Page 49 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

“Sometimes. Mommy doesn’t really like talking about it.”

I feel a crack form in my heart. I know that Stella is the best thing that’s ever happened to Gillian. We might not have been friends for many years, but it’s obvious. The way she came into her own and conquered the world with a baby on her hip. Now, her baby is growing up faster than she probably wants. I think she’s done a great job. Parenting just comes with the assumed risk of fucking some things up. “Can I tell you a secret?”

A grin spreads across her face. “I love secrets.”

“Me too.” I lean in closer to her and look around as if this is a clandestine maneuver. “Us grown-ups…we like to pretend we know everything. But we really don’t know anything. We’re just trying our best to make it through the day with both our shoes on.”

Stella gasps in laughter and touches her mouth. “I knew it!”

I laugh. If she saw through the guise of adulthood that likes to put smoke and mirrors over the complications of life, then she’s the smartest kid I’ve ever met.

Lola comes back out, her hair now pulled back into a nice ponytail, all the anxiety of the previous twenty minutes completely dissipated. She gives me a look to say, “You good?”

I give her a quick nod and a wink. I think things are better than good out here, actually.

Stella leans over on my knee to look at the page I’ve been coloring. She’s just assumed a sort of closeness with me. And it doesn’t feel weird at all. It’s kind of nice.

Gillian just brings people together, I guess.

“You missed a leaf right there.” She points to a corner on the page.

“I wasn’t done! How dare you!”

Stella laughs as I grab her and start to tickle her sides.

“Snickerdoodles?” Lola puts a plate of cookies down in front of us.

“My favorite!” I say, except mine isn’t the only voice I hear. Stella and I have just said it simultaneously. “Your favorite?” I ask eagerly.

She nods.

“It can’t be your favorite. It’s mine!”

“You’re so silly, Axel,” Stella says, swiping a cookie off the plate.

“I guess,” I grumble and grab my own cookie. “Thanks, Lola.”

Lola sits on the other side of the table. “Of course. When two people are coloring as hard as you, a snack is definitely in order.”

“Mmphank you, Auntwie Wowa,” Stella says with a mouthful of cookie.

Lola grins. “You’re welcome.”

Stella and I munch for a bit. I notice the crumbs are piling up in her lap, so I grab a napkin from the holder on the table and set it down on her lap. Then, I brush her hair off her shoulders, so they don’t act as crumb catchers. “There,” I say softly.

I feel Lola’s gaze harden on me. Being the only girl in the family, she can call attention without so much as saying a word if she stares at you hard enough. I look at her nervously. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just…” She shrugs. “You’re kind of a natural.”

I frown. “Huh?”

Lola gestures between Stella and me. “You’re good with her.”

“Well, she’s good with me. Right, Stella? You put up with me just fine, huh?”

“Yeah!” Stella laughs.

Lola’s demeanor remains tender. “Stella’s good with everyone. Or she puts up with most everyone I should say.” Then, her brow furrows. “But you…I don’t know. I never knew you were good with kids, Axel.”

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