BEXLEY TURNER

"MAMA, LOOK AT MY house!" Nash shouts excitedly when I walk into the kitchen after using the bathroom. "Dad helped me. Can you help me decorate it now?"

My eyes scan over the mess that sits on the counters of Hayden's small, but spacious apartment. Frosting is smeared on the medium-sized, glass table and pieces of all sorts of candy and sprinkles are covering the wooden floor underneath the table. After leaving the park a few days ago, Hayden and I stayed in touch, and now, Nash and I are over his apartment and decorating gingerbread houses while Chrissy and Jared get prepared for the wedding that's about a week away.

Christmas is a few days away and my parents are flying in from Hawaii and staying for Christmas and the wedding. I haven't seen them in about five years. The last time I saw them was when Nash was born. It's hard to visit when they're all the way in Hawaii and while I'm in California. Seeing them and catching up will be nice. It'll be the first time that Nash meets his grandparents and he's excited to meet them. He's face-timed with them but that's different than meeting in person.

I still have to talk to Hayden about Christmas with Nash too. Hopefully, Nash will get to meet Hayden's parents too.

"Yes darling, are you going to help me decorate mine too?" I ruffle his hair and smile at him before shuffling over to the kitchen sink to wash my hands. Hayden smiles at me from his spot at the table, next to Nash. I turn back to the skink and shut off the running water before drying my wet hands, my cheeks rosy.

"Your house looks beautiful," I say to Nash as I sit at the table next to Hayden. Globs of icing are spread on the roof and one of the walls is caving in while candy is placed randomly. Nash continues to throw candy and icing on his house randomly and I join in on the kiddush fun.

"These kits suck," I mumble to Hayden as we both watch our son happily decorate his gingerbread house.

"They do, but look at how happy he looks," Hayden responds and points at Nash, who squeezes huge globs of icing onto his house.

"You're right, he looks so lost in his own little world," I agree and smile softly. Hayden grabs my hand in his and gives it a small squeeze.

"Thank you for finally telling me about him and coming back," he murmurs, his blue eyes searching mine, so much emotion held in his eyes as he smiles softly at me before placing a soft kiss on my lips. My heart jolts and my eyes flutter closed as I press my lips against his.

"I'm still sorry about not telling you sooner. You had every right to know and you didn't deserve not to. Not a day went by where I wouldn't pick up my phone and click on your contact and hang up when it would start to ring," I mumble against his lips when I pull away from the short, but powerful kiss.

"Bexley, stop apologizing. I know that you're sorry, okay? I can see it when I look into your eyes. The amount of guilt you hold hurts me every time I stare into your eyes. Stop apologizing, I already know how sorry you are. Let's focus on right now, leave all that guilt in the past. I forgive you."

"You don't hate me?" My voice cracks.

"Of course not. I could never hate you. You made a mistake, we all make mistakes."

"I've missed you so much."

"I think I've missed you more," he whispers, his cheeks rosy, matching mine.

"Not possible," I grin, my hand coming up and moving a bit of his dark hair out of his eyes before I caress the side of his face where a slight stubble sits. Age has been well to this man and that's for damn sure.

"Mama," Nash pulls my hand off of Hayden's face and places it on his face. I laugh and place a kiss on his forehead. "She's mine."

"Can we share?" Hayden laughs while he looks at Nash who sends him a glare and shakes his head no. "Please?"

"Fine," he mutters and grabs my hand and places it on the side of Hayden's face. "Look, we're sharing."

"You two are ridiculous," I giggle, looking at my hands that are on both of my boys' faces.

"Sharing is caring," Nash protests, and I nod before removing my hands from their faces.

"Yes, it is," I agree and start to decorate my gingerbread house while Nash adds more stuff to his, Hayden watching us with a small smile painted on his soft lips.

"I love you both," Hayden says, his eyes meeting mine when I look at him and my heart skips a beat.

He still loves me. A friendly love or romantic love? Whatever love it is, brings a wide smile to my face while my cheeks turn a darker shade of pink.

Thanks for reading!