Nobela ni love.always.13

Nicola seethed as she bounced her one-month-old sleeping nephew in her arms while Dominic had his arm around her, his thumb drawing circles on her forearm. Her brother-in-law had joined the party and all of them were in the living room, watching a stupid romantic movie. It was tradition - Saturday night - that Stacia and Malcolm watch a rom-com and they were not yet ready to relinquish the tradition even with the baby frequently interrupting them. As of tonight, they were letting Nicola and Dominic watch over their bundle of joy as they enjoyed their tiny indulgence. "You know what?" Dominic spoke up while Stacia had taken a bathroom break. "Maybe you could drop Rhys off at our place every Saturday evening." Nicola looked up from the sleeping infant with a frown on her face. "I don't suppose it would be too hard to care for him for a couple of hours. We will get some practice on child-rearing and you both can have your date night." Malcolm smiled nervously as he looked ove

"See, it's not just about looking for a new face." Nicola was engrossed in the discussion, unaware of the pure devotion with which Keith was listening to her. "It's about finding a girl who truly resonates with the character of Ilm Walden. I don't want someone who can act like Ilm. I want someone who is like Ilm in real life." "Why don't you take on the role then?" Keith finally asked. "You really give off Ilm vibes, if you ask me." Nicola gave him a flat look and he returned it with a cheeky grin. "I don't see Ilm in me." She said. "Aren't characters just pieces of the author?" Keith asked. "Or so I have read in Insta reels." "You spend way too much time on social media then." Nicola rolled her eyes. "Ilm is different." Nicola smiled as she thought about the whole process of making the character. "In fact, she is everything I am not." Keith just stared at her for a long moment. "Somehow I don't believe that."Nicola repeated the flat look. "Shut up." "Do you want second

A cackle escaped Nicola's lips which was so like her pre-teen self that Dominic's eyes widened as he peered over at her. She was grinning wickedly at the papers in her hands. "Is this necessary?" He sighed as he turned back to face the road. "It seems rather childish to me." "Says the most immature prick to walk the earth." Nicola rolled her eyes, determined to not let anyone get in the way of the satisfaction she was going to gain from throwing the papers in Melanie Grant's face. Dominic gaped at her. It was the first time in years someone had called him immature to his face. He thought he had done his best to hide that aspect of himself from the world. Though it was true that his true colors came to the surface when he was with his wife these days. But it did not seem like she cared at all to notice. "I am not immature! And did you just call me a prick?" "Yes and yes!" Nicola shrugged as she looked out the window. "STOP THE CAR!" Dominic was startled and stepped on the

When Dominic came back home, Nicola had already gone to sleep. He sighed as he walked to her door, turning the knob to go in and check on her.But it wouldn't budge.She had locked the door.Dominic groaned as he slumped against it.Had he not done enough? Was it not enough that he raised his voice at his mother for the first time in his life?"Well, she doesn't know that, does she?" He thought out loud as he let out another sigh. "I will talk to her in the morning."He turned around and headed to his own room.Changing into a loose tee and a pair of boxers, he plopped down on his bed, feeling all kinds of bad."Are you even sure it's your child too, Dom?""You never cheated on your wife with Miles."His mother's words echoed in his mind. Just how badly had he fucked up that it had all come to this?And was his mother always so disrespectful towards Nicola? If she was, why had he not noticed?He sighed as he turned off the lights and lied down. He had so much to think about. Th

"Nicola..." Melanie approached Nicola as she was having a glass of chocolate ice-cream milkshake.Nicola took a deep breath. This was it. The moment she had been dreading. "Yes, Melanie?""I know we haven't exactly seen eye to eye on your marriage," Melanie began tentatively, "but I do hope you know that I only want what's best for you."Nicola took a spoonful of ice-cream, her eyes never leaving Melanie's. "And what's that, exactly?" she asked, her voice as cold as the dessert.Melanie took a moment before speaking, choosing her words carefully. "For you to be happy, of course."Nicola raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I'm not happy?""I know you feel like this is a good decision but you may regret it going forth." Melanie said."What are you trying to say?" Nicola dug her nails into her palm as she told herself to keep calm. This woman or this conversation was not worth it."All I am saying is that you are too young to have a child. You are only twenty-two.""So?'

"So..."Nicola looked up from the bland soup Mary had put together for her because she could not stand any strong smell at all."So?" She raised a brow at Dominic.He held up the photo of their baby's sonogram."Don't we need to tell everyone?" He was bouncing on his feet."I will tell them in person when I get back to work on Monday." Nicola gave him a small smile. The tiniest of smiles. She couldn't wait for her people's reaction. Even though the marriage was a mess and they all wanted her to get a divorce, they would be so happy to hear that a mini Nicky was on the way."Not your staff, silly." Dominic laughed. "Our family!"Nicola's smile fell. She had forgotten about that. She had not told anyone yet, not even her sister."Stacy is not going to be happy," Nicola murmured. "I was the first one she told when she found out she was pregnant."Dominic nodded, grinning. "She'll get over it. In fact, she will be too happy about the baby to even care about the tiny detail."He was