Page 46 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“She had a blast,” I said, meeting her gaze.

“Thank you for taking her,” Summer said, her voice soft. “I could tell she loved every second of it.”

“I did, too,” I admitted.

There was a brief silence between us, the weight of everything unsaid lingering in the air.

“She asked me why I spend so much time with you two,” I said finally.

Summer’s eyes widened slightly. “What did you say?”

“That you’re important to me,” I said simply.

Her shoulders relaxed, and she nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I asked, tilting my head.

“For being there,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I felt a sudden urge to close the distance between us. But before I could say anything, Ava called out from the car, breaking the moment.

“Mommy, can we go home now?”

“Coming, sweetheart,” Summer said, glancing at me one last time before turning away.

As I watched them drive off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were on the edge of something big—something that could change everything.

23

SUMMER

The smell of garlic and rosemary filled the apartment, mingling with the faint hum of soft music coming from my small Bluetooth speaker. I leaned against the counter, watching as Enzo moved confidently around the kitchen.

“You weren’t kidding about knowing your way around a stove,” I said, crossing my arms.

He flashed me a grin, sliding a pan of vegetables onto the stove. “I don’t kid about food.”

Ava sat at the dining table, her hands busy coloring a picture of Bunny and her new dinosaur friend. Every so often, she glanced toward Enzo, giggling when he tasted the sauce and made an exaggerated expression of approval.

“What’s that face for?” I asked, smirking.

“Chef’s secret,” he said, tapping the spoon against the edge of the pot.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. It had been years since I’d seen this side of him—relaxed, playful,and so at ease. Watching him now, I couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth settle in my chest.

“Is it almost ready?”Ava asked, swinging her legs under the table.

“Almost,” Enzo said, stirring the sauce one last time before turning off the burner. “You’ve got to be patient, kiddo. Good things take time.”

Ava sighed dramatically but grinned when Enzo carried the pan to the counter. He started plating the food, his movements precise and efficient.

“What are we having again?” she asked.

“Chicken with a creamy garlic sauce, roasted veggies, and some noodles,” he said, placing a plate in front of her. “Think you can handle that?”

“Yes!” Ava said eagerly, picking up her fork.

“And for you,” he said, handing me a plate.

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