6. Judd

Judd

As the day drones on, I’m no longer confident in taking an evening to myself. It’s been so long since I put myself first that it feels foreign. It might be strange, but spending lazy weekends with Stevie has become the highlight of my life rather than a chore. However, my mother and sisters aren’t wrong. I could use a break. That doesn’t make it any easier to ask for help.

“You’re sure you’re okay with Stevie on Friday?” I ask for what feels like the tenth time.

Jess stands in front of me, her arms crossed, exasperation written all over her face. “Judd, yes. For the last time, I’ve got this. Stevie is my niece and I love spending time with her. Besides, Athena and I barely see her as it is!” That makes me feel a bit worse and better at the same time.

Athena, my younger sister, has been so attentive to Stevie that it hurts. Even if we don’t all live close enough to spend time regularly, I’m starting to see that not leaning on my support system is robbing them of spending time with their niece.

I shift uncomfortably, my hands shoved deep into my pockets. “I just don’t want to—”

“To what? Be a responsible parent who knows when to ask for help?” she cuts in, raising an eyebrow. “Judd, come on. You’ve been running yourself into the ground.”

I sigh, glancing at the floor. She’s not wrong, but letting go, even for an evening isn’t something that comes easy. Still, I take a deep breath and then nod, knowing that this isn’t just about me. It’s about Stevie’s safety and well-being.

Jess’ expression softens. “Look, I’m even sending my cleaner to your place while you’re out. When you come home, everything will be spotless. No dishes, no laundry piles, nothing. You deserve this.”

“Jess, that’s too much,” I protest.

She waves me off. “It’s not . You’re my brother and you’ve been doing everything alone for far too long. Let us help. Let me help.”

I open my mouth to argue, but she gives me a pointed look, daring me to say no. “Fine,” I relent, dragging the word out.

A satisfied smile spreads across her face. “Good. I’ll make sure to throw in a few more sarcastic comments than usual next week so that you still get the full big sister package. Now, what are you going to do with your evening of freedom?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” I admit.

“Well, think fast,” she says, smirking. “Maybe you could go on a date.”

I roll my eyes, but the comment lands harder than I expect. I know my family worries about me, about how little time I spend on myself. It’s just hard to think about dating when Stevie is my entire world. Not because she has to be but because my baby girl deserves nothing less.

“Or you could just have a quiet night out. Whatever makes you happy. Just promise me you’ll do something for yourself.”

“I could use a quiet night,” I say, managing a small smile. “Thanks, Jess. Really.”

She grins, giving my arm a firm squeeze. “You’re welcome. Now go run your errands and take the rest of the day off. I’ll text you about picking up Stevie.” She leaves me without allowing me to respond and I know that there’s no way either of my sisters will change their mind regarding Friday.

I guess a few hours at the bar I used to frequent couldn’t hurt. A couple of drinks, whatever game is showing on the TV, and those greasy nachos I used to love once upon a time. Feeling satisfied with my choice of outing, I focus on the errands that need to be completed before I pick up Stevie.

Grocery shopping is the most important seeing as Stevie drank the last of the milk this weekend, leaving me none for my cereal this morning. We shared a very amusing breakfast of dry Cheerios and apple juice, not something I would try again any time soon.

The child support Nakul brought will help stock the fridge and buy the few snacks Stevie truly enjoys. Everything has been smoothed over with the case worker, letting them know I have the money in hand. It’s not something I want to go through again but knowing Ava, it’s only a matter of time before she stops paying again.

That’s a future me problem.

I lose myself to my thoughts as I navigate the holiday chaos, tossing items into my cart. Working down my list with practiced ease, I don’t even have to look at the signs above each aisle to know where I’m headed. All the essentials are available despite the holiday rush which is a minor win.

However, when I reach the checkout counter, I dig into my pocket for my wallet—and my stomach drops.

It’s not there.

I pat my pockets, checking again, but it’s hopeless. My wallet is probably at home, sitting on the kitchen counter where I left it this morning after grabbing my shopping list.

“Seriously?” I mutter under my breath, frustration bubbling to the surface.

The cashier gives me a sympathetic look and I start to explain, already planning to abandon the cart and come back later. But before I can finish, a voice behind me speaks up.

“I’ve got it.”

I turn, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Standing there, holding a basket of groceries, is Nakul. He looks just as polished as he did yesterday, his hair pulled into a tight ponytail, showing off the sharp angles of his jaw. There’s no irritation in his expression, just a genuine desire to help.

“You,” I say, my voice laced with disbelief. “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me now?” It’s supposed to be a joke but definitely doesn’t come off that way. I curse some part of that on how often people usually demand something in return.

Nakul chuckles, shaking his head. “Apparently, we’re just on the same path today.”

He steps forward, handing his rewards card to the cashier before I can argue. I watch in stunned silence as he pays for my groceries, wondering if there’s something he’ll ask of me afterward. He adds his groceries in as well before swiping his card and then taking the rewards one back as well.

“You really didn’t have to do that,” I say as the cashier hands me the receipt.

“I know,” Nakul replies with a shrug. “But I wanted to.”

There’s something about Nakul, something that makes my belly do these little flips, and my cheeks heat when he’s around. My first time meeting him, I couldn’t quite understand what I was feeling. I thought it was just mild familiarity but that’s not it. I don’t know what it is. His Good Samaritan act is giving me ideas, ideas that should absolutely not be in my head.

Nakul seems oblivious as he helps me load my bags into the trunk, his fingers brushing mine every so often as we accidentally reach for the same bag. Once the last bag is in, he closes the trunk and leans against the car, his expression unreadable. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”

I blink at him. “What?”

“Lunch,” he repeats, his gaze steady. “Have you eaten?”

“No, but—”

Before I can finish, he pulls a sandwich from one of his bags and holds it out to me.

“Nakul, I can’t just—”

“You can,” he interrupts. “Eat.”

I hesitate, feeling equal parts embarrassed and touched by his insistence. Eventually, I take the sandwich, unwrapping it slowly. It’s a simple ham and cheese with mustard but it means the world. No one other than my own family members has ever seen through me this easily. It’s a bit terrifying.

As I take a bite, I catch Nakul watching me with an expression that’s hard to read—part amusement, part concern. “You don’t have to babysit me, you know,” I say, my words muffled by the food.

“I’m not babysitting,” he replies, crossing his arms. “I’m just making sure you don’t forget to take care of yourself.”

I let out a bitter laugh. Who is this man? Because he’s definitely not the Nakul from high school, the one who didn’t have a care in the world. “Yeah, well, easier said than done.”

Nakul’s expression softens. “I get that. But you can’t pour from an empty cup, Judd. Stevie needs you to be okay.”

He must be on the same wavelength as my mother because she said the same thing. “You’re not wrong,” I admit, my voice quiet. While I’ve tried to do it all alone, I just can’t. The single mothers and fathers out there who are powerhouses, keeping up their house and home on their own are my heroes. But I know my limits and the lone wolf routine is growing old.

We fall into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the bustling parking lot fading into the background. For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel seen—like someone understands the weight I’ve been carrying.

As I finish the sandwich, I glance at Nakul, really looking at him. He seems so sure of himself. It’s a stark contrast to the chaos I feel most days and I can’t help but wonder what he ever saw in Ava.

“She’s not what I expected,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. I really need to learn to keep my inside thoughts inside but for some reason, it’s easy speaking to this man.

Nakul quirks an eyebrow, a tight smile on his face. “Who?”

“Ava,” I reply, leaning against the car as I finish the sandwich. “I mean, I don’t get it. What did you ever see in her?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. His ponytail moves as well, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Fair enough.”

“It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that Stevie has you.”

His words settle over me like a blanket and for the first time in a long time, I feel a flicker of something close to hope. “Thanks,” I say, meeting his gaze.

“For what?”

“For this,” I reply, gesturing to the empty sandwich wrapper. “For… everything.” Nakul appeared just at the right time to shake things up. I’m still worrying about how I’ll finish everything before Christmas but it isn’t this dire, overwhelming, and consuming thought anymore.

“Anytime, Judd.”