Chapter 416
Madison
“You can’t just make promises to him,” I said, keeping my voice low. “He’s a kid. He’ll hold you to every word.”
“Good. I meant every word.”
“Alexander.”
“What? You want me to lie to him instead? Tell him he can’t visit when he clearly wants to?”
“I want you to coordinate with me before making plans that involve my son.” 1
“Our son.”
I opened my mouth to argue, then caught sight of Ethan trying to climb onto a chair that was definitely too high. “Excuse me.”
I moved across the room, catching Ethan just as the chair wobbled dangerously.
“Whoa there, Spider–Man. Let’s keep our feet on the ground.”
“But I wanted to see the decorations from up high!”
“You can see them just fine from down here.” I set him firmly on his feet. “Go find the other kids. I think they’re playing with balloons near the stage.”
“Okay!” He raced off without a backward glance.
I watched him disappear into the crowd of balloons and laughing children, my chest tight with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite untangle.
Alexander stepped closer. “I’ll watch him.”
I turned to face him. “You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t have to.” His voice dropped lower. “I want to. You carry on with the party. I’ll take care of Ethan.”
“Alexander-”
“Madison, let me do this.”
The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard. I glanced across the venue, spotting Ethan already deep in conversation with another kid, his hands gesturing wildly.
“No ice cream,” I said finally. “And no promises to him.”
Alexander’s lips curved slightly. “Understood.”
“I mean it. Don’t tell him he can visit your penthouse or count floors or any of that.”
“I already invited him.”
Heat rushed to my face. “Then uninvite him.”
“Can’t take back an invitation once it’s given.” His expression remained infuriatingly calm, “But you’re invited too. Both of you. The offer stands.”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. What was the point? Alexander was stubborn when he decided on something, and apparently, he’d decided this.
I just nodded, not trusting myself to actually answer about visiting his place.
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Chapter 416
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“Where are you staying?” Alexander asked suddenly.
“What?”
“In New York. Where are you staying? How many days will you be here?”
I crossed my arms. “Hazel’s apartment. And I’ll probably leave the day after tomorrow morning. Maybe tomorrow evening if Mom needs me back at the café.”
His jaw tightened slightly. “That’s not much time.”
“It’s a birthday party, not a vacation.”
“Still.” He paused. “Stay longer. I want to take you both out. Spend some time together. Maybe an amusement park. Ethan would love that.”
My heart did that stupid flutter thing. “Alexander-”
“Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I’ll think about it,” I heard myself say.
“Good.” He glanced toward where Ethan was now attempting to teach the other kid his cartwheel technique. “I should go before he actually breaks something.”
“Please do.”
Alexander walked away, and I watched him approach my son with an ease that shouldn’t have felt so natural. Ethan lit up immediately, grabbing Alexander’s hand and dragging him toward the balloon arch.
Hazel appeared at my elbow. “Did Alexander just volunteer for babysitting duty?”
“Apparently.”
“That’s either really sweet or really calculated.”
“Probably both,” I muttered.
We stood there watching Alexander crouch down to Ethan’s level, nodding seriously at whatever dinosaur facts my son was undoubtedly sharing. Ethan’s hands moved a mile a minute, his whole body vibrating with excitement.
“He’s good with him,” Hazel observed.
“Don’t.”
“I’m just saying. Look at them.”
I looked. Alexander had lifted Ethan onto his shoulders so he could see the decorations better. My son squealed with delight, his small hands gripping Alexander’s hair for balance.
My chest constricted.
“I need a drink,” I said.
“You don’t drink.”
“Then I need something else. Food Distraction. Anything ”
Hazel steered me toward the food table, loading, a plate with appetizers I didn’t want. “Eat. You look pale. ”
“I’m fine.”
Chapter 416
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“You’re not fine. You look like someone who just realized her carefully constructed walls are crumbling.”
“My walls are perfectly intact, thank you.”
“Sure, they are.” Hazel shoved the plate into my hands. “Eat.”
I picked at a cheese cube, my eyes drifting back to Alexander and Ethan despite my best efforts. They’d moved to a quieter corner, Alexander kneeling while Ethan showed him something on his tablet.
Oliver appeared, looking slightly harassed. “Has anyone seen my mother? I can’t find her anywhere.”
“Check the bathroom,” Hazel suggested. “She was fixing her makeup last I saw.”
“Right. Bathroom. Obviously.” He disappeared into the crowd.
“This party is chaos,” I observed.
“Welcome to Oliver’s family gatherings. Organized chaos at its finest.” Hazel snagged a mini quiche from my plate. “So what did Alexander say when he volunteered for babysitting?”
“That he wants to spend time with Ethan. Take us to an amusement park or something.”
“And you said?”
“That I’d think about it.”
“Which means?”
“Which means I’ll think about it.” I set down the plate, my appetite gone. “Can we not analyze every conversation I have with
him?”
“But analyzing is so fun.”
“For you maybe.”
Hazel’s expression softened. “Look, I know this is complicated. But maybe it’s not the worst thing that Alexander wants to be involved in. Ethan deserves to know his father.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? Because you look like someone trying to protect her kid from a threat, not someone facilitating a relationship.” 1
The words stung because they held truth.
Before I could respond, a commotion near the cake table drew our attention. Oliver’s mother had appeared, looking elegant and composed, ready for the cake cutting ceremony.
“Showtime,” Hazel said, grabbing my arm. “Come on. We need to sing happy birthday off key like civilized people.”
The crowd gathered around the massive cake, three tiers of chocolate and vanilla perfection. Oliver stood at the center, looking embarrassed by all the attention.
I scanned the crowd for Ethan and found him still with Alexander, now perched on Alexander’s hip as he belonged there. My son’s head rested against Alexander’s shoulder, tired from all the excitement. 1
“Ready?” Oliver’s mother called out. “One, two, three!”
“Happy birthday to you!”
The singing was enthusiastic if not particularly melodic. I joined in, the familiar words automatic, while my brain stayed stuck on the image of Ethan comfortable in Alexander’s arms.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
