Page 33 of Essence of his Soul

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I pulled into Essence’s driveway, letting the engine idle momentarily as a mix of satisfaction and frustration settled over me. Tyler had been a superstar at the mall, charming every woman within a ten-mile radius with those big brown eyes and that infectious laugh. It was like rolling around with a celebrity. One look at him and women practically tripped over themselves to initiate a conversation. But as flattering as all that attention was, none of it mattered. There was only one woman I wanted, and she was the one who kept drawing that damn line in the sand. Essence. She made it clear from the jump that all she wanted was for us to be co-parents for Tyler.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And I’d agreed—at least for now. But Essence knew as well as I did that I wasn’t the type to settle for less than I wanted. And I wanted her.Bad.I turned off the engine, grabbed Tyler, and approached the house. As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed the soft glow of the TV casting a warm light over the living room. Essence was stretched out on the sofa, looking all kinds of relaxed, watching one of those sappy Hallmark Christmas movies she seemed to love so much. The empty plate on the coffee table told me she’d enjoyed the lasagna I left for her. Good. I was hoping she would. “Hey,” I said, setting Tyler down. He immediately toddled over to Essence, climbing onto the sofa like he’d been doing it forever. “Hey,” she replied, her eyes flicking from the TV to me, already bracing herself. I could see it in how she tensed like she was waiting for me to start in on her again about our future and how I wasn’t just gonna be some part-time dad. But tonight, I had a different plan. “Tyler’s had a big day,” I said, keeping my tone casual as I scooped him back up. “I’m gonna get him ready for bed.” Essence blinked, clearly surprised, but she didn’t say a word. She watched as I carried Tyler down the hall to his room, probably wondering what was up. I went through the whole bedtime routine, giving Tyler a quick bath, getting him into his little pajamas, and tucking him into his crib. He was out like a light within minutes, his tiny chest rising and falling steadily. I stood there momentarily, just watching him sleep, feeling that familiar pride and protectiveness that always hit me when I saw him like this.

Our son.

After ensuring he was settled, I returned to the living room. Essence was still on the sofa, her eyes on the TV, but I could tell she wasn’t really watching anymore. She was waiting, expecting me to sit and start the conversation we both knew was inevitable.

But not tonight.

I walked over to the door, grabbing my coat. “Well, I’m gonnahead out. See you in the morning,” I said, keeping my tone light, almost calm.

Essence sat up a little straighter, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. “You’re leaving?”

“Yep,” I replied like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Tyler’s down for the night, and you look like you’re enjoying your movie. Figured I’d let you relax.”

She didn’t say anything at first; she just stared at me like she was trying to figure out what game I was playing. I could see the confusion in her eyes, the way her mind was racing, trying to make sense of it.

“Thanks for the garage opening,” she said shyly.

“No problem. I am glad I could help.”

“Do you want to watch a movie?” she said, gesturing toward the sofa so I could join her. “We can turn to something else?”

The idea was so damn tempting. “No, I have other plans,” I said, flashing a quick smile before turning and heading for the door. “Good night, Essence.”

“Good night,” she finally managed to say, her voice a little uncertain, like she wasn’t sure what just happened.

I walked out, closing the door behind me, and couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I got into my car. I knew I was leaving her wondering, and that’s exactly what I wanted. I played by her rules tonight, but I ensured she knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t backing down, and I damn sure wasn’t giving up.

Patience. That’s what this was about. I could give her that—for now. Let her think she was in control. Let her wonder what I was up to. But one way or another, I would break down those walls she kept putting up. I would make her see that we weren’t just meant to be co-parents. We were meant to be together, and I wasn’t stopping until she was all in.

Chapter 9

I was knee-deep in mid-year reports, lost in thought about holiday break, when Mark strolled into my classroom with Tyler in his arms.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, completely surprised but secretly thrilled.

“Someone missed you,” he replied with that grin that had a way of disarming me.

I glanced up at him, catching the twinkle in his eyes. For a moment, I was tempted to ask which one he meant.

Mark lowered the squirming toddler to the floor, and Tyler quickly took off. I jumped up from my chair just in time to scoop him into my arms, hugging him close to my chest like I hadn’t seen him in days.

“Hello, sweetheart,” I murmured, and Tyler giggled, squeezing me back with all the love a little body could hold.

“We went to visit my parents this morning,” Mark said, his gaze lingering on my navy blue suit like memorizing it. “Since we were in the area, and you told me this was your lunch hour, I thought we’d surprise you and drop by.”

I sat down, settling Tyler on my lap and pulling off his little hat. “You missed your mommy?” I cooed as Tyler bounced on my lap and banged his tiny hand on the desk, his energy contagious.

“How about going out to lunch with us?” Mark suggested, his tone casual but his eyes hinting at something more.

“Sounds tempting,” I grinned, reaching for an ink pen Tyler was about to pop into his mouth.

I pressed my lips to Tyler’s head, feeling a warmth spreadthrough me. Spending a few minutes with them felt more than just appealing—it felt right. I glanced at Mark’s rugged build in those blue jeans, green long-sleeved t-shirt, and bomber jacket, noticing how he seemed to fill the room, his presence wrapping around me like a cozy blanket.

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