Page 25 of Worth the Fall

I nod, even though my stomach twists. I hand him one of the cups of hot chocolate. “Still, if this feels like too much?—”

“Seriously, Mia.” He looks at me, his smile warm enough to melt the frost in the air. “Relax. It’s nice having you here.”

Heat creeps up my neck, and I drop my gaze to the grass, focusing on the scuffed toe of my boot.

“Daddy, look at me!” Felicity’s excited voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“I see you, princess! You’re flying!”

I laugh softly, watching as she giggles and pumps her legs, trying to swing even higher. “She’s adorable,” I say, my voice lighter now.

Miguel flashes me a cheeky grin. “She gets it from me.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help smiling. “Of course she does.”

The swing slows, and Felicity hops off with all the energy of a kid who’s just gotten a second wind. She runs over, her face flushed and bright. “Daddy, can we get ice cream later?”

“Maybe sweetie, you have hot chocolate right now,” Miguel says, reaching down to ruffle her hair.

Felicity’s attention shifts to me, her big brown eyes curious. “Are you Daddy’s girlfriend?”

The question hits me like a bolt of lightning, and I freeze, the cup of hot chocolate halfway to my mouth.

“Felicity,” Miguel says, his tone even but firm. “That’s not a polite question.”

“What?” she asks, completely unbothered by the awkward silence she’s just created. “Mommy said Daddy shouldn’t have a girlfriend yet.”

My eyes snap to Miguel, my heart sinking. His expression stays calm, but I can see the tension in his jaw.

“She said that, huh?” he kneels in front of her, his voice light but measured.

“Uh-huh.” Felicity nods, clutching her little bag of snacks like a gavel. “She said Daddy needs to focus on me.”

Miguel exhales softly, a strained smile on his face. “Well, Mommy’s right about one thing—I always focus on you, princess.”

Felicity beams, completely satisfied with his answer, and skips off toward the jungle gym without a second thought, leaving us standing in the aftermath of her words.

I clear my throat, trying to sound casual. “So… she’s very honest.”

Miguel straightens, running a hand through his hair. “She’s four. Everything is black and white to her.”

I sip my hot chocolate, my eyes following Felicity as she climbs the play structure. “She doesn’t mean anything by it,” Miguel says after a beat. “Celine probably said something offhand, and Felicity repeated it. That’s all.”

I glance at him, trying to keep my face neutral. “And what do you think? Is she right?”

His brow furrows, and for a second, I wonder if I’ve pushed too far. But then he looks at me, his voice steady. “No. Celine doesn’t get to decide how I move forward. And neither do her opinions.”

The weight in my chest eases, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

I smile, the tension between us lifting just a little. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Good.” He nods toward the jungle gym, a playful glint in his eyes. “Because I think she’s about to demand ice cream again, and I’m going to need backup.”

I laugh, the sound more natural this time. “I’ll take sprinkles duty.”

“Perfect.”

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