I took Tristan over to Nick’s house early the next morning, while I headed to work. I had just finished up with my last patient before my lunch break.
“Shay, I’m going to go out and get a salad or something. I’ll be back in about an hour,” I told my best friend, removing my lab coat and opening the door to leave. None other than my boyfriend Nick, with my son, was standing there to greet me.
“Hey sweetie!” I exclaimed surprised, giving Tristan a peck on the cheek.
“Hey! What about me??” Nick pouted.
“Oh alright…” I pretended to be upset, giving Nick a small kiss.
“So, you ready for lunch?” Nick asked.
“Uh yeah, I was just about to go get a salad or something.”
“Well, Tristan insisted that we pack a lunch and take you to the park,” Nick grinned deviously.
“He did, huh?” I smiled.
“Yep! C’mon, let’s go!” he said getting excited and grabbing my hand leading me out of the door.
I followed my fave boys to Nick’s truck and we headed to the park. Nick spread out a blanket on the ground for us to sit on and we shared a small picnic lunch.
“This was really sweet of you,” I gushed, looking at Nick.
He smiled back and leaned over to adjust the hat on Tristan that he had bought for him.
“Cute hat!” I grinned.
“Yeah, we went shopping and it was just too cute not to buy!”
We all finished eating and then Nick picked up Tristan and was swinging him in his arms around the playground. I laughed at how cute they looked together. It was so sweet! After they played, Nick sat Tristan down in his stroller that he had brought along. Then, Nick walked over to me…
“Peyton?” he asked, giving me one of his cute playful grins.
“Hmmm?” I asked, looking up at his tall slender figure.
“Wanna go for a swing?” he suggested.
“Love to!” I smiled up at him, as he grabbed my hand and helped me up. We walked hand in hand over to the swings. Nick plopped down in one of the swings.
“Uh Nick…I can’t swing. It’s broken,” I commented, pointing at the broken swing.
“Well, I guess you’ll just have to sit here then,” he grinned mischieviously patting his hands on his lap.
“Nick…” I started, debating his offer. Before I knew it he pulled me down on his lap and gently rocked us back and forth on the swing. Nick wrapped his arms around my waist while I rested my head on his shoulder. A while later, Nick drove me back to the office.
“See ya after work,” I smiled and kissed my fave guys goodbye.
“So how was lunch?” Shay greeted me.
“Wonderful!” I sighed with content.
“How wonderful can a salad be?” she asked grinning.
“Nick took Tristan and I to the park for lunch. He is such a sweetheart,” I told her, bubbling over with happiness.
“That sounds great! Nick sounds really sweet! I hate to ruin the moment for you, but this came today,” she announced, producing a letter.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“Just read it…” she said, walking away for a moment.
I sat down and read the letter. It told me that I had been accepted into a medical firm in Los Angeles that I had applied for nearly a year ago. I had wanted this job then, but that was before I had Tristan and before Nick…
“So are you going?” Shay asked, re-entering the room.
“I don’t know. Things are a lot different now than when I applied for the job. It’s a really big decision…I’m going to have to think about it,” I stated feeling very torn and confused.
“Well, whatever you decide, I’m here for you,” she comforted me, placing her hand on my shoulder.
I continued treating my patients until around 6:30. I told Shay goodbye and drove to Nick’s house. I rang his doorbell, but there was no answer. His Durango was in the driveway, so I knew that he was home. I walked into his house and called his name a few times, but still no answer. I hushed myself when I heard a voice outside. I walked over and cracked open his back door. Tristan was crying and Nick was making his best attempt to passify him.
“What’s wrong, buddy? Huh? I’ve fed you and changed you. Please don’t cry,” he pleaded in his softest voice possibe continuing to rock Tristan gently. Tristan continued to cry, so Nick began to sing our fave song “Surfin’ USA”. Nick’s soulful voice belted out the tunes right on key. Tristan immediately hushed and lay contentedly in Nick’s arms.
I walked out and stood beside of Nick and Tristan.
“Hey you!” I grinned at Nick.
“Hey! Did you just get here?” he asked, still swaying slowly with my tiny son cradled in his loving arms.
“Yeah, pretty much. I was here long enough to hear ya sing!” I informed him.
“I didn’t know how else to make him stop crying,” Nick told me.
“Well now that you’ve sung to him, he’s going to be spoiled! So much for me singing to him now!” I laughed.
Nick laughed a bit and then sat down on the hammock with Tristan. I sat down beside him and watched Tristan chew on Nick’s finger with his gums. There was a small trickle of drool coming from his mouth that was slowly taking its course along Nick’s hand.
“You’re sorta quiet. Is something wrong?” I turned to Nick.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot about us today and there’s something we should talk about,” he stated.
“Well, something happened at work today and I need to talk to you about something, too,” I said looking at him straight in the eye.
“You go first,” he said.
“No, you first please,” I pleaded with him. I was almost afraid to tell him that there may be a chance that I would be moving to Los Angeles.
“Okay, well….” Nick took a deep breath and began.
