Ava looked up at him and smiled. “If Uncle Jake didn’t have to go to heaven to take care of the angels, he and Cara would’ve been married and she would’ve been my aunt. Are you going to be my uncle?” Her eyes grew wide it seemed she liked the idea of Nick as her uncle.
Sam walked into the arcade, her head reeling from her two best friends and their input on her love life. When she spotted Nick and Ava her heart flipped in her chest. They looked adorable sitting at a table with half a dozen stuffed animals, sharing a pizza. She was in trouble, Phillip and Mallory were right, she wasn’t going to fall in love with Nick. She was in love with him. She was head over heels in love with the man who had already broken her heart once before. She was doomed.
She quietly made her way towards them. They were in deep conversation she mused and didn’t even notice her.
“Anyone ever tell you that you ask a lot of questions?” He asked as he swiped his hand down his face. Ava shrugged her shoulders and grinned at him before taking another bite of her pizza. Nick blew out a breath. “They say kids say things adults are too chicken to say.” He said more to himself than to Ava. He didn’t remember where he had heard that saying, but it rang true. “I’m not Aunt Sam’s boyfriend, Ava.”
“Why not, she’s pretty!” She said defensively and put down her pizza. Nick’s eyes widened as Ava gave him a scrutinizing look.
“She’s very pretty. She’s beautiful, just like you.” He said and leaned over to wipe the sauce at the corner of her mouth. He winked at her. “But Aunt Sam doesn’t want me to be her boyfriend.”
“Yes, she does.” Ava said, her face softening. “She likes you a lot. I know she does.”
“Oh yeah?” Nick asked, raising an eyebrow.
“So stop being a chicken and be her boyfriend.” Ava said as she pointed her finger at him. “Otherwise, I won’t hang out with you anymore.”
Nick chuckled, how could anyone, say no to this little girl? “Okay, Okay. I’ll get right on it.” He leaned forward and held out his pinky to her. “But you need to promise that you’ll still hang out with me.”
She grinned at him and wrapped her pinky finger around his. “Pinky promise, Uncle Nick.”
Nick winked at her and hoped that one day when he became a father and God decided to play tricks on him and bless him with a daughter, that, she would be just like this little princess that wrapped her pinky around his.
Ava looked up and noticed Sam standing not far behind Nick. Her face lit up. “Aunt Sam! You made it!”
Nick slowly turned around, his eyes finding hers. He looked her over for a moment, wondering how long she had been standing there. Not that it mattered, he realized, anything he said to Ava he’d say in front of a room full of people. She smiled at him, one that didn’t reach her eyes. Sam sat down between the two of them and smiled at Ava.
“Are you having a good time, sweetie?” She said as she tucked a piece of hair behind the little girl’s ear.
“Yeah, Uncle Nick, I mean Nick is a blast! Did you see all the stuffed animals he won for me?” She said enthusiastically. “I’m full. Can I go play another game? I still have some tokens left.”
Sam smiled. “Sure, just stay where we can see you okay?”
Ava slid off the chair and threw her arms around her aunt. “I will!” She said before she pulled out of her embrace and ran towards one of the games. Sam looked after her, not ready to face Nick just yet.
He took a slice of pizza and put it in a clean paper dish and placed it in front of her. She glanced down at the pizza before she lifted her gaze to his. “Thanks.”
He nodded and took another slice for himself. He watched her look down at the dish as if the answers to life would jump off the dish.
“Sam…” He said softly as he pushed his dish away. He leaned over the table and took one of her hands in his. She lifted her eyes and gazed up at him. .
“You look like you survived the day.” She offered him a smile. Her eyes glanced down at their hands that were locked together.
“Yeah, I guess I did… He cleared his throat and said, “I know I told you I’d be your friend and respect your wishes.” Her eyes met his nervously.
“But…?” She whispered.
“This thing between us, it’s wild and it can’t be tamed.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s not going anywhere.”
“Nick…” She started, but had no idea what else to say. Her heart felt as if it was going to beat outside of her chest.
“Just listen. It’s time you realize I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned closer to her and reached out to touch her cheek. “I’ll let you take your time to figure out where we go once you acknowledge I’m here to stay.”
“Oh yeah, and why is that?” She couldn’t help but ask.
He grinned. “It’ll be all the more rewarding when you beg me to take you.” He winked and she couldn’t help but laugh. He released her hand and nodded towards her pizza. “Now eat, I bet you haven’t eaten all day.”
She folded the slice of pizza and sighed before she leaned down and took a bite. Well, if that didn’t seal the deal, nothing would, she was screwed beyond her control, might as well take comfort in the cheesy pizza.
Chapter Sixteen