Page 31 of Cruel Embers
Nathan drastically brings his palm to his chest. “Oh, fair maiden, how you do like to woo me.”
It takes everything in me not to laugh. “So, is that a no?”
His arm wraps over my shoulder as he pulls me into his side. He makes me feel tiny compared to him.
“No, it’s a definite yes. Don’t tease me when it comes to food. Besides, if I don’t feed Jacob soon, he’ll start getting hangry.”
Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to load the car, with Nathan doing all the lifting. Unlike the drive here, there is no singing within five minutes of being in the car. Jacob’s fast asleep, his little head lulling.
“Do you think he’s uncomfortable like that?” I ask Nathan, looking over my shoulder and back to him. His eyes flicking to the rear-view mirror.
“Shit, I should have tilted his seat.”
He looks ahead. “I’m just going to pull into the garage real quick.”
I watch, amazed, as Nathan jumps out and adjusts the seat so his head is no longer falling forward.
I stare at Nathan once he’s back on the road. “Wow, you’re like Super Nanny.”
He cocks an eyebrow and looks at me before focusing his attention back on the road.
“Believe me, it’s a compliment.” Picking at a pull in my dress, I twist it and try to thread it back into the stitching as I continue, “I have like zero maternal instinct, nada. I think that part of me is broken. I feel awkward around kids, and I swear they feed off it; it’s like they know.” I sigh and look out my window. “Once my aunt shoved my baby cousin in my arms, I held it like a sack of potatoes. The cry that tore from that tiny thing was insufferable. I felt so bad.”
Nathan’s hand lands on my thigh, squeezing once before letting go, drawing my attention back to him.
“Violet, you’re not broken just because you’re not gushing over babies. And you’ve been great with him today. Hell, I think he’s smitten.”
My cheeks heat. “What if when Char has the babies, I’m a useless friend, and here you are being practically a nanny whisperer.”
He lets out a loud laugh, causing Jacob to flinch and cry for a few seconds, and then he doses off again.
“Well, that proves I’m far from a nanny whisperer.”
I softly punch his biceps. “You know what I mean.”
“It’s normal to be nervous, but I promise, these babies will love you, and you’re going to be their favourite fun aunt.”
Emotion gets stuck in my throat. “I won’t be their aunt, though, not really.”
Nathan looks at me as we come to a stop at some traffic lights. “Yes, you will, Violet. Blood doesn’t always make a family.” His words hold so much conviction, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
We both fall into a contemplative quiet until we arrive back at mine.
Jacob stretches with a big yawn.
“Okay, let’s get you out, buddy,” Nathan says, leaning over to unbuckle him.
I come around to his side, taking a breath. I hold out my hands. “I’ll take him if you’re good to grab the bags?”
“Yeah, cool, only if you don’t mind.”
Surprisingly Jacob reaches out and comes into my arms with ease. I head inside, managing to prop him on my hip as I unlock the main door and wedge it open with the doorstop so Nathan can enter, and then I carefully make my way upstairs.
“Wow, you’re not light, are you, mate?” I say when I get to my front door and unlock it. As soon as we’re inside, I set him down on his feet, and he runs off into the living room.
Nathan appears, his hands laden with bags, and I move aside as he takes them to my kitchen.
“I just need to get the last few, and then that’s everything.”
