Page 13 of Second Chance Daddy

If only Tina knew the whole truth about Aria’s life.

“Come on, Cass. It’s just one day. Don’t be a party pooper.”

For a split second, I’m tempted. Wouldn’t it be wicked fun? Barbecue, champagne, pretending my life’s not one giant game of survival? Just for a day. Damn Tina and her rich-girl nonsense—where every weekend’s an adventure and I’m over here calculating grocery budgets like it’s the damn Olympics.

“I’m not being a party pooper. I’ve got work!” I fire back, remembering I’m not Tina. I can’t just whisk off on a weekday to welcome in summer.

“So, hire someone,” she tosses back, flippant as hell. Like, payroll’s a suggestion and not something I stress about every damn month.

“Tina—” I start, but she’s already leaning over the counter, planting a kiss on Aria’s head.

“Aria, baby, wanna see a lake sometime?”

“Lake, lake, lake!” Aria claps her hands like she just got offered Disneyland and a puppy.

Tina shoots me a smug look as she slides back onto her stool, cocking an eyebrow like she’s already won.

“Let the kid have some fun.”

I groan, rolling my eyes. “Fine. It might be good for Aria…”

“Amazing!” Tina grins—bright, smug, and way too pretty for my willpower. That grin? Full Gigi Hadid with audacity baked right in.

My phone buzzes on the counter. Unknown number. I glance at it and let it go to voicemail.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Tina asks, Danish halfway to her mouth.

“Probably spam.”

“What if it’s important? Could be a customer.”

“Important calls come from numbers I recognize.” I turn the phone face down. “Trust me on this one.”

“You’re so paranoid about phone calls now. Remember when you used to answer everything thinking it might be an adventure?”

“That was before I learned some adventures aren’t worth having.”Before I learned that unknown numbers usually meant Gino’s slurred threats at 2 AM.

“I get it. After what you went through with him...”

“Let’s not talk about him, okay?” The subject of Gino always makes me anxious. “Some things are better left buried.”

“Fair enough. But you know if he ever shows up here?—”

“He won’t,” I say it with more confidence than I feel. “I’m not sure he even knows where I live.”

“Good. Keep it that way.” Tina nods to herself, then glances at Aria. “You know what’s crazy? Sometimes I look at that little angel and wonder what Gino was thinking, walking away from his own kid.”

My blood turns to ice. “He made his choice.”

“I mean, I get that you two had a toxic marriage, but she’s his daughter. How do you just... abandon that?”

“Some people aren’t cut out to be parents.” The words taste like ash. “Besides, we’re better off without him.”

“Still. Look at those eyes. She’s got the most unusual blue eyes. Nothing like yours or—” Tina pauses, tilting her head. “Actually, they kind of remind me of someone, but I can’t place it.”

My heart stops.

“Kids’ eyes change as they get older,” I blurt. “They’ll probably turn brown like mine eventually.”