Forever N ever (Book 13 in the Forever Series)

Chapter 25

Nick

I always loved that I could tease Demi, but when I teased her about Avery's friend's dad wanting to date her, I got the impression she didn't like it. I could always read her like a book & that evening was no different. I saw how she looked away from me & let out a fake chuckle, hidden behind a less genuine smile. I decided to not mention this father wanting to date her again & she ended up changing the subject, making that easy for me.

Once it was time for us to make the pizzas, the kids came running to help. It was absolutely incredible being with Demi & the kids as we made our dinner. We laughed so much, my sides were hurting at one point. It felt like we were the family we were over a year ago & I was loving every second. Demi even seemed to be enjoying herself & a few times she flirted, with me, with her eyes. I would hug her or put my arm around her & she never shied away. The kids didn't even act surprised if I showed Demi some affection. In fact, they seemed to love it almost as much as I did.

A few times I wanted to kiss their mother, but I knew that would ruin our secret. I would just wait until the kids weren't in the room or after they went to bed, if Demi even let me stay that long. The kids didn't act like they wanted me to ever leave, so I had a feeling Demi wouldn't make me leave before they went to bed.

While the pizzas were cooking, the kids all went inside the house to get cleaned up. I was standing by the brick oven, watching the two pizzas that I had put in it. Demi had gone in the house to get plates & the pizza cutter & when she came back out, she flashed me a flirtatious smile. "Don't let them burn." She teased as she sat the plates down on the table.

"Don't distract me then." I retorted, licking my lips as my gaze traveled down her body. Demi leaned one arm on the back of a chair, her other hand going to her hip as her head cocked to one side. She rolled her eyes at me, so I chuckled, "This has been fun."

Demi nodded, her teeth coming over her bottom lip, gently. She glanced toward the house quickly, then walked toward me, pretending to be checking on the pizzas. "It was a perfect second date." She murmured as she looked at me, out of the corner of her eye, while her face was toward the oven.

"Yea, it was."

Demi stood up straight, then turned toward me. "I hope you'll stay to tuck the kids in." She took a step back to lean her backside on the brick wall.

"I would love to."

"And maybe even for a little while after they're in bed."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Won't the kids get suspicious?"

"I could mention a movie script I want you to read or a song I want you to hear."

I nodded, glancing into the oven. I grabbed the pizza paddle so I could turn the pizzas, smiling, slightly because I knew Demi was watching me. When I was done turning the pizzas, I looked over at Demi. "We could watch that movie we both said we wanted to see."

"Oh, yea. We could. That's a good idea."

The twins came running out onto the porch a moment later so Demi walked back to the table to make sure they didn't spill anything or touch something they weren't supposed to touch. I sighed, quietly, watching Demi be the amazing Mom I knew she was as all the kids came back outside. She was so beautiful & perfect that I had to, quietly, thank God she decided to give me another chance. 

We ate our dinner as a family, which was the best way imaginable, then as we were finishing up, we began talking about some of the fun times we'd had as a family. When it was time to clean up, I stood up to clean out the oven & Harper whined, "Daddy, you're not gonna leave yet are you?"