Page 46 of Faking It With the Single Dad

“You okay?” he asks softly, his voice close to my ear.

I nod, letting myself lean into him just a little. “Yeah,” I murmur, my voice steady. “I think I am.”

He presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head, and I let my eyes drift closed, just for a moment. Maybe, just maybe, this can work.

Chapter Eighteen

Ryan

The morning begins with the sort of energy only kids can bring. Luke is bouncing around with excitement, ready to conquer the world—or at least the mall and amusement park. Alice isn’t far behind, dragging her stuffed bunny with her as she hops down the stairs, already asking a million questions about what we’re going to do first.

I lean against a wall in Bella’s living room, watching as Luke and Alice race each other to see who can tie their sneakers faster. Luke’s competitive streak is on full display, his tongue sticking out in concentration while Alice’s giggles fill the room.

Luke springs up from the floor, triumphantly stomping his tied sneakers across the room. “I won!”

Bella watches the chaos unfold with a mix of amusement and mild panic. “You know you’re the one who signed up for this, right?” she says, shooting me a look.

“Absolutely,” I reply, grinning as I grab Alice and swing her into the air. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Luke rushes to grab his jacket, yelling, “Let’s go already!”

Bella sighs, but there’s a soft smile tugging at her lips. She hands me a bag packed with snacks and other essentials. “You’re way too confident for someone about to spend a day with two sugar-fueled kids.”

“Confidence is key,” I tease, holding the door open for her.

She rolls her eyes but steps outside, her hand brushing mine briefly. It’s a small touch, but it feels like a win.

The mall is buzzing when we arrive, full of families, couples, and the usual weekend crowd. Luke and Alice are immediately drawn to the colorful signs for the indoor play area, dragging Bella and me along like two miniature tornadoes.

“Play area first,” Luke declares, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Then ice cream!” Alice adds, her voice filled with as much excitement as Luke’s.

Bella hesitates as she looks at me. “You sure about this?”

“I’ve never been surer,” I say, handing over my credit card to the attendant at the entrance.

The kids race inside, disappearing into a maze of slides and climbing structures. Bella and I find a table nearby, coffee cups in hand, as we watch Luke challenge Alice to a climbing race.

“You know, I used to hate malls,” she says, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Why’s that?”

“Too many people, too much noise. But now…” She trails off, watching Alice giggle as Luke helps her down a slide. “Now, it’s different. Watching them have fun makes the chaos worth it.”

I lean closer, keeping my tone casual. “I’m glad I could be part of making it different for you.”

Her eyes flick to mine, something unspoken lingering in her gaze. But before she can respond, Luke and Alice come barreling toward us, demanding ice cream.

We head to the food court, where the kids argue over the best toppings for their ice cream. Bella claims she doesn’t want anything, but I order her a cone anyway.

“Chocolate? Really?” she asks when I hand it to her.

“Absolutely. It’s sweet, just like you.”

She snorts, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrays her. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Blackwood.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think it might be working,” I say.

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