Chapter 17: The Great Flood of Second Thoughts

THEO

Forgetting the condom really freaked me out. I wanted kids, but I wanted them when my life was more stable, when I was done traveling.

Life would be chaotic for the kid with a dad who didn’t have a permanent address. Nadia thought she would be okay with it, but she would feel like I abandoned her, just as her father did.

Maybe I should find a permanent rental. I was going to need it if I was in a serious relationship.

Nadia was the closest thing to a serious relationship that I’d had since high school, and that was all new to me as well. My parents had loved each other, but their relationship had been far from perfect.

When they died, I watched Sterling get into relationship after relationship before finding Julie, and that was a toxic relationship that was waiting to blow up. It was just easier to have flings and move on willingly than to get hurt or end up trapped in a toxic relationship.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize Nadia had woken until she said good morning.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked.

“I actually sleep better with you in the bed. Your body heat is like an electric blanket.”

“So, you’re just using me for my body?” I joked with her.

“Yup, and it’s the best decision I made. Where are you staying this weekend?”

“With my brother Winston.”

“That should be fun.”

“It depends on what he has going on, but mostly, he’s pretty laid back and works all the time.”

Nadia kissed me before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

“Are you going to join me?” she asked, turning around.

I smiled and hopped out of bed before rushing into the bathroom behind her.

***

The flight to where Winston lived was miserable, and for no particular reason; I thought it was because I had to leave Nadia. Winston lived about two hours from Wren, Beau, Sterling, and Etta.

“It’s about damn time,” Winston mumbled as I approached him.

“It’s not my fault the flight was late,” I said.

“I know; I just hate waiting around.”

Winston was probably the more intense Hart sibling. Lately, from what I heard, Sterling was trying to steal that title.

Ever since Julie cheated on him, he’d been kind of a dick.

“How long are you visiting for?” Winston asked.

“My flight is Monday morning.”

“I heard you already visited Etta. Are you making your rounds?”

“Not exactly. Etta was harassing me to visit. Did she tell you any surprising news?”

“That she’s pregnant again? I spoke to Reece the other day and told him to give her vagina a break. They just had Noah. I mostly said it to fuck with him, and it worked. He didn’t stay on the call long after that.”

Winston’s favorite pastime was making Reece uncomfortable, which was funny. Reece grew up as part of our family.

He was Wren’s best friend, and now he was officially part of the family since he married Etta a while back.

“Kolt will join us for dinner,” Winston said.

“Really? So, I finally get to meet him?”

Winston hummed at me.

Winston and Kolt had been dating for a while. It was pretty rocky in the beginning because of Winston.

Winston had a hard time coming to terms with liking another guy, mainly because of society, but they seemed to do well now.

***

Winston’s place only had one bedroom, which meant I got the couch, but it was a pullout couch, so I at least got a bed.

I thought it would be odd meeting my brother’s boyfriend, but Kolt was pretty cool and exactly my brother’s type.

“Winston tells me you’re a travel writer,” Kolt said.

“That’s the best way to put it.”

“How do you like it?” Kolt asked.

“I love it. It keeps me going, and I love seeing the different areas of the world.”

“Etta told me you have feelings for your partner on this assignment,” Winston stated.

“Etta has too much time on her hands if she’s talking about me.”

“She has to update us because you don’t,” Winston said.

“There is something between Nadia and me, but I’m not sure what it is or where it’s going.”

“Have you asked her?” asked Kolt.

“Why should I? The assignment is over in a few weeks, and then we’ll go our separate ways.”

“You don’t know that; she may want to see where it goes. It’s one issue I had with Winston. I didn’t know where we stood, and it caused a lot of problems,” Kolt said.

“How did you solve it?”

“He left my ass,” Winston snapped.

“I should have talked to him about it. Instead, I told him to fuck off, and I left,” Kolt said.

“And he begged you to come back.”

“That’s what I would call it.”

“Bullshit. I did a grand gesture, and you fell for it.”

“Because I love you.” Kolten leaned over and kissed Winston.

It was still odd seeing Winston with a guy because he’d always had a girl with him growing up. While it was odd to see him with a guy, I was happy he’d found a person for him and could finally be who he was supposed to be.

Dinner with Winston and Kolten was what I needed. It was nice catching up with Winston and meeting Kolten.

Every time they visited the other siblings, I was always on the road. It put things into perspective.

I texted Nadia, hoping I didn’t appear too attached.

Theo

I hope you’re enjoying time with Nathan.

She answered almost immediately.

Nadia

He ditched me. He went to the movies with Jay.

Theo

So, what are you up to then?

Nadia

Work. I’m trying to work on my essay about Ophelia’s.

Theo

It was such an awful place for a honeymoon.

Nadia

I agree. However, the bungee jumping was fun.

Theo

Only because you were with me, and I kind of wish you were with me now.