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Victor sits up, running a hand through his tousledhair. "Do you want me to come with you? We could grab breakfast after, if you'd like."
His offer catches me off guard. I blink at him, unsure how to respond. The idea of Victor picking up Olivia with me, of us having breakfast together like some sort of... family... it's simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.
Victor must sense my apprehension because he quickly backpedals. "I'm sorry, I overstepped. How about I just take you back to town hall so you can get your car?"
The disappointment in his voice makes my chest tighten. I want to say yes, to see where this could go, but the protective instincts I've honed as a single mom are screaming at me to be cautious.
I take a deep breath, looking at Victor's crestfallen expression. His blue eyes, usually so piercing, now seem clouded with uncertainty. It hits me then - he's just as scared as I am.
"No, I'm sorry," I say, reaching out to touch his arm. "I'd actually love it if you came with us for breakfast."
The change in his demeanor is immediate. His whole face lights up, a smile breaking through like sunshine after a storm. "Really? Are you sure?"
I nod, feeling a flutter in my stomach. "Yeah, I'm sure. We'd love to have you come along."
Victor hesitates, his brow furrowing slightly. "I don't want to intrude or cause any problems..."
"You won't be," I assure him, surprised by how much I mean it. "It'll be nice."
He nods, still looking a bit uncertain but happier than I've ever seen him. "Okay, then. I'll just go use the bathroom and change."
As Victor disappears into the en-suite, I grab my phone. My fingers fly over the keys as I type out a quick message to the group chat:
Avery
Coming to pick up Olivia.
Victor's coming too.
Please, no comments when we get there.
I hit send and almost immediately my phone explodes with notifications. I catch glimpses of shocked emojis and all-caps exclamations from Samantha, Emily, and Jessica. Shaking my head, I switch off my phone. They'll just have to wait for the full story later.
As I hear the bathroom door open, I quickly get up, my mind racing. What am I going to wear? What will Olivia think? How is this going to work? But underneath the nerves, there's an undeniable excitement. For the first time in years, I'm letting someone in. And somehow, despite everything, it feels right.
Chapter Forty-Three
Avery
Victor's presencenext to me is like a wall of warmth as we stand on Samantha's front porch. My mind races, trying to predict the upcoming conversation. The constant buzzing of my phone from the depths of my purse remains unanswered, an endless stream of ignored messages that I couldn't bring myself to face during our silent drive over. Victor shifts beside me, his blue eyes catching mine for a moment before he nudges, "You going to ring the doorbell or what?"
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "I guess." My hand feels heavy as it moves toward the button, the simple action suddenly monumental.
The second my finger depresses the doorbell, Samantha swings open the door. Her smile is sly, hereyes glowing with unspoken questions. She must have been watching through the peephole or something. "Hello, Victor," she greets him first, her grin widening. Then she turns that same knowing look on me. "Fancy seeing you two here so early. What a surprise."
"Hey, Sam." I force a casual note into my voice, ignoring the fluttering in my stomach. "Is Olivia ready?"
Olivia bounces into view, her grin bright enough to rival the morning sun. "I'm ready!" she chirps, then locks eyes with Victor, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Hi, Victor!"
"Hey there, Olivia," he says with that easy smile of his, the one that's been thawing the ice around my heart. "Race you to the car?" And just like that, they're off, their laughter trailing behind them as they dash down the walkway.
"Thanks, Sam," I mumble, already halfway turned to follow the whirlwind that is my daughter and the man whose presence stirs more than I care to admit.
"Wait," Samantha's hand clasps my arm, halting me with a gentle but firm grip. She leans in, her voice low and laced with curiosity. "What happened last night?"
My mind flashes to Victor's words, how casually he mentioned being "together" as if it were the simplest thing in the world. But with Samantha's inquisitive gaze drilling into me, I decide now's not the moment for confessions—real or imagined.
"Nothing happened," I say, keeping my tone light,brushing off her concern. "Just a late coffee after the board meeting. He dropped me home." My voice falters slightly as I add, "And he showed up this morning to bring me back to my car."