HM Airwolfs,” I explain to him.
Nate rotates one of the boxes, taking in the picture. “Sweet!”
He has no idea just how sweet these babies are.
With both Nate and I sitting on the floor of his room, we waste no time in putting the remote control helicopters together. Nate hangs on every word that I say as I instruct him with the assembly of the aircraft. Appreciation and fondness fill me when I look at him, as I see his mother’s determination and intelligence, not to mention he has her blue eyes. From the moment I met Nate—that very first time he came to visit his Mum’s place of work—I couldn’t help but form a bond with him. He has so much of Alexis flowing through him and possesses an uncanny ability to read most situations surrounding him. He really is a smart and loving kid.
“Spin that rotor blade there, Nate,” I instruct.
He does what he’s told then smiles as it spins effortlessly. “It works!”
“I think we are done,” I say in response and get up from my seated position on the floor.
“Thanks, Bryce. I like doing these things with you.”
The honesty in his words and on his face pulls at my heart. I have no doubt that I love him like a father does. But at the same time, I am fully aware that he has a father, a father that loves him dearly. One thing that I never want to do is step on Rick’s toes where Nate and Charli are concerned, but that doesn’t mean I cannot love them and show them both in my own little way.
“You’re welcome, Mate,” I say as I scruff his hair with my hand. And, as always, he jerks his head away playfully. “I like doing these things with you, too. Now, let’s get these babies up in the air where they belong.”
We place them down on the desk and take a step back, pointing the radio transmitters in their direction. With a hum and a buzz, both of them hover off the desk. I take control instantly, circling it around the room. Nate, however, needing a little longer to perfect his new piloting skills. Surprisingly though, he takes a lot less time than I expected he would need and, before I know it, we have them flying beautifully out of the room. Nate follows me into the passageway, our eyes trained intently on the hovering choppers.
Alexis and Charli duck out of our way with a scream.
“Shit! Sorry,” I smile apologetically.
“My bad!” Nate chimes in a little less remorseful.
Alexis shakes her head and pulls Charli to her side. “I knew those things were a bad idea. Did you have to buy two of them?”
“Actually...” I reply with a smirk while keeping my vision solely on my helicopter. I slowly walk past Alexis and Charlotte and head for the stairs, Nate following in tow. “...I bought four.”
“Four! Why four? I don’t want one,” Alexis exclaims with a little disgust.
“It’s not for you.”
“Who’s it fo—“ she cuts herself off and sighs. “Bryce, BB’s not even born yet.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The buzzer to the door sounds, indicating Rick’s arrival to pick up Nate and Charli for the weekend. Standing in the kitchen, I’m in the midst of preparing a spinach, cheese, and tomato omelette for Alexis’ lunch, the dish being high in protein, folic acid, and magnesium which I found out is not only good for her but also good for our baby.
Wiping my hands on the tea towel, I toss it on the bench top and head for the lounge. When I walk into the room, I spot Rick behind Alexis, his hand on her shoulder and the other pushed firmly into her lower back.
Neither of them seem to notice me at first, any as I stand there watching him place his hands on her, assisting with whatever the fuck he is assisting with, it makes my blood boil.
“Is it there?” Rick asks her.
“Yeah,” she winces. “It’s not as bad as when I carried Charli, but it still hurts.”
“Thought as much. I could tell straight away when I walked in that it was bothering you.”
Not being able to stand there any longer and watch their exchange, wanting to know what is hurting Alexis and why Rick knows about it and I don’t, I make my presence known. “Is everything alright?” I ask, desperately trying to curb my resentment.
Rick drops his hands and takes a step back just as Alexis straightens and stretches, arching her back and poking out her tummy. The discomfort on her face is obviously present.
“Yeah,” she murmurs, unaware of the fact that what I just witnessed between her and Rick has unsettled me.
“Bryce,” Rick says with a nod of his head while extending his hand.
The last thing I want to do is shake the fucker’s hand, instead wanting to break it for providing relief to my pregnant fiance’s back. I really can’t help it. Seeing him with her pisses me off, infusing me with jealousy. But, at the same time, I do know deep down inside that my reaction to their interaction with one another is completely unreasonable. Regardless, he still irritates me.
I honestly hate feeling this way. I’m not normally the jealous type. And I’m not afraid to say the reason for this is probably due to the fact that I always get what I want, therefore never being in a position to be jealous in the first place. That being said, this feeling is somewhat foreign to me, only having felt it one time before—when Alexis was married.
Begrudgingly, I shake Rick’s hand as I stand by Alexis and instantly place mine on her lower back, wanting to remove his touch and replace it with my own.
“Not long to go now,” Rick insinuates, nodding toward Alexis’ stomach.
“No. Four weeks and two days,” I reply, wanting to reiterate that I know exactly how long.
“Well, yeah, if she delivers on her due date. Alexis tends to go into labour early.” He smiles at her knowingly, and it takes all the restraint I have to refrain from knocking him the fuck out.
“Dad!” Charli yells, as she comes around the large central pillar that leads to the stairs.
“Princess! Come and give me a big hug.”
Charli drops her shiny pink suitcase and launches herself at Rick.
He lifts her up and places her on his hip, grimacing playfully. “You’ve grown again since I saw you last.”
“Well yeah, Dad,” Charli rolls her eyes. “I slept four times since then, so I’ve grown four times. Miss James says you grow in your sleep. Did you know that?”
“I do now. Where’s my kiss?” Rick asks, puckering his lips like an idiot.
I notice Alexis smiling at their exchange and it irritates me even more.
“Nate, come on,” Ricks yells. “We’ve got the footy this afternoon.”
“Coming, geez, don’t go all loco on me,” Nate answers while entering the room.
“Loco?”
“Don’t ask, Rick,” Alexis says before giving both Nate and Charli a kiss goodbye. “Now be good, and I’ll see you after school on Monday.”
They hug their mum before fist-bumping me and then walking out the door.
After they are gone, I waste no time in finding out what the hell is wrong with Alexis’ back. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong with your back?” I ask, my tone deliberately snappy.
She gives me an unsure look. “I get back spasms. Why? What’s wrong? Why are you angry?”
“Because this is the first I’m hearing of it. Yet
I hate speaking to her with such anger in my voice, but I can’t help it. Her ex-husband just pisses me right off. Look, there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t feel the slightest bit guilty for moving in on Alexis when she was married to the scumbag. After all, I’m not a heartless bastard. I think that what angers me where Rick is concerned is what he did to her—cheating on her right after she gave birth to Charlotte when she was at her most vulnerable. The thing is, if he hadn’t fucked up on an epic scale like he had, she may still be married to him. So it’s
