Page 19 of Faking It With the Single Dad

Her expression softens as she glances toward the house again. “It’s perfect, Ryan. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” I say with a smirk. “Wait until we’ve unloaded all those boxes. Then you can thank me.”

She laughs, a sound that immediately lightens the air. “Fair point. I hope you brought your A-game, Blackwood. There’s a lot of stuff in that truck.”

“Oh, I’m ready,” I say, rolling my shoulders dramatically. “Let’s do this.”

The moving truck pulls up and the driver hops out, ready to unload.

I follow the movers to the back of the truck, grabbing the first box I see. It’s heavier than I expected, and I grunt under my breath.

“Careful there, city boy,” Bella teases as she walks past me, carrying a box labeled “Kitchen.”

“City boy?” I scoff, adjusting my grip on the box. “I’ll have you know I’ve got muscles under this jacket. Want me to flex for you?”

“Please don’t,” she says dryly, though there’s a glint of amusement in her eyes.

As the afternoon stretches on, we finally finish unloading the truck. She collapses onto the couch with a groan, leaning her head back. “I’m officially never moving again.”

I sit beside her and stretch my legs out. “That’s what everyone says. Give it five years.”

She smirks, turning her head to look at me. “You know, you didn’t have to help with all this. You’ve already done more than enough.”

“I wanted to,” I say simply, meeting her gaze. “Besides, it’s not just about the house. It’s about you and Luke having a fresh start. That matters to me.”

Her eyes soften, and for a moment, I think she’s going to argue. But instead, she reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Ryan. For everything.”

I squeeze back, letting my thumb brush over hers. “You don’t have to thank me, Bella. It’s all part of the arrangement, remember?”

She nods. “Yeah. I know.”

***

I’m sitting in the booth of a cozy little Italian restaurant, loving the smell of fresh bread and basil. Alice is across from me, swinging her legs under the table. She’s humming a tune I don’t recognize as her hands fiddle with the corner of the menu.

I check my watch again. Bella and Luke are late. My stomach twists in a knot, though I tell myself there’s no need to panic. This is just a dinner, just a meeting between our kids. It’s not a big deal.

Except it is.

Alice notices me fidgeting. “Dad,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “Who are we waiting for? You’ve been weird all day.”

I force a smile. “It’s a surprise. I think you’re going to like them.”

Her eyebrows lift. “Them?”

“A special friend and their kid. I think you’ll get along.”

“Is this friend a girl?”

I choke on the sip of water I just took, but I manage to shrug it off. “You’ll see soon enough.”

She grins like she’s onto me, but she doesn’t press further.

The door jingles, and I look up as Bella and Luke walk in. For a second, my breath catches.

Bella is…well, she’s pretty.

She’s wearing a simple fitted dress that hugs her figure without being too flashy. Her hair is styled neatly, pulled back just enough to show off her face. She’s not wearing makeup, but she doesn’t need it. She looks fresh and natural—comfortable, even though her posture says she’s a little nervous.

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