Matching Pairs

Matching Pairs
Nathan’s POV

Kayla muttered something under her breath that I couldn’t quite catch as she hurriedly answered the call. 

The playful sparkle in her eyes vanished instantly. Her entire face drained of color, shoulders tensing like she was bracing for bad news.

“Hello? Ava?” Her voice was quiet, almost shaky. “Is everything alright?”

Ava? Who the hell is Ava?

I watched her closely. After a few seconds, her expression softened. She exhaled in relief, shoulders dropping. 

“Hey…yeah, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. I know you have your hands tight at this moment with the new baby and all. Thank you again for doing this.”

Whoever was on the other end must have said something kind because Kayla’s eyes suddenly welled up. She turned slightly away from me, blinking fast but I caught it.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you and Holly,” she said, voice cracking. “You guys are literally the best family I could ever ask for. Even though we’re not blood-related, you still show up for me every single time.” She sniffed. “Thank you so much for taking Caden in. Really.”

Oh. Realization hit me. This had to be Holly’s elder sister…the one hiding Caden in LA.

Kayla’s whole face transformed as she listened. She looked like the purest definition of a doting mother…soft eyes, gentle smile, pure love pouring out of her. 

“Can I talk to him please?” I heard her asking softly.

There was a short pause, then her face lit up completely.

“Hi baby!” she cooed, voice warm and sweet. “Mommy misses you so much too… Yes, I know. Mommy’s been so busy, that’s why you have to stay with Third Mommy Ava for a little longer, okay? Be a good boy for her… I love you so much, my sweet boy. Mommy will come get you soon, I promise. Mwah!”

She listened to whatever Caden was saying, laughing softly through tears, nodding even though he couldn’t see her. 

After a few more minutes of sweet back-and-forth, she whispered, “I love you more,” and ended the call.

She stood there for a second, staring at her phone like she wanted to crawl through it to reach her son. 

I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms without thinking, rubbing her back gently.

“You’re so strong,” I murmured against her hair. “And amazing. I’m really proud of you. I know Caden is too.”

For once, she didn’t pull away. She hugged me back, burying her face in my chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I held her a little tighter before pulling back with a smile. “Alright, let’s go shopping.”

She wiped her eyes quickly. “Shop for what?”

“You’ll see.”

What started as “just killing time” turned into one of the most fun afternoons I’d had in years.

I dragged her through the massive mall like a kid in a candy store. First stop…matching couple stuff. All things matching.

“Absolutely not,” Kayla said when I held up two ridiculous fluffy robes…one with “Mr. Right” and the other “Mrs. Always Right.”

I pouted dramatically, bottom lip out. “But we’d look so cute.”

She groaned like a teenager being forced to do chores, but I caught the tiny smile she was fighting. “You’re ridiculous.”

We ended up buying them anyway. Then came the matching pajamas…hers had little cupcakes, mine had tiny police badges, a couple mugs that said “His” and “Hers” with handcuffs on mine, and even matching phone cases. 

Every time she said “no,” I hit her with the saddest puppy eyes until she caved, laughing and calling me annoying.

At one point my shoulder throbbed hard. I winced, sucking in air through my teeth.

“Take it easy,” she scolded immediately, stepping closer. “You’re still hurt, you big baby.”

I grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

We were laughing so hard at one point…me striking dramatic poses with heart-shaped pillows, her pretending to be embarrassed but clearly enjoying herself…that people around us started smiling. 

For over an hour, the outside world disappeared. It was just us, being silly, stealing glances, and slowly getting closer.

By the time we checked out, our cart was overflowing. We loaded everything into the trunk, barely managing to close it.

We picked up the wedding photos from the studio (beautifully framed and wrapped) and headed home. 

The apartment staff helped carry the mountain of bags upstairs. I tipped the guy generously before we stepped into the apartment.

Kayla dropped the bags she was carrying the second the door closed, collapsed onto the couch, and let out a dramatic groan. “I’ve had such a long day.”

I watched her for a moment, then decided not to ignore it anymore.

“So…that guy from the bakery,” I started casually. “Peter.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”

“Where did you meet him today?”

“I ran into him in the elevator this morning on my way down.”

I frowned. “Oh. So he lives here?”

“No,” she said, stretching her legs. “He’s the yoga instructor for one of the neighbors. He came for private classes.”

Okay. Good. I can work with that.

“Alright,” I said. “Just make sure you tell him next time that you’re married.”

Kayla groaned, half-laughing. “Oh? Are you jealous?”

I crossed the room in two strides, pulled her up by the waist, and pressed her against me. “Yes. Absolutely. I’m mad jealous. I don’t want any man getting close to you ever again.”

The air between us suddenly thickened. Her breathing changed. So did mine. I could feel the heat rising fast.

“Sorry,” I whispered, voice rough, “but I can’t help it.”

Before she could ask me why I was apologizing, I crashed my lips onto hers.

For a split second she froze, mouth closed. I started to pull back, ready to apologize for rushing her…

Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and yanked me closer.

The kiss turned hot, thirsty, and downright dirty. My hands roamed down her back as I deepened it, tasting her properly for the first time. 

She moaned softly into my mouth. I kissed down her jaw to her neck, fingers already working on the buttons of her top.

Her phone rang again.

I wanted to ignore it. Badly. But it kept ringing.

Kayla broke the kiss, breathing hard. She gave me an apologetic look, grabbed her phone, and hurried into the bedroom, already pressing it to her ear.

I dropped onto the arm of the couch, touching my lips with a stupid grin on my face.

Damn.

This woman is going to be the death of me…and I’m going to enjoy every single second of it.