Page 12 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

“Hey, Luce,” he says, dropping his keys onto the entryway table. “Where’s Joel?”

“Still at the hospital,” I reply, standing and smoothing my hands over my jeans. “Long shift, I guess.”

Aiden looks at me, his gaze lingering. “How’s it going here? Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I say, a little too quickly. “The boys are great. Joel’s… Joel. You know.”

He doesn’t laugh. Instead, he crosses his arms, leaning against the wall. “You two seem… closer than I expected.”

The statement hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. My stomach twists, and I try to keep my expression neutral. “We’re just figuring things out. It’s a big change for everyone.”

Aiden’s eyes narrow further, his jaw tightening. “Figuring things out, huh? So, this whole fake relationship thing… that’s the plan?”

I freeze, my pulse quickening. “So, Joel talked to you about it?”

He pushes off the wall, stepping closer, his frustration now evident in the set of his shoulders. “Luce, come on. Do you really think this is a good idea? Playing pretend with Joel? This isn’tsome rom-com where everything works out perfectly in the end. You’re my sister. You’re too smart for this.”

I cross my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. “Aiden, I know what I’m doing. This is temporary. It’s for the boys, for Joel, for…” I trail off, realizing how weak my argument sounds even to myself.

Aiden exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “And what happens when ‘temporary’ turns into something more? What happens when you get hurt? Or when he does? You think you’re just going to walk away from this unscathed?”

“I’m not planning on walking away,” I snap, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “And I’m not some naive little girl who needs you to swoop in and save her. I get to decide how I live my life, Aiden.”

“I’m not trying to swoop in,” he shoots back, his voice rising slightly. “But dammit, Lucy, you have dreams! You wanted more than this. You wanted to travel, to create. You wanted to be more than just… a nanny.”

The words hit like a slap, and I take a step back, my heart pounding. “Just a nanny?” I repeat, my voice trembling with anger. “Is that what you think I am? Some babysitter who’s too stupid to know what she wants?”

Aiden’s expression softens slightly, guilt flashing across his face. “That’s not what I meant. I just… I don’t want you to settle. You’re better than that, Luce. You’re better than all of this.”

“This is my life,” I say, my voice firm despite the tears threatening to spill. “And maybe it doesn’t look like what you imagined for me, but it’s mine. I’m happy, Aiden. I’m doing what feels right for me. And if you can’t see that, then maybe you’re the one who needs to figure things out.”

The silence that follows is deafening. Aiden’s shoulders slump slightly, and he lets out a long breath. “I just want what’s best for you,” he says quietly.

“I know,” I reply, softening as well. “But what’s best for me is something only I can decide.”

He nods, but I can see the conflict still brewing in his eyes. Without another word, I turn and head to the kitchen, my hands trembling as I grab a glass of water. The conversation replays in my mind, his words echoing with a mix of love and frustration. And though I’m angry, a small part of me wonders if he’s right—if I’m playing with fire and pretending it won’t burn.

Dinner is a subdued affair. The boys chatter about their day, oblivious to the tension hanging over the table. Aiden stays for the meal, his watchful gaze darting between me and the empty seat Joel would normally occupy. By the time the dishes are cleared, Aiden’s headed home, and the boys are tucked into bed, I’m emotionally drained.

I’m sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV, when the door opens again. This time, it’s Joel. His tie is gone, his hair slightly mussed, and the weariness in his eyes is palpable. When he sees me, his expression softens, and my chest tightens in response.

“Long day?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nods, dropping onto the couch beside me. The cushions dip under his weight, and the proximity sends a shiver down my spine. “You could say that. How was everything here?”

“Good,” I say. “Aiden stopped by.”

His brows lift. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” I hesitate, then add, “He… he had some things to say.”

Joel’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he leans back, his head resting against the couch. For a moment, neither of us speaks, the silence filled only by the newscaster on the TV.

Finally, he breaks the silence. “Lucy.”

The way he says my name sends a jolt through me. It’s not a question or a statement. It’s something else entirely, something that makes my pulse quicken. I turn to him, and the look in his eyes steals my breath.

“About earlier,” he begins, his voice low and rough. “At the festival and in the storage room…”

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