Chapter 401
Madison
I poured him a small glass of milk and handed over the cookie, watching as he carefully carried both to a nearby table. My mother followed, settling into the chair beside him.
Christopher leaned closer to me, his voice low. “He’s adorable. My nephew’s six. Into dinosaurs too, actually.” He watched Ethan devour his cookie with enthusiasm. “Seems like a good kid,
“He is.” Pride swelled in my chest, the kind only a parent understood.
Christopher’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and grimaced. “Work. I should take this.”
“Go ahead.”
He grabbed his phone and stepped outside.
I busied myself wiping down the espresso machine, trying to ignore the knowing look my mother was giving me.
“He’s nice,” she said finally.
“Who?”
“Christopher. Very polite. Handsome too.”
“Mom.”
“I’m just saying.” She took a sip of Ethan’s milk, earning a protest from my son. “You could do worse.”
“We’re not dating.”
“You’re not? Could have fooled me with all that talk about anniversaries.”
“That was for a client.”
“Mm–hmm.” She didn’t sound convinced.
Ethan finished his cookie and bounced over to the counter. “Can I help?”
“Help with what, baby?”
“Behind the counter! Like last time!” His eyes sparkled with excitement. “I can reach the napkins now. I practiced!”
I glanced at the café. Only three customers besides my mother, all absorbed in their laptops or books. “Okay, but you have to be careful.”
“I will!” He raced around the counter before I could change my mind.
I lifted him onto a small stepstool I kept for exactly this purpose. He’d been fascinated by the café, always wanting to “help” with tasks that usually created more work than they solved.
“What should I do?” He looked up at me with those eyes, so much like his father’s, it sometimes hurt.
“Stack these napkins for me. Nice and neat.”
“I can do that!” He grabbed the first napkin with both hands, his tongue poking out in concentration as he carefully placed it on the pile.
Christopher returned, pocketing his phone as he approached. “Work emergency. I should probably head back to the office.”
“No problem. Thanks for agreeing to help with the whole fake boyfriend thing.”
He laughed. “Anytime. Though I meant what I said earlier. We should actually go out sometime. No pressure, just dinner. See what happens.”
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Chapter 401
+25 Bonus
“Christopher…”
“I know, I know. You’re not ready. But the offer stands.” He grabbed his laptop bag. “And if your ex–boss shows up asking questions, I’ve got your back.”
“Thank you.”
He headed toward the door, pausing to wave at my mother. “Always a pleasure, Mrs. Harper.”
“You too, Christopher!”
The door closed behind him, the bell chiming cheerfully.
Ethan focused on stacking napkins with the concentration of a master architect, his tongue poking out slightly as he carefully placed each one.
“Very good,” I said, watching him create his wobbly tower.
“I’m the best stacker in the whole world!”
“In the whole world? That’s impressive.”
“Yep! Even better than Grandma.”
I smiled despite the knot in my stomach.
The bell chimed again.
I glanced up automatically, my customer service smile ready.
Alexander Knight walked through the door.
My heart slammed against my ribs. Of course. Of course, he’d show up now, when Ethan was right here, visible behind the
counter.
I should stop this. Should grab Ethan and take him to the back before Alexander saw him properly.
But I didn’t move.
Alexander approached the counter with that familiar stride, all controlled power and expensive suit. His eyes found mine first, held for a moment, then shifted.
To Ethan.
My son stood on his stepstool, completely oblivious to the man who’d just entered, still focused on his napkin masterpiece.
“Coffee,” Alexander said, his voice carefully neutral. “Black. Large.“‘
“Coming up.” I forced the words out, my hands already moving to the espresso machine out of pure muscle memory.
Ethan’s napkin tower wobbled, then collapsed spectacularly across the counter.
“Oops!” He giggled, gathering them back into a pile.
I watched Alexander from the corner of my eye as I pulled his shot. He was staring at Ethan with an intensity that made my chest tight.
My mother sat in the corner with her book, barely glancing up when Alexander entered.
“Here you go.” I set the coffee on the counter. “$3.75.”
Alexander pulled out a twenty, his eyes still on Ethan. “Keep the change.”
“We have a tip jar.”
“I’m aware.” He pushed the twenty across the counter toward me instead.
Choptal 401
+25 Bonus
Ethan finally noticed we had a customer. He looked up, his eyes, Alexander’s eyes, meeting his father’s.
“Hi!” Ethan waved enthusiastically. “I’m helping Mom!”
“That’s very helpful of you,” Alexander said, his voice oddly tight
“I know! I’m the best helper.” Ethan bounced on his stepstool. “I can reach the napkins now. I practiced!”
“Did you?”
“Yep! Wanna see?” Before I could stop him, Ethan demonstrated by grabbing a handful of napkins from the dispenser. “See? I’m super tall now!”
Alexander’s lips twitched. Almost a smile. “Very tall.”
I needed to end this. Now. Before this entire carefully constructed life exploded.
“Ethan, baby, why don’t you take those napkins to Grandma? She might need some.”
“But I’m helping you!”
“I know, and you’re doing great. But Grandma needs you more right now.”
Ethan’s face scrunched up, clearly torn between his duties. Then he grabbed the napkins and scrambled down from the
stepstool with all the grace of a tiny tornado.
“Okay! Bye, Mr. Customer!” He waved at Alexander again before racing toward my mother’s table.
Alexander watched him go, his jaw tight.
The silence stretched between us, loaded with everything we weren’t saying.
“Madison,” Alexander said finally, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
“Your coffee’s getting cold.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. For a moment, he just looked at me, something flickering in his eyes that I couldn’t quite name. Then his gaze shifted to Ethan.
“You raised him well.”
The words came out quiet. Too quiet. And underneath them, I heard something else. Something that made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t afford to examine.
D
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