Page 29 of Faking It With the Single Dad

His confession hangs in the air between us, heavy with pain.

“You’re breaking that cycle,” I say firmly. “Alice knows she’s loved. That’s what matters.”

He smiles faintly, but there’s still a shadow in his eyes. “I wish I could’ve done more for Luke, too. When Caleb left, I should’ve stepped in. But I didn’t know how, and you shut me out.”

I feel a pang of guilt at his words. He isn’t wrong. I’ve been so determined to keep my distance, to protect myself and Luke, that I’ve refused every olive branch he’s offered.

“Ryan,” I say, my voice trembling slightly, “I don’t shut you out because I think you can’t help. I shut you out because I don’t know how to let you in. After what Caleb did, trusting anyone—especially someone connected to him—just feels…impossible.”

He nods slowly, as if he understands. “I don’t blame you for that. Honestly, I admire you.”

I look away, suddenly feeling exposed. “It hasn’t been easy,” I admit. “But I have to keep going. For Luke.”

“And you’ve done more than that,” he says. “You’ve built a life for him, a life where he knows he’s loved and supported. That’s no small thing, Bella.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tighten. I glance at him, and for a moment, our eyes lock. There’s something in his gaze—something raw and unguarded—that makes it hard to breathe.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, unsure of what else to say.

He smiles faintly, then leans back on his hands, looking up at the stars. “You know, sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I stayed in Cedar Ridge. If I tried to build something here instead of running off to chase the next big deal.”

“Do you regret leaving?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“Sometimes,” he admits. “But then I think about Alice, and I know I made the right choices for her. She’s my world, Bella. Everything I do is for her.”

His words tug at something deep inside me. I’ve spent so long thinking of Ryan as this larger-than-life figure, someone who couldn’t possibly understand what it means to struggle. But at this moment, I see him for who he really is—a parent, just like me, doing his best to give his child a better life.

And for the first time, I realize just how much we have in common.

Chapter Ten

Ryan

Walking into Bella’s café this afternoon feels like the perfect excuse to see her again, though I tell myself it’s just because Alice wants one of Bella’s brownies. I eagerly finish every business-related task on my to-do list so I can spend as much time as possible here. When the bell above the door chimes and my eyes land on her standing behind the counter and smiling at some guy, every rational thought flies out the window.

“Dad, can I order?” Alice tugs at my hand, her face tilted up toward me.

“Yeah, go ahead,” I say absently, my focus locked on the ongoing scene at the counter. Bella is engrossed in her conversation with a man.

The man she’s talking to is tall, well-dressed, and has the kind of practiced charm that comes with knowing you look good andcan talk your way into—or out of—anything. Bella laughs at something he says, her head tilting back slightly, and my jaw tightens involuntarily.

“Thanks for the recommendations,” the guy says, leaning closer to her. “You’ve got great taste, Bella.”

“It’s not hard to have great taste when you love what you do,” Bella replies, her tone warm and genuinely amused.

Before I can stop myself, I stride across the room.

“Bella,” I call out, my tone way sharper than I intended.

She turns toward me, surprise flashing across her face. “Ryan, hi.”

The man shifts, glancing between Bella and me with a slight frown. Bella recovers quickly, gesturing toward him. “Ryan, this is James. He’s visiting Cedar Ridge for work.”

James extends a hand toward me, his smile smooth but clearly forced. “Pleasure to meet you.”

I barely look at his hand. “You’re visiting Cedar Ridge, huh? Nice town, isn’t it?” My tone is clipped and quite hostile; I know it, but I don’t care.

James hesitates, his hand dropping awkwardly. “Yeah, it’s…it’s quite a charming town. I’ve grown very fond of it.”

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