So, I return with another chapter. This one did all sorts of things for later in the story, so try to remember things. I feel as if I should pay attention to length and small details, but I'm battling racing for the bigger picture. Who knows, but at least I'm trying!
Oh, and fun fact: I enjoy waking up to reviews. I enjoy seeing 17 emails on my phone and going through them all, story alerts as well. It makes me smile and I appreciate it.
To the lovely person that let me know TK's mom passed, that's a touchy subject for me and would prefer not to delve into that personal hurt in fiction as well. My mom is alive, but it is still too close to home so I'm sticking with my previous statement on that issue.
Now, enjoy my lovely readers.
Walking through the door was bittersweet for Dani. She had mentally prepared herself on the drive home for Lindsay and Ray Jay's reactions, but what she met at home floored her. She walked in to find her kids in the living room with her ex husband Ray, Lindsay in tears and Ray Jay as far from his father as he could get without leaving the room. They all turned towards her, mixed emotions on all of their faces that made her stomach drop in the most uncomfortable way. Lindsay's eyes held tears and anger mixed with a bit of sadness, Ray Jay looked furious and relieved to see her, and Ray looked guilty and apologetic. The guilt surprised her, so she cautiously put her purse on the chair closest to her and stood behind it much like Matt had this morning. She could feel the tension again, and it put her on edge.
"What's going on? And why is Lindsay crying" she asked, directing her questions toward her ex husband as me made a motion for her to sit with them.
Lindsay sat in the far corner of the couch across from her father, her brother in the opposite corner trying to put as much distance between them as he could. She chose to sit in between her children, and felt them both shift to sit up next to her, almost trying to mimic body guards, or guard dogs.
"You wanna tell her or should we?" Ray Jay snapped, and immediately was given a look by both of his parents. He stood his ground though, as his father relented, looking guilty again.
"Tell me what?"
"Dad's…he's…they're…" Lindsay's voice hitched with tears each time she tried to speak, making Dani's blood thrum through her veins with anger. Her daughter was nearly hysterical and all Ray could do was sit there and wince. It infuriated her.
"What the hell did you do Ray?" she hissed.
"Well, Amy and I…"
"They're having a freakin' baby mom!" Ray Jay blurted out, his face showing disbelief and disgust. Lindsay just kept blinking back her tears as Dani fell back against the couch, baffled at what her son had just said.
They've only been divorced less than six months, and he's already forming another family with the last of his affairs. It hit her hard, and she just drowned out the sound of his voice as he probably tried to apologize. She knew this was bound to happen sooner or later, but she preferred later if only for her kids sakes.
"We didn't plan this I swear but it's a wonderful-"
"Get out Ray"
"Excuse me? I can be here if the kids want me to, so I'm staying"
She sat back and just glared at him. He sat back and did the same. What came out of the silence made her proud, but hurt her as well.
"Get out dad" Lindsay said quietly, her voice full of hurt.
"Linds please-"
"She said get out. I don't know about her, but I don't plan on seeing you any time soon" Ray Jay spoke up, anger still evident but hidden under his protectiveness.
"Ray…"
"Leave, now Mr. Santino. It's in your best interest" Nico said out of nowhere, causing everyone to turn to him surprised. Ray was angry, but Dani was relieved to see him.
"Nico…" she questioned softly, tilting her head in question.
"The door was unlocked, I forgot to give you something this morning" he said, quickly making eye contact with her before her ex husband interrupted.
"This is my house, and this doesn't concern you!" he bellowed, Nico not even blinking twice.
"On the contrary, I can make it concern me" he threatened, "I'd hate to see Amy and the baby under stress because you didn't return from the grocery store after two hours"
"How did you-"
"Leave, I won't warn you again"
Nico stood his ground as Ray looked back at what used to be his family, and saw his kids looking anywhere but him, and his ex wife looking at Nico in wonder. It enraged him that his wife was now looking to someone else to protect her. That used to be his job.
"Fine, fuck my ex wife all you want! Just leave Amy alone" he shouted as he stormed out, leaving an awkward atmosphere in his wake.
Clearing her throat, she made to get up, standing next to Nico without looking him in the eye. He tried to catch her gaze, but she kept it firmly on her kids staring at the spot on the chair their father just vacated.
"Guys, head upstairs. I think we all need to cool off a bit"
Ray Jay looked at her with question and Lindsay finally calmed down enough to stand up and walk over to them. She looked Nico up and down a few times before looking at her mother. Ray Jay curious got up to stand behind his sister, wondering why she kept staring at the security guy, "Nico" he now knew.
"Mom…" she started cautiously, "Dad wasn't serious when he said, ya know…" she trailed off awkwardly, flickering her eyes between Dani and Nico. Her mom flushed with embarrassment as Nico decided to answer her question.
"No Lindsay, your mother and I aren't" he threw a look at her briefly before continuing, "Involved in any way but in a professional manner. If we were, I'm sure you would be the first people to know" he finished off confidently, knowing Dani would have to let them know first because he heart is too big to lie to them well.
Lindsay looked at Ray Jay, silently having a sibling conversation as Dani caught Nico's eye, flashing him a reassuring smile before turning back to them.
"So, I forgot to give you the plane ticket back in the office. You kind of left in a hurry" he smirked.
"Wonder why…"
"Plane ticket for what?" Lindsay asked, and Dani decided it was the best time to drop the bomb.
"TK invited me to his family reunion; it's a part of therapy he readily agreed to. Coach Purnell thinks it'd be good to keep an eye on him…" she stopped, looking at Nico to finish.
"And, that's where I come in. They didn't want your mother to go alone, and she insisted I was a better man than Matt for the job"
"Wait, Matt? You mean that guy you and Jeanette used to talk about all the time?" Lindsay blurted out, before Dani squinted at her and caused her to backtrack, but her brother beat her to it.
"What she means is, that guy you guys used to talk about before Grandma met Nico here. Now we're lucky if you show up when she's not here to remind of us of your poker knowledge"
Lindsay elbowed her brother as Nico just looked intrigued at Dani. She met his gaze unflinchingly as he smiled a slow smile that lit his eyes. She got lost in them until he spoke.
"Well, at least someone likes me" he said teasingly.
"Oh, mom likes you. If not, she would have kicked you out by now" Lindsay answered helpfully before Dani turned to deliver the second half of the news.
"Anyway, because Nico already knows TK's family, I'm going to be his plus one" she finished uneasily.
"Plus one?"
"I'll be his fiancé for the week, so I can come to everything and observe TK without any problems" she said and winced, waiting for the attack of questions and accusations that never came.
"Well, you could do worse" Ray Jay commented.
"He's right; he could be ugly and bald. So, does that mean we have the house to ourselves that week?" Lindsay asked hopefully, watching Dani again.
"Ha-ha, not a chance. Grandma will be here that week; we leave the week after tomorrow"
"Fine whatever. Can I go to Ashley's now?"
"Sure Linds. You need a ride?"
"Nope, I'll take her. Jack and I were planning on shooting some hoops anyway. We're not gonna tell dad about this little trip are we?" Ray Jay asked.
"You wanna call him and tell him?" Dani shot back at him with a look.
"Oh look at the time, come on" he said as he dragged Lindsay out of the house, the rumble of the car engine heard as it pulled out of the driveway and down the street. Dani turned to Nico to find him nowhere in sight. He'd been standing next to her when they were talking, hadn't he? She wandered around the kitchen, leaning over the sink to see him just outside her back door, staring out into the trees. She made her way stealthily to the doors and opened them soundlessly before he scared her.
"Don't you know it's not nice to sneak doctor?"
"Who said I was nice?"
He just gave her a look as he turned towards her. She conceded that she was in fact nice, and there was nothing that would change his mind.
"Why couldn't the tickets wait until next week?"
"I just wanted to see you" he said, and continued as her eyed widened, "I wanted to know you were ok with all of this"
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm a big girl; I can handle myself"
"That doesn't always mean that you should have to either" he answered into thin air, turning to look above her shoulders at her house instead of her eyes.
"Matt seemed pretty upset, but I wanted to make sure this whole thing wasn't going to stress you out more than you already seem to be"
"It's not; I actually think it'll be fun. You have to open up to me now"
She walked over to one of the chairs on her porch, waiting until Nico sat opposite her before continuing.
"So Mr. Careles, tell me about yourself"
"…"
"Oh come on, I need something here! Favorite color, favorite food, guilty pleasure?"
"I think I'll be going now" he said as he left her sitting on the porch. It irked her that he dismissed her questions so blatantly, but was jarred from those thoughts as her cell phone buzzed. It showed a text from Nico, but she didn't understand what he forgot.
Green, chicken enchiladas, and doctors. Suffice?
-Nico
She smiled as she read the text, annoyed that he mentioned green again, but that he found her to be a guilty pleasure, at least that's what she thought. He was even mysterious through text, oh what a week it'll be.
Good? Eh? Don't fret, more twists and turns as we continue on.
