Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

My heart warms. “Thank you.”

“I hope you don’t hate me.”

I shake my head. “Not at all. I think emotions were just high, and everyone was nervous. Things were said, and I don’t think they were meant to be hurtful. I was surprised he didn’t tell me either.”

Her smile falls as her eyes stare into mine. “He’s never told anyone. Every time he did when he was growing up, people would call him stupid or weird. I thought he would have told you with how much he says he loves you, but I think the pain of his childhood held him back. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect him from that. I’m sorry it bled over into his adult life and he struggles.”

My gut hurts as I hold on to the counter. How could anyone treat him like that? “Don’t apologize. I completely understand. I’m a mother hen too. We have to protect our babies, and Nico and I are fine. We talked it over, and at the end of the day, his autism makes him who he is, and I love all of him.”

Holy shit. What did I just say?

Her eyes light up. “I know, and I thank you for that.”

“You don’t need to. Again, Nico makes it easy. I really want you to fix things with Nico. He loves you too much.”

She pats my hand. “I will. Thank you,” she says softly. “This is a wonderful place, and you really are an amazing woman. I am very glad Nico has found you. He would do absolutely anything for you.”

I grin. “Thank you.”

“Can you tell Callie I am sorry for offending her yesterday?”

No. “I will.”

“Thank you,” she says, and then she grabs her purse. “I’m gonna go see Nico for lunch. We’d love for you to join.”

I hold out my hands. “I gotta work.”

She nods, though I notice she’s disappointed. “Don’t forget that you need to enjoy life. No point in working if you can’t enjoy the benefits.”

With that, she leaves, and as I watch her get into her car, her words turn over and over in my head. Before, I would work myself into the ground. I had to get ahead. I had to pay off my mom’s bills and make Callie a good life. Now, I feel like I’m finally getting ahead, and I am accomplishing my goals. The benefits are like neon signs in my face, and I hate that it took someone helping me get out of debt to see that. I regret not enjoying the little things before, when now, I get excited just to see Callie do homework. Before, I worried I wouldn’t be able to send her to college. Now, I see she can do it all and then some because someone took away the things that were distracting me and holding me back. I worried myself sick for nothing. I would have been fine. I could have been happy, but instead, I didn’t allow myself. It infuriates me, but I’m also thankful.

And shit. Did I tell Nico’s mom I loved him?

Shouldn’t I have told him that first?

Well, I guess even without my impending doom of debt, I’m still a mess.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nico

“Did your mom get home okay?”

“Yeah, she landed this afternoon,” I say, turning onto my road. I’m running a bit late for the rehearsal crap Amelia is making me do. I can walk with Carter in my arms; it’s not that hard. There is even an aisle for me to walk down. Shit, I stop pucks coming at me at over 100 miles per hour; I can walk with a kid and a dog. Sadie can lead us, really. Hell, maybe she’ll calm me down.

Doubtful.

“She said to thank you and Callie again for dinner last night. She had fun.”

“We did too, even though I think Callie is still a little bitchy.”

“She is,” I laugh, shaking my head. That girl can hold a grudge, but I don’t blame her. I’m still resentful of the way my mom threw my shit out like that. Luckily, Aviva still likes me—or at least what we did last night seems to make me think so. “But it’s fine. She’ll get there.”

She exhales loudly. “I don’t like it. Maybe I should ground her more.”

“Because that will make her love my mom,” I say dryly. “We’ll talk about it later. I’m pulling in at Chandler’s. Wait, where are you at?”

“I’m running so late. I had a dinner rush, and then I had to go sign some paperwork for a leotard at Callie’s gym. I’m getting ready now, so I’ll be over in about an hour. I won’t miss dinner. I’ll just miss you complaining about walking up an aisle.”

I grin as I get out of my truck. “You know me so well.”

“I do. See you in a bit.”

“Bye, baby.”

I hang up, tucking my phone into my pocket as I walk up the driveway. I thought my mom staying for two weeks would make things messy since she apparently loves throwing my shit out in the open, but really, it was fun. She got along with Aviva and kind of with Callie. It was nice to have my three girls together. I know I felt all kinds of things, and I think it only made me fall for Aviva even more. I’m ready for some time with just Callie and Aviva—and some really, really alone time with Aviva.