My Rockstar || (n.j.)

Chapter 41

"You just need to calm the fuck down." I heard Joe yelling at Nick. The entire family was over at our house for dinner, but Nick pulled Joe aside to talk in the other room. The kids were all in the living room, and us adults were in the kitchen and Dani and Kevin weren't quite here yet.

"Calm down? Joe, this is serious." I had no idea what they had started this conversation talking about, but it sure escalated. I decided to step in and see what had my husband so upset. When I got in the room, they looked at me with stupid grins on their faces.

"What's up guys? Sounds like an argument is starting." I clicked my tongue, leaning against the wall. The two looked at each other quickly.

"Nick has-" Joe began.

"Nothing to tell you. Well, just that I love you so much and would never dream of hurting you." Nick interrupted, smiling at me a little too suspiciously. I squinted my eyes, but then shrugged.

"I love you too. I'll let you guys get back to it."

I knew something was up. They never talk to each other like that unless it's serious. But I didn't want to pry it from him, whatever it was, if he didn't want to talk about it. I got busy in the kitchen once more, and by the time dinner was done and on the table, Kevin and Dani had just arrived with their two little girls, Alena and Valentina. Everyone came to sit at the table, but Austin wouldn't come from his room.

"I'll go check on him." I started to get up, but Nick didn't move. I looked at him sternly and he caught on. We went up to his bedroom, knocking on the door.

"Hey buddy." Nick said while opening the door. Austin was blankly staring at his tv with a bottle of pills next to him. Pills that I've never seen in my life. Our son looked at us like he had done something terribly wrong.

"What are those Austin?" I hissed, reaching for the white bottle. He pushed it under the blankets.

"I swear, I just got them today and hardly took any." He tried desperately to defend himself. Nick stood with his arms crossed over his chest and looked at his son sternly.

"Where'd you get them?" He asked.

"My...friend. The other day while you guys were out, Kane drove me-"

"Kane drove?!" God, this day was just full of plot twists.

"Let's just get downstairs and eat. We'll deal with this once everyone else leaves. You and your brother." I confirmed, pulling Nick's hand and walking us down into the dining room. Austin followed shortly after. When the three of us sat down, it was like nothing happened.

When dinner was over, everyone hung around for a bit, but Nick and Joe kept giving each other looks like something was wrong.

"Baby, is there something you need to talk about?" I asked, putting my hand on his bicep and wrapping my fingers around it.

"Nope." He smiled, putting his lips on mine quickly.

"We're gonna get going guys. Their bed time's coming up soon." Kevin motioned toward his kids, the little girls laying on the floor, looking ready to fall asleep. Danielle gathered the two in the arms and Kevin followed them out the door. Nick's parents left soon after, but Joe stayed for awhile.

"I'll be upstairs." I said as I passed the kids who were cleaning up the kitchen like I asked. I went up to the bedroom with the dog following. I changed into cotton shorts and one of his shirts, going to take my makeup off.

"What's up between you and Joe today?" I asked Nick as I saw him approaching me in the mirror.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, making a cute face and putting his lips behind my ear.

"You know what I'm talking about." I scowled in the mirror, drying my face off with the hand towel. I stepped into the bedroom and started to fold the laundry I've been neglecting the past few days.

"I'll be out on the deck." Nick told me, calling Ace to follow him. Most likely, he's going to smoke cigars and drink beer. I shook my head and continued with my laundry.

When I was done, I went downstairs and saw that the kids had the entire kitchen clean. I smiled to myself and grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge, sliding the glass door open to the spacious backyard.

"Room for one more?" I asked my husband with the bottle and cork opener in my hand. He shrugged. I sat myself on the chair next to him, opening the wine and drinking it right from the bottle.

"Remember when this is all we would do? Just sit out by ourselves and enjoy talking and being carefree." I said dreamily, taking another drink. It was strong, expensive, but my absolute favorite.

"Yeah. Then you convinced me to have kids." Nick slightly chuckled, still looking out into the view, cigar in his mouth.

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