Don't You Remember? (HSMTMTS Sequel to Meeting Me Halfway)

Chapter 3. |The Unexpected, "We're Enough"|

Ricky Bowen
"Go ahead," I grin, opening the apartment door for Athena, "go to your room and I'll call you out for dinner, cool?"

"Cool," she responds. Athena runs off but not before yelling, "oh, hey mom!"

"Hi Sweetie!" Nini calls back, causing me to raise a brow. I close the door and lock it before seeing Nini in the kitchen.

"Nini? I thought you had a later shift baby." I head over to her, dropping my keys into a small bowl on the counter. "And I thought I was making dinner tonight?"

"Uh, well I'm here," she slightly laughs, "I-

"You didn't get let off did you?" I question.

"What? No. No absolutely not. There's nothing wrong I just wanted to come home a little early. You can make dinner tomorrow."

"Nothing is wrong?" I take off my apron and hang it up.

"I-..uhm.." She drains the pasta and I notice that she's still in her uniform. Normally she would change and wash it immediately because of angry customers thinking they can just throw anything at anyone.

"Nini..Hon, What is it?" I lean on the counter, crossing my arms.

"Well," her voice croaks, "I..had to go to the doctors lately. Just casual stuff, and I.." she puts the pot down and wipes her hands on a towel before taking something out of her back pocket. She slides a rolled up sheet paper towards me.

"What is this?" I take the paper. I look at it closely but it looked just like a random doctors note.

"Long story short Ric?" She pinches between her eyes, resting her elbows on the edge of the sink. "I-..I can't have kids."

I-..what..is she talking about?

"What?" I ask softly. I gaze at the paper and that's when that one word makes me fill with..anger and sadness. "Infertile."

"And I don't know how but.." she forces a snort, returning to cook her pasta, "that's how it fucking goes."

I look around making sure Athena isn't around to hear the words but I don't know why I'm paying attention to this instead of the situation Nini is trying to tell me.

"I-..uhm." I rub the back of my neck. My eyes were watering and I couldn't seem to process this. I did not think I'd be coming home to news like this.

"Ric..I'm losing my shit." She says, voice stern. "I am on edge, I don't know what to do with myself for fucks sakes, I don't!"

"Hey hey, Nini," I put down the paper and pull her in for a hug. "It's not your fault, you couldn't have done anything."

"Ricky this-" she pulls away, "I can't have kids, we can't have kids and I CAN'T get that through my head. I CAN'T h-"

"Nini Nini, babe." I take her hand, "I know and I understand and I'm sorry."

"No I'm sorry," she palms her forehead with her free hand, "you wanted a big family and I can't provide you that."

I just got home and this sudden news that escalated isn't something I can process much either love.

"You don't need to provide me shit except yourself. That may not make sense but understand that it's okay. We..we can adopt, we can foster, we can do anything, just don't blame yourself."

"I'm still young. I'm just 22 and all of a sudden I'm infertile? It doesn't make s-..." I let go of her hand as she grips the sink. "fuck!"

"Stop, Neens. Stop." Am I not..processing this either?

"J-"

"Mom?" I turn to see Athena standing at her doorway, "you guys-...you guys aren't fighting are you?"

"Oh fuck me." Nini mutters quietly to herself.

"No baby," I begin, reluctantly heading over to her, "no. We aren't fighting, don't worry about it."

"Wait, but she's yelling at y-"

"She's not yelling at me I-." I sigh, "Mom is stressed right now, that's all."

"From?"

"That..is...something I'll explain when you're a little bit older. Just go back to your room please."

"Can't I stay in the living ro-"

"In your room. Please."

She gazes at me with wide eyes before forcing a nod.

"Yeah. Sure. My room." She turns back and closes the door behind her softly.

I shake my head and go back to the kitchen where Nini stands exactly where she was before. I quickly go on my phone to text Seb and EJ to not come over and to tell their girl and boyfriends. I would explain it to them later. I put my phone back in my pocket and hug Nini from behind as her hands were still gripping the sink.

"Listen Nins," I begin softly, "this isn't your fault. You shouldn't be mad at yourself or anyone for a matter of fact. Yes, it would be fantastic to have a child of our own. Me and you but oh well. We're enough. We're more than enough, and if you want to add more to our family then let's do it. Let's adopt, let's foster, I don't care because I fucking love you. I would kill for you and just know that..this little thing won't stop any of that."

She doesn't respond but slightly groans. I admit, I sort of wanted to cry. A child of me and Nini's? All I ever wanted, but some things..just can't happen and I don't blame her. Not for a fucking moment.

"It's okay darling." I whisper, squeezing her against me.

She takes a small breath before whispering, "We're Enough," to herself.

I unhook my hands and put them on her waist before turning her around. I wipe the tears off her face with my thumb and cup her face. I kiss her forehead before stating,

"We're Enough."

Chapter 3! Don't You Remember has now almost 1k and I thank you for you guys taking interest in the sequel and also for my books in general.

(A little thing, I'm just going to let you know that I'm doing a collab with another popular writer that probably won't come out for a while. You guys know her very well and I'm sure that once it begins, you'll enjoy it :))

Enjoy Your Day or Night!
-C Fucking R❤️