Chapter 6
When Tuesday rolls around, Charlie isn’t entirely surprised to wake up to the sound of a tantrum. He groans, squinting at the clock on his nightstand. 6:45 AM. Too early for this kind of chaos, but he’d had a feeling this might happen.
Last night, he’d noticed something was off with Remy. His usually bubbly and talkative son had been quiet during dinner, pushing his food around his plate and mumbling when Charlie asked about his day. He’d tried to gently coax it out of him—asking if anything happened at school or if something was bothering him—but Remy had just shaken his head and insisted he was “fine.”
Clearly, he wasn’t.
Charlie stumbles out of bed, still half-asleep, and heads to the living room, where he’s met with the sight of Remy sitting on the floor, tears streaming down his cheeks as he screams and kicks his little legs.
“Buds,” Charlie says gently, crouching down and rubbing his eyes to wake himself up. “What’s going on, huh? Why are we having a meltdown so early in the morning?”
Remy doesn’t answer right away, just cries louder, his fists pounding the carpet.
“Hey, hey,” Charlie says, keeping his voice calm despite the overwhelming urge to flop back into bed. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? You seemed upset last night, too. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Remy sniffles, his voice shaky as he finally wails, “People at school mean!”
Charlie’s heart sinks. “Mean? Oh, Buds, what happened? Did someone say something to you?”
Remy nods, his lip trembling as more tears fall. “Yeah! They said I’m not fun ‘cause I don’t play house! I don’t wanna play house! I wanna play dinos!”
Charlie sighs softly, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to his son. “Oh, Buds, I’m so sorry they said that. That’s not nice at all. You don’t have to play house if you don’t want to. It’s okay to like dinos instead.”
Remy sniffles louder, crossing his arms. “But they said I’m not their friend anymore!” he cries. “Mr. Nick said sharing is good, but I don’t wanna share dinos with them! They don’t like dinos like me!”
Charlie reaches out, wiping a tear from Remy’s cheek. “It’s okay, Buds. You don’t have to share your dinos if you don’t want to, and it’s okay if not everyone wants to play the same thing as you. You’ll find kids who love dinos just as much as you do, I promise.”
Remy sniffles again, looking up at Charlie with wide, teary eyes. “Really?”
“Really,” Charlie says with a reassuring smile. “And if someone’s mean to you, you can always tell Mr. Nick or me, okay? We’ll help you figure it out.”
But it seems that no matter what Charlie says, Remy is completely inconsolable. From brushing his teeth to getting changed to sitting down for breakfast, every little thing sends his son into another burst of tears.
“Buds, come on,” Charlie says softly for what feels like the tenth time, crouching in front of Remy as he sobs into his cereal. “I know school feels hard right now, but it’s going to be okay. You’re going to have fun, and I bet Mr. Nick has some cool stuff planned for today.”
But Remy just shakes his head furiously, hiccuping between sobs. “Nooo, school’s not fun! People are mean!”
Charlie sighs, running a hand through his messy hair, his patience wearing thin even though he knows Remy isn’t trying to be difficult. He kneels down, trying to coax his son through it, but nothing seems to work. Every time he thinks the tears are subsiding, something small sets them off again, leaving Charlie feeling completely out of options.
It’s only when they’re getting ready to leave for school—Remy still sniffling, his face red and puffy—that Charlie has an idea. He crouches down again, looking Remy in the eye. “Alright, Buds. How about this: if you stop crying, we’ll stop by the coffee shop on the way to school, and I’ll get you your favorite doughnuts. But only if you stop crying, okay?”
Remy’s hiccups immediately stop. His wide, tear-filled eyes blink up at Charlie. “The sprinkle doughnuts? With the chocolate?”
Charlie bites back a laugh, nodding. “Yes, Buds. The sprinkle doughnuts with the chocolate.”
Remy sniffles one last time, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Okay. I stop crying now.”
Charlie stands up, exhaling in relief as Remy finally grabs his backpack without another fuss. “Well, that was easy,” he mutters under his breath, shaking his head as they head out the door.
On the drive to school, Remy chatters happily about how many sprinkles his doughnuts will have and whether the chocolate will taste the same as last time, as if the morning meltdown had never happened. Charlie glances at him in the rearview mirror, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his exhaustion.
When they arrive at the coffee shop, Remy is practically vibrating with excitement. As soon as Charlie parks the car, Remy is out of his seat, grabbing Charlie’s hand and tugging him toward the entrance with all the strength his tiny body can muster.
“Come on, Daddy! Hurry, hurry!” Remy exclaims, practically hopping as he tries to drag Charlie forward.
Charlie chuckles, following along at a more reasonable pace. When they reach the door, Remy frowns, his little arms straining as he attempts to push the heavy door open on his own. It doesn’t budge.
“Ugh!” Remy huffs, pouting up at the stubborn door.
Charlie laughs softly, stepping forward to pull the door open. As he does, he ruffles Remy’s hair with a fond smile. “Thanks for helping, Buds. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Remy beams at the praise, his earlier frustration forgotten, and skips happily inside. Charlie follows, fully expecting this to be a normal—if slightly chaotic—coffee run. What he doesn’t expect, however, is to see him.
Standing in line, casually glancing up at the menu, is none other than Mr. Nick Nelson. Mr. Nelson. Charlie freezes for half a second, his heart doing an unexpected little flip.
Apparently, Charlie isn’t the only one who notices him, because the second Remy’s eyes land on Nick’s blondish-red hair, he lights up like a Christmas tree.
“Mr. Nelson! Mr. Nelson!” Remy shouts, his voice carrying through the coffee shop as he takes off running.
“Remy—wait!” Charlie calls after him, but it’s too late.
Remy barrels into Nick without hesitation, wrapping his arms tightly around Nick’s legs before Nick even has a chance to crouch down.
Nick looks down in surprise, his face breaking into a wide smile as he recognizes the little boy clinging to him. “Well, hey there, buddy!” he says warmly, crouching down to properly return the hug. “What are you doing here so early?”
Remy looks up at Nick with a big grin. “Daddy got me doughnuts! Chocolate ones with sprinkles!”
Nick laughs, glancing up just in time to see Charlie walking over, his expression caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement. “Well, that sounds like a pretty great way to start the day,” Nick says, looking back at Remy.
Charlie clears his throat, his cheeks already starting to burn as he reaches them. “Sorry about that,” he says, giving Nick an apologetic smile. “Someone’s very enthusiastic this morning.”
Nick stands, still smiling, and waves it off. “No problem at all. It’s always good to see one of my students outside of school.”
Charlie nods awkwardly, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Yeah, uh… we’re just here for a quick treat before school.”
Nick’s smile softens as he glances between Charlie and Remy. “Well, you’ve got great taste, Remy. Chocolate sprinkle doughnuts are the best.”
Remy nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! You can have one, Mr. Nelson!”
Charlie blinks, caught off guard by his son’s generous offer. “Buds, let’s not—”
But Nick laughs, shaking his head. “That’s very kind of you, Remy. But I think I’m going to stick with my coffee this morning.”
Charlie feels his shoulders relax slightly, though the way Nick’s easy smile lingers makes his heart race in a way he’s not entirely prepared for.
Charlie breaks into a small smile despite himself, looking up at Nick. “Hi.”
Nick returns the smile, tilting his head slightly as he says, “Hi,” his warm tone making Charlie’s heart do an awkward little flip.
For a moment, Nick just looks at him, and Charlie can already feel the heat rushing to his cheeks. Damn it, he thinks, mentally cursing himself for blushing like a teenager.
Nick seems to notice, but if he does, he doesn’t comment. Instead, he says with a hint of concern, “You kind of look tired. Was it a long night?”
Charlie huffs a quiet laugh, ruffling Remy’s hair as he answers, “Oh, well, just a little one. He woke up super early because he got sad.”
Before Charlie can elaborate, Remy immediately pipes up, his voice loud and full of indignation. “No, I was not sad! Daddy’s lying! Mr. Nick, don’t listen to Daddy!”
Nick’s eyebrows shoot up in amusement as he looks between the two of them, clearly biting back a laugh. “Oh, really?” he says, crouching back down to Remy’s level. “Then what happened, huh? If you weren’t sad, what got you up so early?”
Remy puffs out his chest a little, clearly pleased to have Nick’s attention. “People at school are mean!” he declares dramatically. “But Daddy’s wrong. I wasn’t sad. I just didn’t want to go to school.”
Charlie lets out a long-suffering sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Buds…”
But Nick doesn’t seem fazed. If anything, his expression softens as he looks at Remy. “That’s tough, buddy,” he says gently. “I’m sorry to hear that. But you know what? Even if people are mean sometimes, I think you’re really brave for still coming to school. And hey, if you ever need someone to talk to about it, I’m always there, okay?”
Remy nods solemnly, as if Nick’s words carry the weight of the universe. “Okay, Mr. Nick.”
Charlie watches the exchange, his heart squeezing a little at how naturally Nick handles the situation. It’s no wonder Remy adores him.
Nick stands back up, giving Charlie another small smile. “Seems like you’ve got a pretty great kid here.”
Charlie feels his blush deepening as he fumbles for a response. “Yeah, uh, he’s… he’s the best,” he says softly, glancing at Remy, who is now beaming up at Nick.
Remy tugs on Charlie’s hand, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Daddy, can we get the sprinkle doughnuts now?!”
Charlie kneels down, about to explain to Remy that they need to wait in line for a little while, when Nick interrupts.
“Oh, well,” Nick says casually, a soft smile on his face. “I mean, I can get you guys your breakfast if you want. I could buy Remy his doughnuts.”
Remy’s jaw drops, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Free doughnuts?! No way!” he exclaims, practically vibrating with excitement. “Best morning ever! Daddy, we gotta go here every day, okay, Dada? Every day!”
Charlie immediately shakes his head, standing up quickly. “Oh, no, no, Nick, I can’t have you do that,” he says, his voice tinged with embarrassment.
Nick waves it off, his smile widening slightly. “Oh, don’t worry about it,” he says. “He was having a rough morning, and honestly, I probably should have called you yesterday to let you know what was going on. I didn’t, so… maybe this can be my way of making up for it?”
Charlie hesitates, glancing down at Remy, who is now staring at Nick like he’s some kind of superhero. “I mean… you really don’t have to,” Charlie says, still feeling a little awkward.
“I know I don’t have to,” Nick replies, his tone light and reassuring. “But I want to. It’s not a big deal, Charlie. Really.”
Charlie finally relents, sighing softly. “Alright. If you insist. But only this once, okay?”
Nick chuckles, nodding. “Deal.”
“Best day ever!” Remy shouts again, practically bouncing on his toes.
Nick kneels down, looking at Remy with a grin. “So, buddy, what kind of doughnuts are we getting today? Chocolate with sprinkles, right?”
Remy nods so enthusiastically that Charlie worries he might fall over. “Yeah! Chocolate with sprinkles! And maybe another one for later?”
Charlie groans, pinching the bridge of his nose as Nick laughs. “Nice try, Buds,” Charlie mutters.
Nick stands back up, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Alright, let’s get you your doughnuts, then.”
As Nick steps toward the counter with Remy practically glued to his side, Charlie watches the two of them interact. Despite his embarrassment, he can’t help but smile softly. For someone he’s only known for twelve days, Nick Nelson is quickly becoming a very complicated part of his life.
Charlie can feel himself spiraling into a full-on gay panic. Nick is standing there, smiling warmly, being kind and generous, interacting with his son like he’s known them forever, and Charlie’s brain is screaming at him. How is this man real? How is he this good with kids? And why does he have to look so good in that damn button-up?
He’s so caught up in his internal chaos that he almost doesn’t hear Nick’s voice cutting through his thoughts.
“Oh, and what is it that you’re wanting, Charlie?” Nick asks, turning his gaze toward him with an easy smile.
Charlie blinks, snapping out of his head. “Oh, no, no, no,” he stammers quickly, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I’m not getting anything. This is just for Remy.”
Nick tilts his head, unconvinced. “Oh, it’s really no bother,” he says lightly. “Are you wanting some coffee? Or maybe some hot cocoa? Or, you know, what is it that you’re wanting?”
Charlie hesitates, his cheeks flushing as he fidgets slightly. “Um, I mean… my favorite is a chai tea with an extra shot of espresso, but—”
Before he can finish, Nick turns to the counter and says, “Yeah, and I’d like one of those too, please.”
Charlie’s mouth falls open, his brain scrambling to keep up. “Wait—what? Nick, you don’t have to—”
Nick waves him off, glancing back with an amused grin. “Charlie, it’s really no big deal. You’re already letting me buy Remy’s doughnuts. What’s one chai tea? Consider it a thank-you for being a great dad.”
Charlie’s face turns an even deeper shade of red as he stares at Nick, utterly flustered. “I… uh… well, thanks,” he mumbles, feeling like every word coming out of his mouth is inadequate.
Nick just smiles again, completely unfazed, and turns back to the counter to finish the order.
Charlie stands there, frozen in place, wondering how he’s supposed to survive the rest of this morning without completely embarrassing himself. Because Nick Nelson isn’t just kind—he’s charming. And Charlie is starting to realize just how dangerous that combination can be.
Once Nick finishes placing the order, the three of them move to find a seat. Charlie trails behind, still feeling a little awkward but grateful nonetheless. They settle at a small table near the corner, waiting for their names to be called for the drinks and doughnuts.
Charlie sits down, his hands clasped tightly on the table, watching as Remy bounces happily in his chair. The warmth of Nick’s gesture still lingers, and Charlie can’t shake the feeling that he should say something. No one’s ever done anything like that before, he thinks, a mixture of gratitude and disbelief swirling inside him.
Finally, he clears his throat, glancing at Nick. “Thank you so much,” he says, his voice earnest. “I mean, really, you didn’t have to do that. I could have gotten it on my own.”
Nick smiles at him, his expression easy and genuine. “I know, Charlie,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “I was just being nice. I don’t really see a lot of my students’ parents outside of school, and, well… especially if their kid is as good as Remy, I feel like I should say thanks in return for raising such a great kid.”
Remy’s eyes widen, his face lighting up with excitement as he turns to Charlie. “I’m a good kid? Did you hear that, Dada? Nicky thinks I’m a good kid!”
Charlie laughs softly, his heart warming at the sight of his son’s delight. “I heard, Buds. Pretty great compliment, huh?”
“Yeah!” Remy exclaims, bouncing in his chair again. “Best morning ever!”
Nick chuckles, watching Remy’s enthusiasm with a fond smile. “He’s a bright one,” he says, glancing back at Charlie. “You’re doing a good job, you know.”
Charlie blinks, caught off guard by the sincerity in Nick’s tone. He feels a familiar heat rising to his cheeks again. “Thanks,” he says quietly, looking down at the table. “That… that means a lot. It’s definitely not easy doing it on my own,” he admits, his tone quiet but honest.
Nick’s expression shifts, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he quickly recovers. “Oh, I didn’t… Oh, well, regardless,” he says, his voice gentle, “he’s a really bright kid and a really good kid. You should be really proud of yourself, especially if you are doing it on your own.”
Charlie glances down at the table, fiddling with a napkin as he feels his cheeks heat slightly. “Yeah, well, I try my best, at least,” he murmurs.
Nick smiles warmly, leaning forward a little. “Your best is more than enough. It shows, Charlie. Remy’s lucky to have you.”
Charlie looks up, the sincerity in Nick’s voice catching him off guard. “Thanks,” he says softly, his chest tightening in a way that feels oddly comforting and overwhelming at the same time.
Remy, oblivious to the emotional weight of the conversation, beams up at Nick. “Yeah, Daddy’s the best! He makes pancakes with smiles on them and lets me wear my dino jacket every day!”
Nick chuckles, and looks at Remy nodding aggressively. “Sounds like you’ve got a pretty awesome dad.”
Remy grins wide, practically bouncing in his seat. “I do have an awesome dada! And since I have an awesome dad, and you’re an aweeeesoomeee teacher,” he says, pointing at Nick with all the seriousness a four-year-old can muster, “you guys should be friends!”
Charlie feels his stomach drop, his face immediately flushing as he stammers, “Buds, that’s not how—”
But Remy barrels on, undeterred. “I mean, friends don’t buy me doughnuts with sprinkles and chocolate, and they don’t buy my daddy his yucky drinks.” He crosses his arms, looking between Nick and Charlie with a dramatic pout. “So you need to be friends. Right nowww!"
Nick lets out a laugh, clearly amused by the declaration, though his ears turn just a bit pink. “Oh, is that how it works?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at Remy.
“Yeah!” Remy says, nodding vigorously. “Friends help each other! And you helped us, so now you’re friends. That’s the rule.”
Charlie groans softly, pressing his palm to his face. “Remy, buddy, it’s not that simple…”
Nick glances at Charlie, his smile turning a little softer. “Well, I mean, your kid’s got a point. Helping each other out is a pretty good rule for friends.”
Charlie lowers his hand, looking up at Nick with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. “Nick, you really don’t have to—”
Nick shrugs lightly, his tone teasing but kind. “I’m just saying, Charlie. Remy seems to know what he’s talking about.”
Charlie sighs softly, the weight of the moment and Remy’s determination settling over him. He glances down at the table, his fingers fidgeting slightly before he feels a blush creeping up his cheeks. With a nervous laugh, he looks back at Nick.
“I mean… do you want to be my friend?” Charlie asks, his voice quieter than he intended.
Nick’s smile widens, his eyes warm and kind. “Yeah,” he says without hesitation. “I think that would be nice.”
Charlie blinks, a little caught off guard by how easy Nick makes it sound. He nods, his blush deepening as he tries to find the right words. “Oh. Well then, um… okay. Friends.”
Nick chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair. “Friends,” he agrees, his voice light but genuine.
Remy, watching the exchange with a big grin, claps his hands together. “See! Told youuu! This is the best day ever!!!!"
What Charlie absolutely does not expect is the realization that he’s just promised both himself and his son that he would be friends with Mr. Nick Nelson. Not only his son’s teacher, but also the man who looks like he walked straight out of Mount Olympus, muscles practically peeking out from beneath his perfectly fitted shirts.
And then there’s his hair—his stupid, gorgeous blondish-red hair that looks like it was styled by angels. And the freckles. Oh, God, the freckles. Charlie can already feel himself spiraling just thinking about how much he wants to trace them with his fingers or—oh no—kiss every single one of them.
He’s utterly and totally doomed.
Because how is he supposed to be just friends with someone that hot? Someone who’s not only beautiful but also kind and charming and amazing with his kid?
Charlie can already feel the impending disaster looming on the horizon. Being friends with Nick Nelson is bound to be a one-way ticket to heartbreak, unrequited feelings, and awkward situations he’s not emotionally equipped to handle.
But as Nick glances at him again, flashing that warm, disarming smile that makes Charlie’s knees weak even when he’s sitting down, Charlie knows one thing for sure: he’s in trouble. Big trouble.