Page 38 of Nolan
Apollo wipes his hands from washing the dishes from breakfast. “Nolan along to what?”
“We’re going skating,” Jessica informs him. “It’s family day at the Edge.”
Apollo only looks puzzled. “We are?”
“Yep,” Jessica unties her apron. “And Nolan’s coming.”
Apollo’s confusion only increases. “He is?”
I grin at Jessica as she winks at me and give Nolan my answer.
I hope you like disco.
Never thought about it. Do you like disco?
No, but my niece and nephew do. And you’re coming with me.
That’s a joke. Only if you want to, of course.
He doesn’t even skip a beat.
Yes, ma’am.
My heart is melting and my body might just be a puddle on the floor as I sit on a bench at Electric Edge, watching Nolan help Laurent tie his skates up for him. Nolan is a behemoth of a man next to my gangly little nephew, who dutifully sticks out his feet so Nolan can assist him while Apollo helps Hera and Jessica situates all of our belongings in a safety locker.
I haven’t been to a skating rink since I before I was a teenager. Everything—and I mean everything—is neon. Not that neon is a strange thing in a city like New Carnegie, but this is almost too much. The floor is bathed in the glow of vibrant pinks, blues, purples, and oranges. The music is a mix of different decades, old and new, and I sway without realizing it. The mood is light, and there are all kinds of families here, young and old.
Laolao sits next to me and fastens her own skates on. I look at her in surprise. “Laolao,” I gasp. “You’re gonna get out there too?”
Her eyes glow with youth that cannot be doused as she giggles. Jessica comes to stand near us, smirking. “Oh, my mom was a menace on the rink when she was young, weren’t you, Mama?”
“Yes.” The corner of Laolao’s eyes crinkle beautifully when she smiles. “All the boys were looking at me,” she says with a certain kind of mischief that makes me believe it, one hundred percent. Back in the day, Jessica’s mom definitely had game.
My niece Hera is all ready and quickly runs to her grandmother, taking her hands excitedly. With grace, they both head over to the rink, Hera jabbering nonstop. It doesn’t seem to bother Laolao in the slightest, ever patient.
Jessica sits next to me as she gets ready herself. Cautiously, I lower my voice. “Are you sure it’s safe for you?”
My sister-in-law arches a brow at me. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you know, you’re . . .”
Jessica snorts. “I’m only eight weeks along, if that. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’m not that fragile.”
My nephew is all about his dad, and they’ve already taken off to join the family crowds. Nolan comes over to me. When he smiles at me, my heart skips a beat. His white eyes are hidden again, shielded for his protection, and nobody seems to spare him a second glance. He blends right in with everyone else.
“Need any help?” he asks Jessica.
“I’m a big girl. I can tie my own shoes.” Jessica’s tone is light and affectionate. “But thank you, Nolan.”
“No problem at—” Nolan’s smile fades somewhat, his brow furrowing as he looks at Jessica. His eyes flit down to her middle and back up again. “ . . . all.” His eyes widen, and his mouth opens in surprise. Jessica and I immediately tense.
Somehow, he knows. “Jessica, you’re?—”
Jessica and I both flail in our own ways to stop him from saying it. “Shh, shh!” Jessica hisses desperately.
“We haven’t told Apollo yet,” I say with soft urgency. “It’s gotta be a surprise. You can’t say anything!”
Nolan clamps his mouth shut and nods eagerly in understanding. “Right. Right! I won’t say a thing,” he promises. “You have my word. And my congratulations.”
