Whiskey and Country

19

NICHOLAS

Asoft thud coming from the living room startled us. Dahlia and I exchanged a panicked gaze before jumping to our feet.

Buddy made a yapping sound.

“Mama?” Jack cried. “Mammmmaaaa.”

We rushed to the other room.

Dahlia lifted her son, curled on the floor, kissing his head. “What happened?”

“Pouf. Fell, Mama. Buddy caught me. Buddy my friend.”

She hugged him to her chest, rocking him back and forth. “Yes, Buddy is your friend, baby. Let’s go home and put you to bed, okay?”

Jack nodded, shiny tears filling his eyes.

“Buddy come home?”

A small smile spread across Dahlia’s lips. “No, baby. Buddy must go home too. He lives next door. And it’s late.”

Jack’s lips trembled. “Buddy my friend. Buddy sleeps with me.”

Dahlia rocked him some more. The little boy’s eyelids fluttered until they closed.

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll come to see Buddy another time.”

She kneeled to put Jack’s toys into the bag, but I grabbed her elbow and helped her up. “Let me. Please. Go buckle him into his car seat. I’ll bring your stuff.”

Her eyes clouded, a myriad of green mesmerizing me. “I’m sorry, Nick.”

I tipped her chin up. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re a mom. It should always be the top priority. Don’t ever say you’re sorry again for taking care of your baby, okay?” She nodded, and I kissed her forehead.

Minutes later, we faced each other in the darkness, Jack now fast asleep in the car.

“Thank you for today. And tonight. And for dinner. And after dinner,” I whispered.

Dahlia inched closer and looped her arms around my midriff, drawing a breath in. My arms locked around her, keeping her against my throbbing heart.

Her mouth slowly rose to mine, her lips tasting like wine and vanilla lip gloss. It didn’t last long, but the gentle caress brought me down to my knees and was enough to rattle me to my core.

“Thanks for everything. And for entertaining my baby.” She leaned back, a gleam in her eyes.

“Jack is awesome. You should be proud.”

“I am,” she said, her eyes on me. “Nick, I’m a mother. Sometimes, it makes things unpredictable.” Her gaze drifted to her sleeping son through the car window, her irises overflowing with love. When she brought her attention back to me, tears welled in them, and she blinked them away.

With both hands, I cradled Dahlia’s face until our gazes collided. For the umpteenth time tonight. “Hey, it doesn’t have to be. We won’t rush anything. I’ll wait for you. Until you’re ready. Let’s just see where this is going first, okay?” She nodded as I kissed her tears away gently. “I’m here. Whenever you need me. Not going anywhere.”

“Thanks, Nick.”

I kissed her forehead one last time before she hauled herself into her car and drove away.

Minutes after Dahlia disappeared, I stood still, wondering if I was ready to put my heart out there, knowing it could be crushed in the process. Despite me, tonight changed things. Never would I have thought I’d get attached to people I hardly knew that fast. In ways that probably made no sense, Dahlia and Jack fit right into my life. Complicated or not, after today, no way could I let them walk out of my life without fighting for them. They had woken up a dormant part of my heart, one I thought had died after Derek passed away. Where I cared about another human being that exceeded expectations.

Buddy trotted to me and sat at my feet, butting my leg with his head.

I bent down and caressed his fur. “They are amazing, aren’t they?” He pushed his head deeper into my palm. “Yep, I think so too. I’m happy you guys got along. Jack is a great kid. He reminds me of my friend I told you all about. A bundle of sunshine.”

In silence, we watched the street where Dahlia drove away, neither of us in a rush to get inside.

The night replayed in my head, and my lips curved at the memory.

Yes, Dahlia Ellis was special. And yes, something I couldn’t define simmered between us. And now I couldn’t wait until we met again.

“Let’s get you home, old pal,” I said after a beat, strolling into the darkness.

Derek’s Bucket List – 2. Make 1 new…no, 3 new best friends

* * *

Two nights later, I sat in a bar with Dean and Willis, two guys from work. I ordered a pitcher of beer for us after we sat side by side at the wooden countertop. Its dark oak shade, matching the floor and ceilings, gave the space a relaxed vibe. Off Main Street, it was the place to watch games or have happy hours after work.

A group of people played pool in the far corner, next to one of those vintage-looking jukeboxes. Country music strung, muffled by the chatter all around us. Two women dressed in jeans and matching plaid shirts practiced dance moves, laughing, overflowing glasses of beer in their hands.

“Are the rumors true?” Dean asked, pouring the amber liquid into glasses after ordering a side of fried pickles.

I sipped my beer. “Which ones? Do you small-town people only feed on gossip? You know food is actually better for your health, right?”

Willis let out a loud chuckle. “Nah, it keeps things interesting.”

I shook my head and sighed. “Bring it on. What’s the new rumor this time? Last week, it was about me moving here to escape the Chicago mafia because people said it was the only viable reason I’d relocate to Green Mountain.”

“Nah, you’re good. Nothing to do with your affiliation to the mafia or the Godfather this time. Rumor has it that you’re hanging out with Miss Country.”

I choked on my breath.