Page 33 of Faking It With the Single Dad

Smirking, he remarks, “Grilled cheese made with care is still a very big deal.”

I roll my eyes again, but I can’t help the little laugh that escapes. He just has this way of getting under my skin and making me smile at the same time, and it’s certainly infuriating.

The kids start digging into their food, their giggles filling the air as they make up stories about the characters in the book. Ryan and I sit in companionable silence, the kind that feels oddly natural, like we’ve been doing this forever.

“Can I ask you something?” Ryan’s voice breaks the silence, and I immediately look over at him.

“Sure, go ahead,” I say cautiously.

“Do you think this arrangement…is working?”

I blink, his question catching me off guard. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, for the kids. Do you think it’s good for them?”

I glance briefly at Luke, who’s showing Alice how to dip her grilled cheese into ketchup, his little face animated and smiling. “I think it’s good for them. They seem happy.”

“And you?” Ryan’s voice is quieter now, almost hesitant.

I turn back to him, my heart stumbling in my chest. “What about me?”

“Are you happy with how things are going?” he probes.

I try my hardest not to hesitate, but I’m unsure how to answer a question like this. The truth of the matter is I don’t know how things are going. Spending time with Ryan has been nice…more than nice. But it’s also sort of confusing and scary, and I’m sure I’m ready to admit just how much I’m enjoying this.

“I think I’m happy with how it’s going,” I say finally. “Why? Are you having second thoughts about the entire arrangement?”

He shakes his head. “No. I just want to make sure you’re okay. This is about more than just me, Bella. I want this to work for all of us.”

There’s something in his tone that makes my throat tighten. He’s not just talking about the kids. He’s talking aboutus.

“Okay,” I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper. “I want it to work, too.”

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of laughter and quiet moments that feel heavier than they should. When it’s time for Ryan and Alice to leave, Luke holds on tightly to Ryan’s leg, begging him to stay.

“Hey, buddy,” Ryan says gently, crouching down to Luke’s level. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? We’ve got more football practice to do.”

Luke, sniffling, gives a gentle nod, reluctantly letting go.

I walk them to the door, my chest tight as they leave the café.

“Ryan,” I call out before I can stop myself.

He turns, his eyebrows raised. “Yeah?”

“Thanks…for today. For everything.”

His gaze softens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to say something. But he just nods, giving me a small smile before getting in the car.

I start locking up the café for the night, flipping the sign to “Closed.” I sit in the middle of the café for a moment, my hand lingering on the cool glass as I stare out into the quiet Cedar Ridge night. The streets are empty, with the exception of a few cars driving by. The streetlights cast soft pools of light on the pavement, providing much-needed illumination.

I can’t stop replaying the day in my mind—the way Ryan laughed with Luke, the easy way he fit into my world, the way he’d look at me, his eyes warm and full of something I didn’t dare name. That look stays with me, trailing after me like a shadow, and no matter how hard I try to shake it off, it clings to me, refusing to let go.

The real problem is the lines have become very blurry. This whole arrangement was supposed to be fake, a way for him to deflect the pressure from his world and for me to salvage the café that Luke and I depend on. It wasn’t supposed to feel like this.Iwasn’t supposed to feel like this. But I do.

And that terrifies me.

I think about the way Luke clung to Ryan’s leg earlier, pleading with him not to leave. He’s already grown so attached to him. And why shouldn’t he be? Ryan has shown up,reallyshown up, in ways no one else has. It’s not just the big things, like teaching him to throw a football or playing board games with him. It’s the small moments, like how Ryan always listens when Luke talks, no matter how silly or trivial the topic is, or how he instinctively reaches out to steady him when he’s about to trip over his own feet.

---