Nini POV
"You want to share a meal with that guy? Baby please tell me you're gonna think this through a little more." I squeeze my eyes shut as Ricky swipes the key card to the hotel room, balancing Lucas on his thigh before opening the door for the two of us. I don't answer him, I just flop onto one of the newly-made beds and sigh heavily. "Nins?" I groan and sit up quickly. "I know Ricky. I know." I rush out and he frowns, placing Lucas in his bassinet and walking over to sit next to me. "Talk to me" he urges me quietly and I bite my lip. "I don't even know what to say. That guy created me out there. He... he raised me for the first 4 years of my life. He-" Ricky cuts me off. "He hurt your mother and left you two alone. You can't just jump into a full on relationship with him again." I scowl and give him a glare. "Do I ever tell you what to do when it comes to your family?" Ricky lowers his head, and grasps one of my hands. "Fuck no, I'm sorry Nini. This is your choice. I just don't trust your sperm donor." I can't help the small smile fighting it's way onto my face at his nickname for my dad. My hand comes out to slap his arm and he grins, clearly proud that he changed my mood so quickly. "But please, if you need any-" I cut him off by scooting closer to him. "I know, I'll come to you first Ricky, I always do." I say quietly and he collects me in his arms. "What do you think about him?" He mumbles against my temple and I reimagine the tall man with chocolate brown hair and dark brown eyes, and I shake my head. "I don't know. I don't know him at all, but he seems nice enough." I admit and Ricky laughs but it sounds sarcastic so I turn to give him a look. He raises his hands in defense and leans his face down just a little. "Hey I didn't say anything." I smile and grab one of his hands, playing with it and turning it over in my own palm. "You thought something." I point out and he grins. "I'm just not the biggest fan of him. He acts like he hasn't been gone for the past decade... no more than a decade. Like that's bullshit, and did you see him at the end? He moved in for a hug! A damn HUG, like you'd wrap your arms around him and welcome him back into your life. Bullshit. He just-" I cut Ricky off, lowering my head and mumbling something quietly. "He was caught off guard. I couldn't have ever thought I'd see him walking around this hotel. I can't even imagine what was going through his head." My eyes water as I defend my dad to Ricky and it's clear he hears the emotion in my voice because he pulls me in tighter, resting his chin on my head. "It's just my opinion baby I'm sorry." His voice is gentle and I loop my arms around his waist. "Also, what's worse..." I start. "Is that my mom's knew. They knew they were going to see him today because they asked me if I'd be hanging with you, and they told me they were going to the mall in like, the most sketchy way possible." Ricky pulls back and looks down at me. "I'm just upset that they kept this from me. It's like they think I couldn't handle knowing he's in Salt Lake, that they were going to visit him. It's just like when I found the letter on my chair when we got home from Colorado." I softly rant to Ricky and he begins to rub my back, staying quiet. "It's also not fair that I have no clue why he's here. I wrote him a letter back, telling him that maybe we could build a relationship, and he's literally in the same city as me." I explain and sigh heavily. "I hate everything." I admit and Ricky finally speaks. "Hey don't say that. Don't even think that Nins. I know this is hard and confusing and completely unfair to deal with right now, but you can just block it all out for a second if it's getting too shitty to deal with." I look up at Ricky, his eyes full of certainty and I nod. "How?" I laugh lightly, knowing that the feeling of disaster in my family wouldn't just go away. "You cannnn..." he grins, and searches for an answer. "Kiss me? Yeah, kiss me. That's a safe answer." I laugh, rolling my eyes, but I feel some of the heaviness lifted off of my chest and I sigh in relief. "I love you" I say before cupping the back of his neck, drawing my thumb through his curls there and leaning into him to connect our mouths. He kisses me slowly and carefully, matching his breathing to mine and cupping my cheeks with his warm hands. When we pull back, he gives me another smile. "If that didn't work..." his voice comes out raspy and he clears his throat. "You can also obsess over the title you gave me out there." I tilt my head in confusion but I'm smiling as his eyes dance with excitement and happiness. "Title?" He laughs and gives me a quick nod. "Yeah you called me your boyfriend." I laugh and lean into him. "I always do." He shakes his head, biting down on his lip. "Nope, everyone in our lives knows us. That was the first time in a while that you've introduced me as your boyfriend and I absolutely love it." I giggle and he looks proud of himself, squeezing one of my hands. "We should find more strangers and let me introduce you as my boyfriend to them then." He laughs and presses a hand against my back. "Come here you adorable idiot." I giggle into his lips, the weight fully lifted off of my heart.
"Get in the damn room, kid." Ricky and I jump away from each other just a little when the hotel room door opens. Todd's annoyed (possibly angry) voice prompts Ricky to raise his eyebrows and I turn to face the door when I hear Lynne speak as well. "Hey guys we're back!" One more voice fills the hotel room. "Yeah we're fucking back." Jason.
