Page 25 of Faking It With the Single Dad

My chest tightens and anger bubbles up inside me. “You have no right to dictate how I handle my life. None! Just because you’ve got everything figured out doesn’t mean you get to sit there and lecture me!”

Ryan lets out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. “Do you think I have it all together? Newsflash, Bella, I’m just as messed up as you are. The difference is, I’m not sitting back and letting life steamroll me.”

“Oh, so now I’m weak? That’s what you’re saying?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s what you think,” I bite back, my voice laced with venom. “And you know what, Ryan? Screw you. I don’t need your pity or your help. I’ve been doing just fine without you.”

“Fine?” He slams the brakes at a red light and turns to look at me. “Bella, you’re not fine. You’re barely holding on, and you’re too stubborn to admit it!”

Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “You don’t know me, Ryan. Not really. So stop acting like you care.”

“You’re right. Maybe I don’t know you. And maybe I’m wasting my time trying to help someone who doesn’t want to help herself.”

The light turns green and he presses the gas pedal, his knuckles white on the wheel. The rest of the drive is suffocatingly silent. When he finally pulls up in front of my house, I don’t wait for him to say anything. I shove the door open and step out, then slam it hard behind me.

Chapter Eight

Ryan

The drive back to Bella’s home feels way longer than usual. Maybe it’s the weight of my thoughts that makes it seem that way. I spent the better part of this afternoon going over everything that happened at the event last night—the argument, the way Bella stormed off, the flicker of pain in her eyes when I raised my voice. It’s not just the feeling of intense guilt that’s plaguing me, although that’s a big part of it. It’s something deeper. I’m incredibly frustrated with myself.

How could I have been so blind? So cold? Bella has spent the last few years raising Luke on her own. My nephew. My flesh and blood. She’s done it in spite of the little support she’s gotten from family, without the kind of help she clearly needed. And here I am, waltzing back into her life as if I know what’s best for her. It hits me like a punch to the gut—how hard her life must have truly been, juggling the responsibilities of being a single mom and running a struggling café, all while enduring the judgmental gossip of this small town.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my eyes focused squarely on the road. How many times have I driven past her café without stopping? How many times have I let Caleb’s shameful behavior create an invisible wall between us? Sure, I’ve tried several times to help in my way, but it wasn’t enough. I should’ve done more. I should’ve been there for her.

I sigh deeply while I think,What kind of man am I if I can’t even support the woman who’s been raising my deadbeat brother’s child?

My jaw clenches as I pull up outside her house. The porch light is on, a soft glow spilling onto the small front yard. Luke’s bike is propped against the side of the building, and for a moment, I just sit there and stare at it. The thought of Bella, exhausted from a long day of hard work, coming home and still finding the energy to be there for her son…it humbles me. And it makes me realize just how much I’ve underestimated her devotion and commitment to being there for her son and bearing the burden my brother put solely on her.

I step out of the car and make my way to the door. For once, I’m not overthinking what I’m going to say. I know I have to apologize. I have to let her know that I see her, that my eyes are truly open to her pain and struggles, and that I’m not going to let her face them alone anymore.

She opens the door after the second knock, her expression guarded. She’s wearing an oversized sweater and her hair is loosely tied back. There’s a hint of surprise in her eyes when she sees me, but it quickly fades, replaced by a familiar wariness.

“Ryan,” she says, crossing her arms. “What are you doing here?”

“I came here to apologize,” I mutter quietly. “Can I please come in?”

She hesitates for a moment before stepping aside and stretching out her hand, gesturing for me to enter. The living room is very cozy, with mismatched furniture and toys scattered across the floor. It feels warm lived-in, which is a stark contrast to the cold, impersonal spaces I’m used to.

Bella sits down on the couch and I take a seat across from her, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. For a moment, I jumble my words, finding it difficult to say the right things, but then they spill out.

“About last night…I was well and truly out of line,” I begin. “I raised my voice, and I didn’t listen to you. I projected a reality that was far from the truth. That wasn’t fair. And it definitely wasn’t fair of me to dismiss and belittle how you handle all the negativity and gossip, certainly not after everything you’ve been through.”

She doesn’t say anything, but her eyes soften slightly, encouraging me to continue.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it. About you,” I admit. “And the truth is, I’ve been a jerk. I’ve spent so much time away from all of this, keeping my distance, telling myself it was easier that way. But easier for who? Certainly not you.”

Her lips part as if she wants to say something, but she stays quiet, letting me speak.

“I can’t even imagine how hard it’s been for you, Bella. Raising Luke, running the café, dealing with people in this town who don’t know one thing about your life or all you’ve been through but still think they have the right to judge you. And through all of it, you’ve just…held it together. You’ve stayed strong. For Luke, for yourself. That’s not just admirable—it’s extraordinary.”

She blinks, and for the first time, I notice the tears falling down her cheeks. She quickly looks away, but not before I catch the slight tremble in her lip.

“Ryan…” she begins, her voice faltering.

“No, let me finish,” I interrupt gently. “I came here tonight because I need you to know that I see you, Bella. I see everything you’ve done, everything you’ve sacrificed. And I’m sorry for not being here sooner, for not stepping up in the ways I should have. But I want to change that. I want to be here for you. For Luke.”

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