Page 38 of Aria

“Dad, we’re waiting for you,” Sam called out, beckoning me toward the couch.

I realized I’d been lost in thought, standing in the entryway looking like a deer in headlights.

“I think he’s in a cake trance,” Chelsie teased. She winked at Sam before directing her twinkling eyes at me.

I hesitated.

Then I sprinted to the sofa, catching my son off guard. “I was just waiting to make my move,” I said, picking Sam up and hurling him under my arm. I tickled him with my opposite hand while my little boy flailed helplessly under the attack.

“Put me down!” Sam pleaded. He kicked his feet, trying to escape the tickle onslaught. His laughter betrayed his request, so I only tickled harder.

“I’m going to laugh so hard when he throws up all over your socks,” Chelsie grinned, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

“All right, all right,” I conceded, flipping Sam back around and plopping him down on the couch. I collapsed beside him. “Please don’t throw up on my socks.”

We settled down asToy Story 3lit up the television screen.

Five minutes later, Sam was snoring in Chelsie’s lap.

She stroked my son’s hair with a languid smile. “And… he’s out,” she whispered.

The nurturing gesture was not lost on me, and I knew I could easily get used to moments like this. Pulling a blanket off the back of the couch, I laid it on top of my sleeping boy. “That didn’t take long. I guess the busy day took its toll on him.”

Chelsie had a look of contentment on her face. “It was a really great party. You outdid yourself.”

“I can’t take all the credit. Rosa did most of the work.”

Sam began to snore, and I chuckled under my breath. "I'm going to get the little monster to bed. I'll be right back." I felt Chelsie's eyes on me as I picked up my son and left the room, entering Sam's bedroom and placing him in his bed. "Goodnight, Sammy," I whispered, leaning over and giving him a kiss on his forehead. "Love you, buddy." I turned on his Buzz Lightyear nightlight, closed the blinds, and pivoted to leave the room—stopping short when I saw Chelsie standing outside Sam's doorway.

She ducked her head with a smile. "Sorry," she said, wringing her hands together. "You're just so sweet with him. It's a side of you I don't see very often."

My jaw ticked as I studied her beneath the soft glow of the hallway light, watching as she fidgeted with her ponytail. She was waiting for me to say something, but I’d been rendered speechless by how natural she looked standing at the top of my staircase, observing me tuck my son into bed. Forcing my voice to stay level, I finally replied, "You better not tell anyone. I have an image to maintain.”

Chelsie relaxed. “Your secret is safe with me.”

I held her eyes for another heartbeat before making my way down the staircase, catching a whiff of lavender and lemons as I passed her. She trailed behind me. "Hey, I have some popcorn if you want to watch a movie that doesn't involve talking potato heads," I suggested on a whim.

When we reached the living room, I spun around to gauge her reaction. Chelsie glanced at the doorway, then back at the couch, confliction marring her features.

I decided to make it easier on her. "I also have ice cream."

"Sold."

* * *

Chelsie

I licked chocolate ice cream off the back of my spoon, watching the credits roll on the screen. We’d decided on a movie calledKill List. "I didn't see that coming," I said, breaking the post-movie silence and glancing up at Noah, who had been highly engrossed in the film.

His eyebrows pulled together as he leaned back against the sofa cushions. "What the hell did I just watch?"

The bewildered look on his face had me chuckling as I yanked the blanket up to my shoulders and set the empty ice cream container down on the table. "I don't know about you, but I loved it.” I lifted my feet up onto the couch, accidentally tickling his leg with my toes.

Noah flinched, but didn't pull away. He turned to me with a nod of approval. "Me, too. Good choice. I didn't peg you for liking that sort of stuff."

"What, you thought I only watched Disney movies and romantic comedies?" I placed a hand over my heart, appalled. "I'll have you know, I'm a cinematic wonder."

Noah perked up at my declaration. “Favorite movie.”

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