***
Knocking on Yvonne’s door, there’s a small flicker of nervousness that sparks in my chest, almost making me run off in the opposite direction.
I hardly feel nervous about much, so this feeling is new, and it’s only because I’ve chosen to do things a little differently this time.
Though I’d demanded more time with Gio, I’d been giving Yvonne space since the night of the bonfire and after what happened behind the pack den. But I’m certain three days without seeing my face is enough, and I already assured her that I wouldn’t tell Gio that I’m his father.
This is just a way for me to spend time with my son and grow a bond with him until he’s old enough to understand. But this is also a way for me to crawl back into Yvonne’s life without her keeping me out. Hopefully, I can prove that I’m notgoing to hurt her, but it appears that’s exactly what she thinks will happen when she opens the door and is taken aback by my presence.
I take a deep breath as I step forward. “Is Gio home?” I ask, even though I’m fully aware that he’s here. It’s a Sunday, and the kids of Snehvolk don’t attend daycare today. I only ask the question so she knows I’m here to see my son, and doesn’t think that I’m trying to impose myself on her or force her into a difficult conversation.
She nods and steps aside, revealing the little boy playing with his toys on the rug in the living room. A smile instantly grows on my face when I notice the neat way he has his animal friends gathered around him, a sense of familiarity washing over me.
I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. Perhaps it’s because on the outside, he’s a carbon copy of his mother and looks nothing like me.
But there’s a fire that burns within him, showing up in times like these when he has his hands on his hips, delivering instructions to his stuffed herd like a strict alpha.
“Now, you will go out and hunt for tonight’s meal!” he orders his toys, speaking every syllable as if it’s a miracle and he learned how to speak properly overnight. It’s almost as if he’s practicing his speech, and it comes easily when he has a pack to lead.
Just then, I glance at Yvonne, who nods for me to proceed inside.
At the center of Gio’s pack of animals stands the toy elephant I gifted him, carved out of the wood from an old tree trunk. Gio immediately picks it up when he sees me and clutches the toy to his chest with a charming, proud smile.
“All except you, Dawson,” he whispers to the toy. “You’ll stay right here with me.”
Surprised that he just called the toy I gave him by my name, I frown as I enter the living room. “You named your toy after me, Champion?”
Gio nods eagerly. “Uh-huh! Is my favorite!”
Chuckling because Gio has gone to speaking in broken English and acting his age again, I lower myself to my knees and lift the plush elephant from the herd.
“I think this one is my favorite,” I say cheerfully. “I think we might have something in common.”
Yvonne clears her throat at the doorway, and when Gio and I turn to her, she asks, “Will you stay for dinner? I’m making Gio’s favorite.”
“Let me guess…” I hum as I glance at Gio sneakily. “It’s vegetable stew?”
Yvonne smiles as she nods. “He loves meat, but he loves vegetables even more.”
“Me too,” I say proudly, curling my hand into a fist to bump with Gio’s little one. He’s more like me than I realized, and I decide to spend my day with him, showing him the ropes of what it means to be an alpha.
Eventually, it’s time for dinner, and Yvonne calls us to the kitchen. To my surprise, Gio slides his hand into mine when we’re on our way to his mother, skipping joyfully beside me. I guess this is progress, and it comes as a surprise because I haven’t seen him in almost a week.
It doesn’t seem to matter. Gio seems happy to have me around, and doesn’t even start eating until I’ve dished up my bowl and stick my spoon inside. There’s something abouthis behavior that feels strange, even though it’s nice that he’s warmed up to me.
“Would you like more, baby?” Yvonne asks Gio, and he nods and passes his bowl to her before turning his attention to me.
“I got question,” he says rather sternly as he folds his arms on the edge of the table, propping his chin there and narrowing his eyes at me.
“Sure, Champ,” I say as I set my spoon down and wipe my lips with a napkin. “What is it?”
“You always here,” Gio lifts a finger as if he’s counting, then lifts another. “You give me gifts.” Another finger goes up. “You ask me about Daddy.”
I glance confusedly at Yvonne, but she’s staring at her son and gulping as if her mother’s intuition already warned her of what’s to come.
“Yeah…” I concede with a nervous nod. “That I am, Champion. Do you not want me around?”
Gio lifts his head and shakes it firmly. “No. I have question.” He points one finger at me. “Are you my daddy?”
