Page 14 of The Darkest Knight

“The feeling is mutual, I assure you.”

“Don’t be shy, Jett. Help yourself to the canapes. We’ll serve drinks later at the adult party.”

“I’ll grab something in a bit.” I flash a polite smile. She nods and moves on, talking to a server, her presence magnetic. Earlier, she was kneeling on the floor with the kids, chatting with them like they were the only ones in the room. Now she’s circling back to make sure every adult has what they need. Tobias married well.

Savannah returns to my side. “Sorry about that. I just needed to make sure the pinatas were set up.”

“Pinatas too?”

“There’s a chocolate fountain coming out later.” She puts a finger to her lips. “We’ll keep that quiet for now.”

“This is incredible, Savannah,” I say, gesturing to the transformed toy shop floor. “What you and Tobias do here is really something.”

“Thank you.” Her smile is warm but modest, as if this level of generosity is just another average day for her.

“And thank you for the playdate the other day, for having Brooke over. She and Eden are inseparable.”

“Don’t they just love one another?” She gushes, clasping her hands together. We watch the duo over by the reindeer. “It can get a bit lonely for her sometimes, at home.”

“Oh?” This surprises me.

“With Jacob, Samuel, and Lewis, she feels outnumbered. She keeps on asking for a sister.”

“Wow. Tall order.”

“You know Tobias—what Eden wants, Eden gets. I love having a big family so—” She stops mid-sentence and places a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry. I—”

“Don’t apologize. It’s not necessary.” I don’t want her to feel bad for me. “We’ll have to get Eden over sometime. It’s just not ... easy sometimes.”

Her expression softens. “I know. I understand.”

She doesn’t need me to spell it out. Being a single dad with a demanding career isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

I glance toward Brooke and Eden, who are still holding hands as they make their way through the room. “They are inseparable.”

Savannah follows my gaze and laughs softly. “Are they working the room?”

“Who knows? But for four year olds, they’re doing a pretty good job of it.” The two of them are the picture of childhood mischief, their laughter trailing behind them as they dart between groups of kids.

Tobias joins us, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, sorry I couldn’t get to you earlier.”

“You’re the host. No need to apologize. This event is magnificent.”

“It’s good to see the kids so happy,” Tobias says, his voice filled with quiet pride. Savannah slips an arm around his waist, their connection palpable.

“She’d adopt all of them if it were possible,” Tobias adds, smirking at his wife.

“We have a big enough house,” she counters, only half-joking.

“Did you come alone?” Tobias asks, scanning the room.

“Dina’s supposed to meet me later,” I reply. But the truth is, I doubt she’ll show. Dina’s not the children’s party type. She’syoung, carefree, and has made it clear she has zero interest in parenting.

“Is she the one from Singapore?” Tobias asks.

“No, from Connecticut. She’s a fashion buyer for a trendy online store.” My dating history isn’t exactly a secret. It’s a carousel of short-lived relationships—convenient, unburdened, and purely physical. Lately, though, it’s felt ... hollow. Brooke’s getting older, and is becoming more aware of the absence in our lives. I can’t ignore it anymore.

Tobias and Savannah exchange a look, one of those silent conversations married couples have. Their ease with one another is something I admire—and envy.

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