that…?”
I nod.
“Holy fuck.”
My hands fall from his shirt at the same time his hands fall from my face. Nick walks up the sidewalk and Beau’s head swivels between us, trying to determine if this is real. Before either of us can say anything, before I know what’s happening, Nick’s arm pulls back, and his fist extends straight into Beau’s face. Beau stumbles back two paces, and I start to reach for him, to check on him, but stop myself.
“Sheriff!” Beau’s deputy, Max, comes down the stairs. “You just assaulted—”
