Page 42 of Psychotic Nightmares

Damn it, Dante. Stop. Flirting.

“Nico, why don’t you tell her all about thefesta da ballowe had last night.”

As Nico excitedly tells Natalie about the dance party we had when we got home last night, I sneak glances tothe woman beside me. Someone I used to call mine, someone I thought would bemia moglie.Fuck I can’t think about that right now.

Breakfast goes well, too fucking well. Natalie and Nico get along so admirably you would think they’ve known each other for years. And yet, I can’t get rid of that hate toward her. I have no clue why. None of it was her fault.

“Thank you. For giving me a little bit of normalcy in my life. The last few weeks have been, well you know.” She says on the way back to the car. Nico holds her hand as we walk up the street to where the car is parked, he holds Jerry-Lee’s lead in the other and I walk beside the curb.

“No worries.” Nico answers for me. “Papa was worried about you. I heard him sleep talking. So I thought we could have breakfast together.” He looks up at me, “you can stop worrying now right, papa.”

This child is going to kill me with how fucking adorable he can be. Ruffling his hair I give him a wide smile. “I cannot. I will worry for the rest of my life about all of you.”

He looks away from me toward Natalie. “This man needs to chill out.” He rolls his eyes cheekily. “Always worrying about something.” She stops and we all stop with her. She kneels and puts her hands on Nico's shoulders.

“Do you know the roles of the king and his people?” he nods. “So you know you’re the king right?” he nods again, I’ve never seen him so quiet. Normally he would interrupt or speak over you - something I am trying to stop him from doing. “Well, think of your papa as one of your knights. Same goes for the rest of your aunties and uncles.”

“Princesses can’t be knights. You and Auntie Pea are princesses.” He corrects her. Annnndthere’s the interruption.

“Okay, well your papa and uncles are the knights okay. Which means they have a duty to protect the king, which is you.” She taps his chest with a finger.

“And you, as one of the princesses.” He repeats the action, tapping her chest. My own chest goes tight as I try not to think about a future with this woman.

“Right. So worrying about you is a part of their duty as your knights. Worry is a natural feeling people have for the ones they love.” She lays a hand over her heart. “Understand?”

“Yes.” He pouts, “sorry papa. Sorry new auntie.”

“It’s okay.” I chuckle as he hugs my leg and jumps into Natalies arms for her apology cuddle. He almost knocks her over with the force he throws himself into her. I jolt forward to catch her before she hits the floor.

“Whoops, sorry again.”

After nearly a minute of apology cuddling - a lot longer than he gives others, including myself - we resumeour slow stroll. The streets are surprisingly empty for this time of day. And then I remember that it’s the school break so most people are probably away on vacation. “Nico, fancy going away to the beach this weekend?” His excited little jumps and giggles tell me his answer, “I’ll see if Pea and Bull want to come too.”

“And uncle Jules and new auntie.” He will remember her name eventually. It took a while for everyone elsesto stick.

“I’d love to, if that’s okay with you.” She smiles. The same smile she gave me five years ago, only this time. I know she won’t disappear on me.I hope.

“Of course.”

“I can show you how to make sandcastles with a moat!” I take out my phone and message the group chat. Bull and Pea agree straight away, they alwayslike to get away after a job. Even better if we are away together. Julian, however, likes to mope around in his warehouse - sorry - home.“Stay hidden. Stay out of the way.”He likes to say. But I find that makes people even more suspicious. Besides, I can’t hide away for weeks at a time when I have Nico.

Julian:

If Natalie's going, so

am I. Now get to the

meeting.

I guess we are all going then. I sigh and unlock the car when we get to it. A familiar car catches my eye. Across the street is Julian. He must have known where we were going and followed us. He needs to back the fuck off. Juliancatches my eye and Natalie follows my gaze. Her smile drops. Not surprising considering she told me she asked him for space to think.

“Is that?” She points to the car. Eyes narrowing with frustration.

“Yup.” I open the back door and help Nico into the booster seat. Reigning in my anger in front of my son.

“I’ll be right back.” She grits her teeth and storms over to the car. I finish securing Nico in and have Jerry-Lee jump in before getting into the driver's seat and wait. I want to see if she comes back or leaves with him.

“Is newauntie mad at Uncle Jules?” Nico questions as we watch her smack against the door. I’ve only ever seen her angry once, and that was when she stuck up for a blind man being taken advantage of by a waitress at a restaurant we went to. She never got violent, she got angrywith her words.