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

Chapter 15. |Where?|

Nini Roberts
"Are you joking Nick?" I question, laughing as I wipe down the table from our last costumer.

"No, I don't joke." He grins. "Well...I do but not about this."

"Maybe that's just your hint not to leave San Diego."

"Maybe so." I look at my watch and smile, taking my apron off with my free hand. Nick notices. "You going somewhere?"

"Uhm," I pull off my cap, "I need to get off early tonight. Athena and my boyfriend and I are going to Dave and Busters. Do you mind telling her to pack her stuff? She has no clue we're going."

He cocks his head to the side and chuckles. "Hm. Sure, yeah no problem."

Ricky dropped Athena off earlier so Nick got to meet her. Athena seems to like him a lot and I guess that's refreshing because Athena doesn't like a lot of people.

I take off my hat and take down my hair, smoothening everything out with my hands. I look over at Paul and he gives me a little nod as I told him I had to go early.

I take everything into my hands and go behind the counter, trying not to trip over myself. The string of the apron catches my eye but I just let it drag behind me before deciding to leave the apron at work tonight. I shove it under the counter and look up to see a girl waiting patiently at the counter.

"Oh," I say with a forced smile, "I'll get you someone who is on shift."

She seems to force a smile too as I straighten my back. I put a hand on the back of my neck as I head into the back of the store. Nick comes out, a hand holding Athena's. I grin and put my hands on my hips.

"And she's ready to go." Nick chuckles, looking down at her.

"Uh, where are we going?" Athena questions.

"Well," I check my phone for the time. 4:26. "How about I take you and we go find out?"

She raises a brow but nods. I take Athena's hand from Nick's, accidentally brushing up against his. I force a smile. "Uhm, there's someone at the cashier for you."

He snorts and heads over to the counter. "Have a nice day you 2." He says as he does so. Athena thanks him and I do the same before going out the door.

I open the door for Athena and she thanks me before seat belting.

It had hit me that not once have I thought of her as just Ricky's daughter. It's crazy to think she's mine too.

Flashback*
I watch Ricky dance around the room with Athena in his arms. I bite back my smile and take an apple off of the table.

"And from your lips she drew the hallelujah..hallelujah .." his low voice echos the room and he sways, holding the almost 1 year old. He doesn't notice me walk past him and into our room as I bite into the apple.

I grab a little blanket from the closet and join them back out there. Holding the apple in my mouth, I place the blanket over the shoulders of Ricky but avoid Athena's resting head. I could tell he was a little cold as his shaky voice was giving it away.

He smiles but continues singing and swaying. She was falling asleep so all was very much understandable.

I take the Apple out of my mouth and continue chewing as I head back into the kitchen. I look at my laptop and read the material that I had to study for. Sophomore year of College is something else.

After looking at my laptop for a little, I see Ricky head into Athena's room. I'm guessing she fell asleep.

Ricky comes back out with the blanket fully wrapped around his body and a little smile on his face. I grin and meet him halfway in the living room.

He opens his arms and pulls me into his arms, the blanket wrapped around us both.

He chuckles. "It's Christmas Eve."

"I know." I rest the side of my face on his chest and look around the room that was decorated with the same lights we had the night of last years Christmas in the hotel. It was our only source of light and I loved it.

"Are you excited?" He questions, resting his head on the top of mine. "We're going to be seeing them for the first time in a year."

When he says them, he means the group. The group of friends who we haven't spoken to in a hot minute.

"Yeah. Of course I'm excited. Scared though."

"Me too. It'll go fine right?"

I snort. "Yeah. Perfectly fine. Just seeing the people who helped us escape from the spawns of satan himself."

His arms tighten around my body and I do the same to him involuntarily.

"Oh boy." He laughs.

"Oh boy." I mimic.

He takes his head off of mine and I look up to see his gorgeous brown eyes.

"You ready to pick them up?"

"I think?"

***
"Where's dad? Do you know?" Athena questions as we sit at the table of Dave and Busters.

Athena was so excited when I told her about this, but her excitement was going to fade if Ricky doesn't answer my texts or calls. It's been half an hour and I was getting impatient.

"I'm trying to get to him baby. I'm sure he'll be here soon."

"Okay."

Jesus Christ, where? Where are you?

I apologize again. Updates are going to get farther and farther but I'm trying!😭 anyway, I hope all of you guys are well!

Enjoy your day or night!
-CR❤️