Blessing in Disguise (MM)

Chapter Thirty Nine

NICK'S POV

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Aris joins me to pick Elodie up from school. I was more than happy to leave him at my apartment and let him have a few minutes to himself if he needed to after seeing his father this morning. But he decided he wanted to come with me and I couldn't turn that down.

My chest feels like it's been filled with cement since watching and hearing Aris sob his heart out. I know he's happy the visit went well but I also know he's incredibly overwhelmed and sensitive to the situation. It's a bittersweet moment because I already know that Aris is wondering if he'll remember him next time.

After bringing him home I made him some food, we cuddled on the sofa and I let him fall asleep in my arms whilst I stroked his hair. He's admitted that he's been going through his own shit for a long time now and I refuse to ever let him feel alone again.

A part of me can see those isolated traits in him because accepting help for him is like trying to draw blood from stone. Impossible. But I refuse for that to be a reality anymore. Things have definitely shifted between us and he feels like a part of our family.

When he leaves the house feels darker, colder, emptier. Elodie feels it too. Aris makes this house feel like a home, he makes me feel like we could be a family. Any other person might be freaking out wondering how their partner would slot into their single parent life but I don't worry about that with Aris.

He adores Elodie with all his heart and I know for a fact that being a single father doesn't change anything about our relationship, if anything it enhances it. Without my little girl I wouldn't have met him and to me, that's a scary thought.

I pull up outside Elodie's school and Aris undoes his seatbelt. "She's going to be so surprised to see you," he says with a bright smile. "I can't wait to see her face."

A grunt falls from my lips as I lean over the gear stick and plant a kiss on his lips. "She'll probably be more excited to see you, she always is."

"Nick–" he kisses me back. "One of the gossiping mothers might see."

I chuckle gently and pull back, gripping onto the steering wheel. Aris' eyes flick down my arm and swallows thickly at my fitted long sleeved top that's pushed up my forearms. "Trust me, I would be honoured to hit the front page with you, Aris."

His cheeks turn pink within seconds. "You would?"

"Yeah," I grin. "Fuck these mothers. Then I think they might eventually back off, especially Emma."

Aris' brows raise. "Do you mean Emily?"

"Right," I bark out a laugh and a cough. "Yes. Her. Whatever her damn name is."

He grins back at me with a shake of his head. "Let's go, they're probably letting them out soon."

I pop the car door open and walk down the pavement with him as we meet the gates of the school. The playground is littered with parents and I forget how frustrating this part is. Finding a space to park, being cornered by parents who don't know how to shut up, waiting hours for Elodie to come out of the school. Aris definitely has a lot more patience than I do.

"Are you feeling better?" I ask Aris gently.

"Hmm? Yeah. Much. This morning felt like a sensory overload. I definitely needed that nap. Your body is the softest and most comfortable place to sleep." He admits with big honest eyes and it feels like someone has winded me.

I lick my bottom lip. "Good. I'm glad."

Aris tilts his attention to a spot behind me. "Uhh oh."

"What?"