Page 17 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

The soft hum of the car engine filled the silence as we drove back to my place. Ava was fast asleep in the backseat, her head tilted to one side, Bunny tucked securely under her arm. The gentle rise and fall of her chest were a comforting rhythm, one that soothed some of the tension still gripping me after the dinner at Enzo’s parents’ house.

“You’re quiet,” Enzo said, breaking the silence.

I glanced at him, his profile lit faintly by the glow of the dashboard. “Just tired.”

He nodded, his grip on the steering wheel relaxing. “They liked you, you know.”

“Your family?” I asked, arching a brow.

“Yeah,” he said. “They’re just… curious. That’s how they are. But they meant it when they said Ava is amazing. They think you are, too.”

I let out a soft sigh, leaning back in my seat. “I’m not sure I gave them much to go on. I spent most of dinner trying to dodge questions about Ava’s father.”

Enzo’s jaw tightened slightly, but he kept his eyes on the road. “That’s not what matters to them. They care that Ava’s happy and healthy. And they see how much you’ve done for her.”

I looked down at my hands, twisting my fingers together. “I’ve tried,” I said softly. “But sometimes I feel like it’s never enough. Especially now, with everything that’s happening.”

Enzo didn’t respond right away, but I could feel his gaze flicker toward me briefly before returning to the road.

By the timewe got to my apartment, Ava was still fast asleep. Enzo carried her inside, his movements careful and deliberate. Watching him handle her so gently made something in my chest ache—a mix of gratitude and guilt that I couldn’t quite sort out.

“She’s out cold,” he said quietly, laying her down on the couch and tucking a blanket around her.

“She always sleeps hard after a big day,” I said, smiling faintly as I brushed a strand of hair from her face.

Enzo straightened, his eyes lingering on Ava for a moment before turning to me. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

I hesitated, but then nodded. “Sure.”

We moved to the small kitchen, where I filled the kettle and set it on the stove. The sound of water heating filled the space as I turned to face him.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

Enzo leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “I’ve been thinking about Ava’s surgery,” he said, his voice steady but serious. “And about what comes after.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my stomach tightening slightly.

“The surgery is just the first step,” he said. “It’ll fix her knee, but the recovery process is just as important. Physical therapy, regular check-ups—it’s going to take time and effort to get her back to full strength.”

I nodded slowly, the weight of his words settling over me. “I know. I’ve been trying to prepare myself for it, but it’s hard to think about everything at once.”

“That’s why I want to help,” he said, his gaze meeting mine.

“You already are,” I said quickly.

“Not just with the surgery,” he said, his voice firm. “I mean the whole process. I want to be there for Ava—for you—every step of the way.”

His words caught me off guard, and I looked away, focusing on the kettle as it began to whistle. “That’s… a lot to promise, Enzo.”

“I know,” he said. “But I mean it.”

I poured the hot water into two mugs, my hands trembling slightly as I set them on the counter. “Why?”

“Because I care about Ava,” he said simply. “And because I care about you.”

I felt my breath hitch, and I turned to face him fully. “Enzo…”

“I know you don’t need me,” he said quickly, holding up a hand. “You’ve proven that a hundred times over. But that doesn’t meanyou have to do this alone. Ava deserves to have as much support as possible, and so do you.”

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