Damaged Hearts

Chapter 22

Zach

Full well knowing that shit was going to go down with Brian and Monica, we packed up the kids and got the hell out of dodge for the weekend. I took them to my cabin 2 hours north.

Usually we, as in our friend group, comes up in the winter for new years, it's a nice winter escape. Still plenty to do in the late spring though, walks, mud, fishing in the pond. Landon and Audra aren't high maintenance. They'll find something to do and love every second of it.

As much as we want to turn our phones off for the weekend, Nicole and I are both anticipating the news from Trent. He's going to text us when shit goes down.

"Baby? Did you hear me?" Nicole's voice whispers. Her body curled against mine as we wake up in bed together.

"I'm sorry, I didn't, what'd you say?" I grab her. My fingers on her warm, soft skin make me want to stay here forever.

"I asked if you wanted to have a quickie." She says and starts to kiss my neck.

"Not right now sweetheart." I sit up. Hearing the sounds of her kids downstairs already.

"Really?" Nicole asks with disappointment. I look back at her, she looks like an angel but I am just not in the mood. "What's wrong?" She asks and sits up, the blankets fall slightly, revealing more of her chest.

"This week, it was a lot babe." I tell her, slightly reminiscing on it again.

Going to IAB and laying it all out, the whole mess with Brian. I didn't hold back. I couldn't. I showed them that video I'd been sitting on for a year, Brian and Monica getting it on in the parking lot. I'd kept it as insurance, but it felt good to finally delete it off my phone. Nicole never knew I had it, and she never will. Some things are better that way.

I hated that it came to that, but at the end of the day, Brian had to face the consequences of his own actions. Nobody else to blame.

"We did the right thing," Nicole says for the hundredth time, her nails dragging lightly down my back. Her voice is soft, like she knows I'm still trying to convince myself.

I sigh, leaning over to kiss her before I get up. "I'm gonna go help the kids, make coffee, and let Nala out."

"I'll be down soon," she mutters, curling back into the blankets.

I get the coffee going while Landon and Audra sit at the table, eating cereal. They're quiet, and I feel for them. They don't know the full story, just that Brian's probably losing his job for "breaking the rules" with another officer. It's the easiest way to explain it. They'll figure out the rest when they're older.

"Are we going fishing today?" Landon asks, eyes bright with hope.

"Course we are," I tell him. Fishing with him is one of my favorite things. He never stops talking, asking questions, thinking he's got the next big strategy to catch anything.

"I wanna take Nala for a walk later," Audra says.

I chuckle, pulling eggs and bacon from the fridge. "She'd love that."

Nicole comes down the stairs wearing those loose pajama shorts and an oversized T-shirt she knows drives me crazy. She's got this little smirk on her face, and I can't even be mad.

"You guys sleep good?" she asks, dropping a kiss on both their heads. They nod with mouths full of cereal. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles like she's finally breathing easier.

I'm in the middle of scrambling eggs when my phone buzzes on the counter. My eyes flick to Nicole, who's buttering toast with one eye on me. She's trying to play it cool, but I see the hope on her face.