𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝟏𝟖+) 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃 ✓

Chapter 29

"It's only eleven in the morning, why do you look like you just fought with the world?" is the first thing Charlotte asks me when I step into her house. 

"You know you're lucky you live in a house, do you know how long it took for me to leave Nash's building? A good fucking fifteen minutes and it wasn't just because of the deep snow that's still there. I had to wait behind nine cars and then one of them got stuck because they were just too lazy to put their winter tires on," I rant as I throw my hands up in frustration. Charlotte looks at me for a moment before handing me the cup of coffee that's in her hands.

"I was about to drink this but I'll pour myself another cup because you definitely need this more than me," she says as I silently drink the hot beverage. 

"Where are the kids?" I ask her after a moment and she nods her head. 

"All of them are upstairs and Victoria is also here," she tells me as I follow her to the kitchen.

"Victoria?" I ask in confusion.

"She left Oli here yesterday so she could work at the hospital, she doesn't work during the day since she's usually at the school but she was asked to fill in for someone so she was there the whole day yesterday. She was supposed to come here last night to pick up Oli but with the way it was snowing last night I told her to stay at the hospital for the night while Oli stayed here and I told Jason to not bother coming too," she explains and I nod my head.

"That was a good idea. Even if she slept there last night it's much better than trying to drive in that weather," I say as I shake my head.

"When she came here she just looked so tired, she said that she couldn't sleep in the on-call room, you didn't hear from me but the other nurse that was there with her snores very loud," she says whispering the last part as I hold back my laughter. "I told her to rest before going out to drive again."

"At least she'll be able to relax," I say as I drain the last bit of coffee before going to the sink to rinse the cup. 

"She needs it but you on the other hand look very well rested, did you guys take advantage of the empty apartment? That dark hickey on the back of your neck speaks for you" she asks teasingly and my hands shoot up to my neck. 

"No comment but you wouldn't mind lending me something with a high neck and that's black would you?" I ask her as she chuckles.

"You're lucky we're practically the same size," she says as I follow her upstairs carrying the bag I brought with me. She walks to her bedroom but I walk over to the room with loud laughter spilling out into the hall. I poke my head inside taking in the sight of Wren and Oli playing some board game as Jade plays with the twins.

"Knock, knock," I say aloud, lightly tapping on the door to get their attention. 

"Natalia, what are you doing here?" Jade asks as she gets up to hug me, the twins following behind her.

"I came to drop this off for you," I tell her as I hand her the bag my hand before lifting the twins into my arms as they wrap their arms around my neck. "It didn't cross my mind until this morning that I didn't add this with the clothes we packed, you can't have a proper snow day without these." I watch her open the bag, her face lighting up in excitement as she pulls out her navy snow pants. 

When I was bringing it here this morning it brought back memories of my childhood and whenever we had to wear these going out in elementary during lunch and recess when going outside. Too bad the memory isn't a happy one, thinking back to how long it would take to dress properly for the weather and by the time you go out you only have five minutes left to play in the snow before going back inside, yeah those times sucked.