Nick flipped his lid when Thomas called the office frantically crying like a baby as he unloaded the ugly details of his descent into the underworld of drugs. Nick inhaled deeply as anger threatened to consume him again for the umpteenth time.
Entering the kitchen, he encountered Summer’s back as she stood at the sink rinsing off a head of lettuce. The motion of her hands circling the lettuce as she washed it looked soothing. The anger that threatened to tip him over all day dissipated as he imagined it was his neck, shoulders and back her hands were massaging.
Summer’s mind was miles away thinking about the day she and NJ had when she sensed his presence. She lifted her head tilting it to the side as Nick wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Hey, Beautiful.” He whispered against her ear.
“Hey, yourself.”
Their lips met in what he thought would be a decent kiss. Instead, he was greeted with a quick peck.
Summer never noticed the frown marring his handsome features. Turning back to the salad, she said, “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”
Letting go of his hold of her, he leaned against the counter. “All right.”
The longer he looked at her the more aggravated he became. Her indifference caused him to recall how he tried reaching her earlier at home, then on her cell. Needing someone to talk to he decided to give her a call. When he couldn’t locate her ugly visions played with him as he slammed down the phone refusing to leave a message. Nick told himself it was all the mad drama going on at the office taking his mind to a place he thought he’d overcome. Pushing the thoughts as far away as possible he pressed on to deal with the present circumstances at hand.
“Where were you today?”
“What?” she asked with a bewildered look on her face.
Summer noticed the coolness in his voice. I knew it! Sooner or later he’d pull rank because he’s paying my bills. What’s he doing? Keeping me on lock down or something? Next he’ll start with his custody crap again.“Where were you today?” he repeated in a tight voice.
Setting the lettuce on the chopping block, Summer faced Nick as she begin to explain her whereabouts to him.
“NJ and I went to what I thought was going to be lunch with Ava and Starr at the Spaghetti Warehouse.”
She felt she didn’t need to give him any further explanation. After all, she wasn’t a child and he wasn’t her father.
“What do you mean by ‘what you thought was going to be lunch’?”
Summer stared at Nick in disbelief. Mostly from his tone that held a hint of nastiness to it as he spoke to her. Before answering him she did a mental check of what she had done to make him act the way he was acting. Nothing. She hadn’t done a thing.
“Ava and Starr along with several other co-workers gave me the baby shower I never had.” Summer never took her eyes off him as she spoke. He’s a fool. A complete stupid fool. I can’t believe I’m standing here explaining myself to this nut like I’m twelve years old!
“Is that right?” Nick asked tersely.
What does he mean by that? “Nick, don’t you believe me?”When he didn’t answer she went on to say in an irritated voice, “All the gifts are in the NJ’s room if you don’t believe me.” And I even brought your evil butt a piece of cake home. I should put some ex-lax in it.
Nick didn’t bother to answer her as he continued to press on . “Why didn’t you answer your cell phone?”
“I forgot to recharge it.”
Pushing away from the counter he looked down at Summer. Hurt and anger was clearly etched across her face. However, his stubborn pride wouldn’t let him back down on his assault.
“Try to remember to charge your cell phone the next time you go out.” Nick made it half way out of the kitchen before turning to say, “I needed to talk to you.”
♥♥♥
NJ was lying on his back sucking his tiny fist when Nick somberly walked in the nursery.
“Hey little buddy you’re just the medicine I need.”
Recognizing his father’s voice, the infant’s tiny dark eyes twinkled with excitement. All tension was assuaged the moment Nick lifted his son from the crib into his arms. Sitting in the rocking chair he gently rocked the baby and felt at ease for the first time all day.
The relaxing motion of the rocker was calming. This felt so right. Coming home to Summer and his son every night. Summer. I screwed up again.
Most of his frustration had come from knowing Summer had no obligation of being committed to him at all. The reality of it all hit him when he couldn’t reach her earlier in the day. He had no right to expect her to be there for him when he needed a shoulder to lean on. At any