Chapter 12

Groaning low in her throat, Betsy blinked a few times before closing her eyes tightly shut. They felt dry and grainy and her head throbbed rhythmically in her head. The sensation was all too familiar. Too many nights she had cried herself into sleep when the dark days consumed her so wholly that it was the only way for her to cope.

And yet this time was different. There was no crick in the neck from falling asleep on the sofa. Instead she felt warm and safe, wrapped up in a soft duvet while the scent of Mrs Reed's freshly baked cookies wafted through the air.

The last thing she could remember was the cemetery with her sister, Lee and Nick. Betsy squeezed her eyes tightly closed. Oh God, Nick. It took everything in her willpower not to pull the covers over her head in an attempt to hide.

He had seen.

The truth was enough to lift the burden from where it had been sitting on her shoulders before bringing it crashing back down again a moment later. What would he think? She hadn't lied to him. She didn't have any obligation to expose her past to him but then again she had also omitted to tell him the truth when it still affected her so deeply.

Betsy had no recollection of getting home from visiting Peter's grave. She remembered Nick holding her, doing his best to console her in her moment of weakness. And yet she was in her room at the Davenport house with her familiar memory foam mattress at her back. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he had carried her into the house and up to bed.

Wrinkling her nose, Betsy used her hand to push the hair out of her face. Reluctantly she pulled open her eyes and was surprised to see not her own blonde curly locks hanging in front of her face but hair which was straight and auburn coloured. Blowing at the tickly strands, Betsy looked down at Delilah's resting face.

The young girl was huddled into Betsy's side, her mouth open wide as she breathed deeply. With a slight smile, Betsy reached out a hand and brushed a finger over the sleeping girl's brow. Delilah's mouth twisted into a disgruntled pout before she resumed her deep breathing. She looked so peaceful.

Now that her mind was finally emerging from the fog of sleep, the blonde became aware of another presence in the bed. She could feel the body heat of a much larger person pressed against the length of her back. Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath. Betsy could smell him. Nicholas had his own unique scent. She had unconsciously been drawing it in every time he got close, savouring the smell which was simply Nicholas.

Sighing, Betsy closed her eyes and snuggled further into the covers.

"Are you awake?" Nick asked. His lips were so close to her ear that Betsy could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

Betsy hesitated for a moment. She was tempted to pretend to still be sleeping so that she could enjoy the modicum of peace. But he deserved better than that.

Instead, taking great care not to jostle Delilah too much, Betsy rolled over in underneath the duvet. Despite feeling his breath against her ear, she hadn't truly comprehended how close they were to one another. They were both fully clothed but it was intimate to be so close to a person while lying on a bed.

Not knowing what else to say, Betsy dropped her eyes before muttering, "Hi."

She didn't have to be looking at him to know that the man was smiling. "Hi."

For a moment, no words were spoken between the two of them. Yet, Betsy was puzzled to find that there was no awkwardness between them. There was no need to fill the empty air between them. To her it felt comfortable.

"How are you feeling?" Nick asked, his hand stretching out of brushing a curl behind Betsy's ear.

Lifting her eyes, she did her best not to fidget under his assessing stare. "I'm fine."

He raised a dark eyebrow, his eyes holding hers for several long seconds.

"Stop looking at me like that. I'm not saying I'm happy and everything is wonderful. But I am okay." Betsy stated firmly. "It's always going to be hard no matter what but each day it's getting a little bit easier to remember. A little bit less painful to bear. I'm sure that someday I'll be able to look back on this and not feel the need to cry at the drop of a hat. It's just not today. Is that enough for you?"

Nick remained quiet the entire time that she spoke before he moved his hand to her side and pulled Betsy into the warmth of his body holding her close. Betsy held stiff for a moment, blinking into the fabric of his shirt and breathing in the scent that was just him. And then she let out a breath and relaxed into his hold, turning her face so that she could rest her head against his chest.

It was exactly what she needed. She could hear the rhythmic thump of Nick's heartbeat. It was reassuring to hear it beating so strong and steady.

"Will you tell me about him? About Peter?" Nick asked his voice low and quiet.

Scrunching her eyes tightly shut, the blonde drew in a few deep breaths as her heart lurched uncomfortably. "I can't," she gasped, her lungs struggling to draw in air. "I want to but I just can't. Not now. Not today."

She waited for Nick's protest but he simply pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Okay."

They fell back into quiet and after a few minutes, Betsy managed to regain control. Opening her eyes, she stared at the familiar surroundings of her bedroom. "How did we all end up in here?" She asked as Delilah wriggled closer and nuzzled her face in to the small of her back.

"I carried you in." Nick replied quietly, resting his cheek on top of her head. "When I tried to put you down you just wouldn't let go. I was going to leave once you settled but I must have fallen asleep."

Betsy smiled as he said the last words, his tone grumpy as if he hated that he had exposed his own weakness. He was so different to the man she had first met. He had allowed her to see the man behind the mask.

"The kids must have crawled in some time during the night. They don't like to miss out." Nick murmured. "I can't say I blame them." His arms flexed around her small curvy body, pulling her tighter to him.

Betsy was glad she was not looking up at him. She didn't want the man to see the blush which had formed across her cheeks. Instead, she let her mind just continue mulling over thoughts at a stomach churning rate.

"Thank you."

Nick lifted his head and Betsy could feel his eyes staring down at the top of her head. "What was that?"

"Thank you for yesterday." She replied, lifting her head so that she could meet his gaze. "Thank you for being there. I know I didn't make it easy for you but I really do appreciate it all."

His eyes roamed over her face. She wasn't sure what he was looking for but finally Nick's lips turned up in a small, barely noticeable smile. But she was close and just seeing it was enough to send the blonde's heart racing.

"You're welcome."

Betsy's couldn't stop herself from watching his lips as they formed the words. And then she was remembering. Remembering the moment which led the man keeping his distance from her so that she was unsure whether she was coming or going. Her lips tingled.

"Why do you keep avoiding me?" She asked, pulling away slightly so that she could look up into his face properly. "Not now but before. I know that you only kissed me because you had to in order to impress Mr Giannopoulos but don't act strange around me because of it. I know you didn't like kissing me but it's not fair on the children."

Nick's face went blank. Betsy bit her lip. Her stomach felt like it was in knots and her pulse was thrumming so loudly in her ears she was sure he could hear it too.

And then his hand was cupping her cheek, his thumb stroking the delicate skin just below her eyes. On instinct, the blonde's eyes fluttered as she burrowed closer to his touch.

"What made you think I didn't like kissing you?" Nick asked, his face still that perfectly blank mask. Even his eyes were giving nothing away.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Betsy could only blink up at him. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to formulate a response. "You ignored me! What else would you have me think?"

"Definitely not that," Nick replied.

"What on earth is that supposed to mean?" Betsy asked. If she had been standing, her hands would have been propped on her hips. Laid in bed, all she could do was glare up at the confusing man.

"It means this."

Before another word could be uttered, he pulled her in close. And then his lips were covering hers. First it was a tentative brush of his lips against hers. The small touch sent tingles racing against her skin. She gasped. And then his lips were back, firmer and more demanding. Her body reacted in an instant. Her lips moving against his while her hands came up and tangled in his shirt. Betsy wasn't sure if it was to hold him close or to push him further away.

"Is that sufficient proof?" Nick asked as he pulled away.

Both of them were panting for breath but Betsy was more than a little disorientated. It had been – wow. And then his words cut through the fog. "Was that just to prove a point? Is this all a game to you?" she whispered angrily, her fingers clenching tighter into his shirt.

Nick rolled his eyes earning him a slap on the chest. "What is it with women? They're always looking for the negatives." He caught Betsy's hand before she could hit him again. "I was trying to tell you that I liked kissing you. There's no game. Why don't you stop jumping to conclusions and kiss me? We both know it's what you really want to be doing."

Betsy's mouth dropped open into an 'O'. Did he really just say that?

And then he was kissing her again, taking advantage of her parted lips to deepen the kiss. He groaned and threaded his fingers through her hair. For a second the blonde was tempted to bite his tongue but then she caught the taste of him in her mouth. She couldn't stop herself from feeling. And she wanted to feel this. It didn't wipe away everything from the day before but it was a soothing balm which took the sting out of the aching wound in her heart.

"Ooh look Tommy, Daddy's kissing Betsy!" Delilah's voice squealed before two small bodies leapt onto the pair.

Nick and Betsy pulled apart abruptly, groaning as little elbows and little feet kicked and nudged into the soft unguarded parts of their bodies. Meeting each other's stare, Betsy felt captured wholly by the intent look in Nick's eyes which she noted were brown - a beautiful rich chocolate coloured brown now that they are so close. There were so many promises there - so many things to discuss.

But then the moment was broken.

He winked and then with a battle cry he grabbed Delilah and pulled her into a hug. Then before his little girl could protest, he placed kisses all over her grinning face while his fingers tickled her sides. His own laugh filed the air and Betsy, who had grabbed up Tommy into a hug, stilled at the beautiful and carefree sound.

She laughed too. It felt strange to be laughing. Although it sent a touch of guilt into her heart, she felt like she was finally home.