Page 30 of When Love And Destiny Collide

Chapter 8

Lily

After our date, Noah and I pick up Davey and head home. Davey is cranky and wants to go to bed as soon as we walk in. I offer to take him upstairs, but he says he wants Noah.

"I'm going to do some work for a little bit," Noah says gently. "But I will come up to give you a kiss goodnight."

While Davey showers, I leave his pajamas on the bathroom counter. Then, I pull down the comforter on his bed and choose a book for us to read together.

When he walks out of the bathroom, I notice he’s unusually quiet. "Are you feeling okay, Davey?" I ask softly, touching his forehead.

He doesn’t answer and simply climbs into bed, pulling the covers around him. "Do you want to read a book?" I ask.

"Are you going to be my new mommy?" His voice is quiet, but it still manages to freeze me in place.

"No, sweetie," I reply, my heart pounding. "You already have a mommy who loves you more than anything."

His little face is uncertain, and he looks like he might cry. "I want Daddy."

His words hang in the air, heavier than I expected. "Okay," I whisper, my throat tight. "I'll get him for you. Goodnight, sweetie."

I lean in to kiss his forehead, but he turns away, pulling the covers up as if to shield himself from me. I turn off the lights and head back downstairs, my steps heavy with the weight of Davey's rejection. When I reach Noah's office, I knock softly.

"What’s wrong?" he asks as soon as he sees me, concern etched on his face.

"Nothing," I say, forcing a smile I don't feel. "It’s nothing."

He studies me, his voice gentle. "Sweetheart, you don’t have a poker face. What’s going on?"

I hesitate, and then the words spill out: "Davey asked if I was going to be his new mommy. He was clearly upset."

Noah’s brows knit together. "He's tired. Are you sure you’re not reading too much into it?”

I shake my head. "No. He wouldn’t let me read to him. He wanted you, not me. And when I tried to kiss him goodnight, he turned away. He didn’t want me near him, Noah."

"Okay," he says. "I'll go up to tuck him in. Please wait for me. I'll be right back."

He pulls me into a tender kiss, his lips gentle against mine. The world falls away for a moment, and all I can feel is him, solid and reassuring.

When he returns thirty minutes later, he finds me perched on the edge of the couch, anxiously waiting for him to tell me what he discovered.

"What is it?" I ask, my heart sinking the moment I see the look on his face.

He sighs, his expression troubled. "Davey talked to his mom while we were out. It sounds like she had a lot of questions about us… and it’s left him a little confused."

My breath catches, worry knotting in my chest. "Oh, no," I whisper, unsure what to do next.

"It'll be fine," he says. "I'll talk to Marian tomorrow and straighten everything out."

"What are you going to tell her?" I ask, anxiety creeping into my voice. The thought of defining what we have, especially so early in our relationship, feels overwhelming.

"The truth," he says, his gaze steady. "I’m going to tell her I’ve met an incredible woman—someone beautiful, kind, smart, and who takes my breath away more with each passing day."

"Really?" I ask, almost incredulously. "What about Davey?"

"Davey loves you," he says, his tone gentle. "He has a mom, and as long as we keep reinforcing that your role in our lives is entirely separate from the relationship he has with Marian, he'll come to accept it. It’s just going to take some time."

"What is my role, Noah?" I ask, wanting clarity. "What are we doing, exactly?"

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