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I laughed, then he became serious again.

“When he’s with his mom, I pour back into myself.”

I tilted my head. “What do you mean?”

“I go to the gym, see my boys, travel sometimes, go out, and sit in this house and do absolutely nothing if I don’t feel like it.”

“That sounds nice.”

“It is.”

“And you don’t feel guilty?”

“Used to.” He shrugged. “Then I realized rest makes me a better father.”

I stared at him.

“People make kids sound like a punishment after relationships end.”

He continued. “Like, damn, I still gotta deal with this person forever because we have a child.”

I nodded.

“I never wanted to look at Eli that way. He isn’t the burden. He’s the blessing.”

My eyes burned. Shit. I looked down quickly.

Nash noticed. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

He frowned. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not.”

“There are tears.”

“Wine.”

“Wine is coming out of your eyes?”

I wiped beneath them. “Shut up.”

“What happened?”

I shook my head. “That was just… beautiful.”

He looked slightly uncomfortable with the compliment.

“My parents should’ve divorced.” The words came before I decided to say them.

“They stayed together.” I swallowed. “They loved each other. Still do, but sometimes love wasn’t enough to make what they were doing to each other healthy.”

I looked at my wine. “I think they thought keeping the family together was better for us.”

“And you don’t?”

I shook my head. “No.”