“Wow!” the boy exclaimed.
Tears filled the mom’s eyes as the door opened for the fifth floor, and the boy bolted out. She stayed behind for just a moment.
“Th-thank you.” She raised her hand to Brant’s arm. “His dad was in the army. He died a few months ago. That was”—a tear fell—“That was probably something he needed to hear.”
She walked off, leaving Brant in stunned silence.
How often had he ignored life these past four years? How many days did he numb himself to the pain, thinking he was the only one in the entire universe suffering? How was his pain any greater, any more justifiable than that little boy’s?
He still smiled. He lived.
Damn it.
His son might have died. But Brant had died right along with him, hadn’t he?
The elevator doors closed.
When they opened again Brant felt…different. Imagine that, a conversation with a five-year-old was all it had taken.
Forget shrinks. He just needed someone innocent to remind him why life needed to be lived. Nadine had led him there, despite his best efforts to stay away, and all it took was for a little boy to give him the final push.
Life. Living. Definitely not for the weak of heart. But worth it, so worth it.
He tapped his card against the door to his suite and entered. The lights were lowered. He grinned as he stepped over a pair of black Ugg boots and then made his way into the bedroom.
“I thought you’d be sleeping,” he said.
Nikki shook her head and changed the channel on the TV. “I was exhausted, fell asleep for an hour, and then woke up with more nervous energy than I know what to do with. Did you know that houseflies hum in the key of F?”
Brant frowned. “What the hell are you watching?”
“Not watching, listening.” She grinned. “Also, sharks can smell even the tiniest amount of blood in the water—up to three miles away. I’m never getting in the ocean again.”
“You’re still obsessed with shark attacks?” Brant groaned. “Nik, how many times do I have to tell you—shark attacks are really rare.”
Her face broke out into a breathtaking smile as she tossed the remote on the bed and hugged her knees, resting her cheek against them. “See, it was a good thing we never had a honeymoon, because knowing you we’d end up somewhere tropical, and I’d be the person in that one percent.”
“It’s higher than that.”
She paled. “See!” Throwing up her hands, she leaned back against the headboard. “Never happening. You know a fun place to visit? The Arctic.”
“Oh, so you’d rather get mauled by a polar bear?”
Her frown was adorable. “Brant, they’re bears.”
“Are you serious right now? Bears are insanely dangerous!”
“But polar bears are white and cuddly!”
“Right! And almost always covered in blood! There are a shit-ton of polar bear attacks every year. I promise you.”
“Why are you ruining polar bears for me?” she moaned. “Thanks, dream killer. You gonna tell me that hippos aren’t friendly, too?”
“Aw, babe.”
“Brant! They’re always smiling!”
“They are literally the second most violent animal on the planet. Believe me, you don’t want to be near a hippo.”
“Even though their ears move and, okay, I’m going to stop talking now because you’re quiet and it’s a mocking quiet. Stupid Animal Planet channel!”
“Turtles,” he blurted, pulling off his shirt and sliding his pants down to the floor, kicking his shoes off then joining her in bed. “They’re friendly.”
She was quiet for a bit and then let out a loud sigh. “Okay, I can like turtles.”
“I feel like I just ruined all animals for you in one single conversation.”
“You did.”
“Come here.” He chuckled and tugged her against his near-naked body. “Are you ready for our last date?”
She froze in his arms. Was it apprehension or fear? Maybe both?
“Come on.” He pulled her to a sitting position in bed and then moved so he was straddling her, stacking pillows behind him so he was sitting up straight with her leaning back against him. “There.”
“This is our last date? Sitting in bed?”
“The night before our wedding,” Brant whispered, his fingertips drawing slow circles on the inside of her wrist. “One of my favorite memories.”
Nikki laughed; it was so pretty to hear her joy. “Brant, we stayed up all night and watched The Godfather Parts One, Two, and Three!”
“Because you were nervous.”
“Because I was nervous,” she repeated in a sad voice.