Page 23 of Worth the Fall

Celine steps out of the car, looking immaculate as always in a tailored gray coat and heels that click sharply against the pavement. She bends to scoop Felicity up, kissing her cheek before glancing at me.

“Good morning, Miguel,” she says smoothly, her tone clipped but polite.

“Celine,” I reply with a nod, adjusting Felicity’s bag on my shoulder.

“You’re running late,” she remarks, straightening. Her eyes sweep over me, lingering on the slightly wrinkled shirt Felicity’s sticky hands had tugged on earlier. “Busy morning?”

I ignore the jab. “Just making sure Felicity gets to class on time.”

“Of course,” she says, setting Felicity down. “Go on inside, sweetheart. I’ll see you later okay? Mommy loves you soooo much.” She glows her a dramatic kiss which Felicity reciprocates.

“Bye daddy, love you!”

Felicity hugs her bag to her chest and runs toward the school entrance, waving back at both of us. Once she’s out of earshot, Celine turns to me, crossing her arms.

“So, I heard you’re seeing someone.”

The words catch me off guard, and I’m careful to keep my expression neutral. “Where did you hear that?”

“So you don’t deny it?”

“I didn’t say that. Who said something to you?”

“Felicity mentioned a… Mia, was it?” Her lips curve slightly, like she’s already judging the answer.

”She’s a friend.” My tone is firm, but even I can hear the hesitation.

Celine raises an eyebrow. “A friend you’re spending enough time with for Felicity to notice. That’s… interesting.”

“I don’t think this is any of your business,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “Just like it wasn’t your business to show up at the coffee shop I was at with her the other day.”

“Oh please, you know that was about Felicity needing her?—”

“When we agreed to keep our locations on after the divorce, it was for Felicity’s safety, not so you can just show up unbalanced wherever I am—without our daughter even present.”

She takes a step closer, her expression softening in a way I know is calculated. “Miguel, I’m just trying to look out for Felicity. She’s already adjusting to so many changes. The last thing she needs is confusion.”

“Confusion?” I echo, the word leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “She’s fine, Celine. If anything, she’s handling all of this better than either of us.”

“I’m just saying, maybe it’s too soon to be introducing someone new into her life.”

I clench my jaw, swallowing the sharp reply bubbling up. Instead, I let out a slow breath and meet her gaze. “Mia isn’t part of Felicity’s life. She’s part of mine. That’s a distinction you don’t get to control anymore.”

For a moment, Celine’s mask slips, her mouth tightening at the edges. But she recovers quickly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Fine. Just don’t forget where your priorities are, Miguel.”

Without waiting for a response, she turns and walks back to her car, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement.

I stand there for a moment, watching as she drives away, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

By the time I get back to my car, my phone buzzes with a message from Mia.

Mia

Looking forward to seeing you later!

I stare at the text, the knot in my chest loosening slightly. Whatever Celine says, she doesn’t get to dictate how I move forward.

I type back quickly, a smile sliding naturally into place when I think about her.

---