Madison
Twenty minutes later, Alexander pulled up in front of Hazel’s building. The doorman glanced up from his post, then looked away when Alexander killed the engine.
“I’ll carry him up,” Alexander said.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Madison.” He turned to face me. “Let me help.”
I wanted to argue, but Ethan was dead weight, and I was exhausted. “Okay. But just to the apartment. Then you leave.”
“Deal.”
Alexander climbed out, opened the back door, and carefully extracted Ethan from the seatbelt. Ethan barely stirred, just shifted slightly, and mumbled something about cake.
I led the way into the building. The doorman nodded as we passed, his expression carefully neutral. The elevator ride was mercifully short.
Hazel’s apartment was dark when I unlocked the door. I flipped on a small lamp, creating just enough light to navigate without waking Ethan.
“Guest bedroom,” I whispered, pointing down the hall.
Alexander followed, moving carefully through the unfamiliar space. The guest room was small but comfortable, decorated in soft blues and grays.
I pulled back the covers while Alexander lowered Ethan onto the bed. His eyes fluttered open briefly.
“Mom?” His voice was thick with sleep.
“Right here, baby. You’re at Aunt Hazel’s, remember?”
“Oh. Okay.” His eyes closed again. “Night, Mom.”
“Night, sweetheart.”
I tucked the blanket around him, smoothing his hair back. When I looked up, Alexander was watching with an expression I couldn’t quite name.
“You should go,” I whispered.
Alexander nodded, but he didn’t move immediately. Just stood there, staring at Ethan like he was memorizing every detail.
“Alexander,” I prompted quietly.
“Right.” He stepped back, allowing me to lead him out of the room.
I pulled the door mostly closed, leaving it cracked in case Ethan called out. Then I turned to find Alexander standing in the hallway, hands in his pockets.
“Thank you,” I said. “For everything tonight.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me.”
“I know, but still.” I moved toward the front door. “You should probably go.”
He followed me into the living room but stopped near the couch. “Madison.”
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“What?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Depends on the question.”
“Are you really dating Christopher?”
Heat rushed to my face. “That’s none of your business.”
“It is if you’re lying to keep me away.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Aren’t you?” He stepped closer. “If you’re using him as a shield, that tells me you’re scared. And if you’re scared, that means you feel something.”
“That’s a big leap.”
“Is it?” Alexander’s eyes held mine. “Five years ago, you ran instead of fighting for us. Now you’re hiding behind a fake boyfriend instead of admitting you still feel something.” 1
“You don’t know what I feel.”
“Then tell me.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. What could I say? That he was right? That seeing him again had cracked open feelings I’d spent years burying? That watching him with Ethan made my chest ache in ways I didn’t want to examine?
“You need to leave,” I said finally.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only answer you’re getting tonight.” I moved to the door and opened it. “Thank you for the ride. For carrying Ethan. For
all of it.”
Alexander stood there for a moment, clearly debating whether to push further. Then he nodded once and headed toward the
door.
He paused in the doorway, turning back. He reached out like he might touch my face, then seemed to think better of it. His hand dropped. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I closed the door behind him, leaning against it as his footsteps faded down the hallway. The apartment felt too quiet without his presence, which was ridiculous because he’d only been here for minutes.
I pushed off the door, moving through the dark apartment on autopilot. Checked the lock. Turned off the lamp. Stood in the kitchen drinking water I didn’t want.
Anthony’s words kept circling. “Everyone makes mistakes. Moving forward matters more than staying stuck in the past.”
But what if moving forward meant getting hurt again?
I set down the glass, staring at nothing. Tomorrow. I’d deal with all of this tomorrow.
***
Sunlight streamed through the window, too bright and too early.
I blinked against the brightness streaming through unfamiliar curtains, my brain taking a second to catch up. Right: Hazel’s guest room. Oliver’s birthday party. Alexander showing up like some kind of heat–seeking missile programmed to destroy my
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peace.
Anthony’s words circled my head like birds I couldn’t shoo away. Everyone makes mistakes. Moving forward matters more than staying stuck.
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one whose ex–boss had suddenly decided to care about a son he’d never met.
I sat up, running my hands through my tangled hair. The apartment was quiet except for muffled sounds from the kitchen. Probably, Hazel was making coffee.
I should check on Ethan.
I padded down the hallway in my oversized t–shirt and pants, following the sound of small–boy chatter. The living room came into view first, then the kitchen beyond it.
Ethan sat at the breakfast bar, swinging his legs and talking to Hazel. His hair stuck up in every direction.
“Morning, baby.”
He spun around on his stool. “Mom! You’re awake! Aunt Hazel made pancakes! They’re shaped like circles!”
“Most pancakes are circles.”
“But these ones are REALLY round! Like perfect circles!” He gestured with his hands, creating an approximation of a sphere that
was nowhere near circular.
Hazel appeared from behind the refrigerator door, two coffee mugs in hand. “Morning. Coffee?”
“Please.”
She handed me a mug. The coffee was hot, strong, and exactly what I needed.
“Sleep okay?” Hazel asked, her tone casual but her eyes assessing.
“Fine.”
“Liar.”
“Mom!” Ethan interrupted, bouncing on his stool with enough force to make it wobble. “When can we visit King Alexander’s castle?”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “What?”
“His kingdom! Remember? He said I could visit!” Ethan’s enthusiasm ramped up, his hands gesturing wildly.
“We’ll see, baby,”
“But he promised! And you always say we keep our promises!” His face scrunched up. “Can we go today? Please?”
“Not today.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Ethan.”
“But Mom!” The whine had entered his voice now. “I really, really want to see his kingdom!”
Hazel caught my eye over his head, her expression a mix of sympathy and poorly concealed amusement.
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen. Alexander’s name flashed across it, mocking me.
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“I need to take this,” I said, setting down my coffee. “Ethan, eat your pancakes.”
“Can I have syrup?”
“Just a little.”
“What about whipped cream?”
“Ethan.”
“Okay, okay!” He grabbed his fork with both hands and attacked his perfectly circular pancake with enthusiasm.
D
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Chapter 4
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.
