ARIS' POV

✲

"Where is he?" Luca asks as I flick my gaze across every person that enters the school hall.

I chew on my lip with a shrug. "I don't know."

My stomach has been rolling non-stop since we got here. I clutch my phone in my hands and look down at the screen. No notifications. I sigh and swipe up to see the last seven text messages I've left Nick–none he's answered.

"Maybe call him again?" Luca suggests. "He might be on his way."

I nod wanting to believe it but something inside me already knows that he's not showing. My thumb hits the screen and I call his number again. I flick my gaze over to Declan who is watching me intently, the disappointment in his eyes is evident.

The show is about to start in five minutes and I'm freaking out. Especially when I remember Elodie and Nick's conversation the other night where she asked if he was going to be there and he promised he would. She then proceeded to say he missed the last one.

Oh God. My heart is about to shatter for her if he doesn't make it in time.

When the call goes to voicemail I curse under my breath and shake my head. "Not picking up," I huff and glance at the empty seat next to me.

Declan runs a hand down his face. "He's a fucking idiot."

"Maybe something happened?" Luca suggests with an optimistic smile.

"No," Declan grumbles. "I doubt it. Probably got too carried away at work as usual."

I squeeze my phone in my hand. "But not to pick up his phone? That's not like him."

Declan shrugs. "Who knows? Whatever. We're here. Let's just be as supportive as we can for Elodie."

"Agreed," I say as I settle back into my seat but I'm riddled with anxiety.

Please, Nick. Please get here as soon as you can.

Soon the show starts and I close my eyes in defeat. Shit. I try my hardest to focus on the performance but my fingers begin to itch painfully. Luca leans over to give my hand a squeeze, I turn my head to him and find a conflicted smile covering his lips. I sigh silently and nod.

When Elodie comes onto the stage I sit up and beam at her presence. They sing a song as an ensemble and she definitely is the loudest of the bunch and it makes my chest so heavy with pride. She's a star in the making.

Her gaze flicks across the crowd and when she sees me her smile spreads, taking over her entire face. Then it moves to Luca, Declan and then back to me. The realisation is immediate. She knows her dad isn't here and I despise the expression that morphs over her face.

As the performance ends, Nick still hasn't called me back. I curse to myself and wait outside for all the children to come out. Declan and Luca wait with me. "I hate this," I murmur to them.

"It's not your fault, Aris." Declan says.

"I know," I nod. "But she knows he's not here."

Luca glances at Declan with a frown. "Did Nick ev–"

"She's coming over," I mutter under my breath.

We all turn to the direction I'm facing to find Elodie walking towards us with all her belongings. I take her bags from her but her head is down. "Hey, sweetheart," I say cheerily. "You were amazing out there! You did so good."

I bend down to give her a hug, wrapping her up in my arms. "I'm so proud of you, Els. We loved it so much."

She pulls away slowly to find her green eyes have glossed over. "Where's daddy?"

A soft exhale releases from my throat. "Uh..." I pause, unsure what to say.

"Something came up," Declan steps in for me as he moves closer. "He wanted to see you perform so badly but he had to do something really important. But you were incredible, trouble. I loved hearing you sing."

Elodie glances up at him and he sweeps her into his arms, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "He's always busy." She murmurs with a trembling lip. "He said he'd be here."

"I know, Els," Declan sighs. "I'm sorry. But all of us thought the show was incredible. You were the best by far."

Luca steps up to him in agreement. "Definitely. You were amazing, Elodie. I couldn't take my eyes off you!"

Elodie's head falls on her uncle's shoulder and I frown slightly. This isn't how I wanted tonight to go and Nick still hasn't returned a single call or text. What is he doing?

"Let's go home, hmm?" I suggest. "We can have ice-cream and all the naughty sweets."

"Okay," she says weakly.

Declan and Luca say goodbye to her before I get her into the car and we drive back to their house. My phone vibrates when we pull up outside and I glance at it.

Nick: Fuck. I couldn't get away from work. I tried. Where are you guys?

Aris: We're home now.

We head upstairs to their apartment and I give Elodie a big cuddle on the sofa with a pot of ice-cream. I don't know what there is for me to say to make this situation better. God knows what's going to happen when Nick gets home.

Elodie has been quiet, so quiet that I hate it. She's not herself. Of course she's not herself, her dad didn't come to her performance that he promised he would. I could only imagine how devastated she feels right now and that shatters my heart to pieces.

The door to the apartment opens and I stiffen at the sound. Elodie doesn't move. Footsteps echo behind us. "Els–" Nick's voice is hoarse. He steps around the sofa to face us and he glances down at his daughter, expression beyond distraught. "I am so sorry."

She peels herself out of my embrace and stands to confront her father. "Where were you? You promised you'd be there." Her little heartbroken voice is too much for me to handle.

Nick's eyes flicker and he takes a shallow breath. "I'm sorry, baby. Something important came up at work and I tried to get out of it but I couldn't."

"More important than me?"

Fuck. My chest grows tighter by the second. I can't even look at Nick because I can't take the pure hatred for himself on his face. It's none of my business to get involved but that question has me taking her side.

"No, Els." He shakes his head. "Nothing is as important as you. I lost track of time and I'm so sorry for not being there. I never want to disappoint you."

She shakes her head. "If you wanted to be there, you would have been there."

"Els–"

"You're never here anymore!" She raises her voice. "I never see you. All you care about is work. You don't care about me."

Nick shakes his head, chest trembling. "That is not true."

"It is," her voice cracks. "Uncle Declan and Luca made it. Why couldn't you?"

She walks around him and storms off to her room. I flick my gaze up to Nick who looks lost, unsure of his next words. "Fuck," he mutters as he runs a hand down his face.

I stand from the sofa and follow her to her bedroom. I know better than to leave her upset right now and hopefully I can calm her down. As I enter the room her back is to me and I can hear the soft whimpering.

My knees hit the ground beside her and I give her a hug. "Why doesn't daddy care?"

"He does, Els," I whisper into her ear. "He really does. I promise you. He loves you so much."

She sniffles. "Then why is he never here?"

I smooth back her brunette hair and cup her face. Those pretty eyes are leaking tears and I push them away with the pad of my thumb. "Sometimes things come up in adult's lives that we can't control and I know it's not an excuse but he would never do it as a means to upset you, sweetheart. He feels so guilty for not being here and I know he promised and he broke that promise, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. It just means he's got a lot of making up to do and I know he will. He'll do whatever he can to make it up to you."

The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I glance behind me to find Nick at the door. Elodie raises her head and stares me directly in the eye. "I just want to spend more time with him."

Nick steps forward and kneels down beside me, his arms automatically coming around his daughter. I focus on his face to find his eyes damp and the tears remain in his lids. "Els, I will do whatever I can to make it up to you. I can't say I'm sorry enough and I wish that I was there, I wish I was better for you."

"Then be better," she sobs.

He rests his head against hers and a single tear rolls down his cheek. "I'm trying so hard, baby. I love you so much. I never want you to feel like you did today and right now. I'm going to spend more time with you, I'm going to leave work at a reasonable time and be available on the weekends. I'm going to do everything because I miss you, baby. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too," she whispers.

Nick leans forward and presses a kiss to her forehead. "You can be mad at me," he murmurs against her. "You can be mad at me for as long as you want but I'm going to be better, every day. I'm going to be the father that you deserve because today I let you down and I refuse to do it again."

Elodie examines her father and hiccups. He wipes away her tears without removing his own. My throat tenses and I tell myself not to join them, even though it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. "How about you put on a special performance just for me? I want to hear all the songs and see all the dances."

Her eyes light up. "You do?"

"Of course, baby. I want to see it three times. If not, more."

This makes her smile. "Okay."

"Can we sit together and watch the movie you guys were watching?" he asks.

Elodie glances at me. "Aris, will you stay too?"

"Sure. If you want me to."

"I do."

"Okay, then," Nick picks her up and we walk out into the living room.

He sets her down on the sofa and cuddles her into his side. Ice-cream is still sitting on the coffee table with a spoon. I perch beside Elodie as Nick drapes a big blanket over the three of us. I lean over to take the remote and press play again.

I flick my gaze to them as Nick kisses her temple over and over as she settles between his arm and rests her head on his chest. My lips curl at the sight. I'm glad that this was the ending of tonight–I feared it would have gone in the completely opposite direction.

Fingers brush my hand under the blanket and I flinch but settle immediately when I realise it's Nick. He entwines our fingers together and gives me a squeeze–one that I'm certain says thank you. I think the next second he's about to pull away but he doesn't, our hands remain together.

My eyes focus on him but he doesn't look at me, he stares straight ahead at the movie. His thumb smooths over the back of my palm in slow circles. My cheeks begin to heat at the small gesture but it has my blood thriving.

We hold hands until the movie finishes and Elodie is asleep in her daddy's arms.

✲

Read the entire COMPLETED book early and bonus chapters over on Patreon and Ream!

www.reamstories.com/savannaroseauthor
www.patreon.com/dreammcatcher

Author's Note

This chapter did painful things to my heart😭

What did you guys think??👉🏼

Ugh Elodie telling Nick that he doesn't care about her. It fucking HURTS💔

Also their little hand holding during the movie is so cute.

I love seeing Nick being emotional/sensitive. He's really got a lot going up in his head but seeing his daughter upset will make him break down every single time!🥺

Love Savanna x

Insta: savannaroseauthor
Patreon: dreammcatcher
Ream: savannaroseauthor