Page 18 of The Single Dad

I freeze as she stumbles, clutching her foot.

“What the?—”

She growls under her breath, glaring down at the piece of plastic. Another stray LEGO sticking under her foot. It’s not even the regular kind. It’s a T-rex LEGO. “These things … God, I swear, they multiply like evil little demons in the night.” She takes it between her fingers and tosses it to the nearby wicker basket, already half-full from all the random LEGOs we found around the house. “One of these days, I’m going to sue this company for injuries.”

I laugh softly. “You’re not alone. But I think I’ve just gotten adept at dodging those little shits. You good?”

“Physically? Sure. Mentally? The LEGO may have won this round. I’m already half-convinced whoever invented this wants the parents to suffer.”

Parents.

She just called herself a parent. Jesus Christ. I’m already about to burst from the seams—from that incident a few days ago to now. I’m not normally an emotional man, but my God, when I saw Tomtom run to her and claim her as his mom, I was about to break down on my front lawn and cry.

Shaking my head, I guide Noelle outside, where the night air is warm, thick with the scent of freshly cut grass. She sinks onto the porch steps beside me, stretching her legs out with a sigh.

“Do you ever just sit here and reflect on your life choices?” she asks, leaning back on her palms, her face glowing.

I smirk. “Every time I step on a LEGO. They tend to give you epiphanies every now and then.”

She nudges my knee with hers. “I was actually talking about us. This whole situation. Me, you, and Thomas.”

I watch her, the way the porch light casts a glow over her skin, how the night air lifts strands of her hair. My God, I have never seen a more beautiful woman.

“Regretting it already?” I ask, only half-teasing.

“Not a chance.” She takes her bottom lip between her teeth and smiles. “I love that boy, and him calling me Mom? I thought I’d die from happiness.”

Something inside me curls in on itself. Because I don’t think she realizes just how much she’s changed everything. She doesn’t see it, but I do. How her presence rewrote the way our house feels. Tomtom laughs louder. My chest isn’t as heavy anymore.

I reach for her hand, lacing our fingers, feeling the warmth of her skin. She glances at me, brows raised. “What?”

I swallow and shake my head. I can’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now. “Just thinking about my life choices.”

She grins. “And?”

I squeeze her hand. “Best damn ones I’ve ever made.”

“I love you, Adrian. I’ve always loved you.”

I take her face in my hands and kiss her deeply. “And I love you, Noelle. I always will.”

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

NOELLE

The afternoon sun slips through the oak trees, painting messy patches of light across our old red checkered picnic blanket. The soft and warm breeze feels so good on my skin. I toss another strawberry into my mouth, sweet juice hitting my tongue.

Beside me, Thomas giggles, kicking his little legs as he stuffs his face with peanut butter sandwiches. “You got peanut butter on your nose,” I tell him, laughing.

He scrunches his face and tries to lick it off.

“Missed it.”

Adrian chuckles, reaching over to wipe it off with his thumb. “You’re a mess, Tomtom.”

Thomas runs off to ride the kid-size Jeep Wrangler Adrian bought yesterday on a whim, and he buckles his favorite dinosaur stuffed toy beside him.

“He’s not the only one who’s a mess. So are you,” I tease, smirking.

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