//soulmates\\ karlnap

<19>

<***>

We got to the restaurant after a twenty minute drive where Myla was silent and sleeping. "She really liked the car seat I guess." I whispered as we pulled into the parking lot. Nick took the car seat out of the car with Myla still in it, her eyes closed and her face peaceful. He carried her inside where we met Sophie and Sky.

Sophie smiled at Myla, crouching down to look at her. "She's so pretty." Sophie whispered.

I smiled and we were led to our table. Nick ordered a beer while I stuck with water. I glanced at him. He kissed my temple. "Only one, I swear." He kept his word.

Halfway through eating Myla woke up and just watched. I thought she was going to cry, Nick was opening the bag, about to pull out a bottle, when she just stay silent, looking up at the white mobile decorated with felt bees and clouds. Nick grabbed my hand and squeezed it, a smile was permanently on both our faces the whole dinner, Myla didn't cry once. "She was like an absolute angel." I said, running my fingers over Nick's hand on my thigh. "Like I totally thought she was going to start bawling."

"Me too." He laughed and stroked my skin, just how he'd done at the hospital a couple days ago.

"Your baby is so cute!" Someone in the alleyway who was taking out their trash said, looking down at a wide eyed Myla. "What's her name?"

"Myla, she's six days old." I said, smiling.

"Precious."

We both got back to the room that night smiling like absolute fools. Nick turned on the tv, one of his old NBA games was on. "Damn I used to be so good."

"You're still good." I kissed his chin. "You know, I was on my laptop the other day and I saw this basketball team in Athens, I think you should check it out."

"Athens? That's like halfway across Greece."

"A plane ride is forty minutes, that's an average commute time, I looked it up."

He shrugged. "I don't think I'd want to do it anyway?"

"Why not? You love basketball and I can tell you don't like playing with the five years olds every day." I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"But I also love my gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter. I can play basketball whenever but having a family is a one time thing."

"But basketball is your dream."

"Having a family is my new dream."

"No dreams die. I want you to be happy, Nick."

"I am so incredibly happy to be with you and be surrounded by people I love and care about and have our daughter be here. I don't need to play basketball if that means I'm not here with you guys."

Myla started crying quietly from her crib. "Just think about it, okay? For me?"

He sighed and kissed me. "I will, baby."

In the morning I woke up to see Nick looking at the basketball website. "So... Have you thought about it?" I asked as we walked down the narrow road, Myla strapped onto my chest.

"I have."

"And what did you think?"

"I think that it would be better if I was here with you."

I squeezed his hand. "Why don't you want to do it? Other than leave me and Myla. Which really isn't a problem."

He hummed. "The media would probably find us again. I would get selected onto a bunch of different teams and there would be a possibility that we would have to move which I really don't want to do."